The Taking of Pelham 123 August 3, 2009
Posted by Sai in English, Movies, Reviews.Tags: 2009, based on novel, Brian Helgeland, bullion, Denzel Washington, DVD, English, Film, gold, hijack, Hollywood, James Gandolfini, John Godey, John Travolta, John Turturro, Morton Freedgood, Movie, ransom, remake, Review, Ryder, stock, subway, Summer, The Taking of Pelham 123, thriller, Tony Scott, train, vehicular disaster, Walter Garber
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Director Tony Scott’s remake of the 1974 thriller starring Walter Matthau (titled The Taking of Pelham One Two Three) is a stylish update that introduces the film to a new generation but doesn’t do much else. I watched the original a few years ago and like that film, this is a simple thriller that has nothing special. It is fun while it lasts but isn’t something that will stay with you.
An NYC subway train is hijacked by a group of criminals, the head of which calls himself Ryder. He threatens to kill the passengers unless his demands for a ransom are met within the next hour. A subway dispatcher, Walter Garber, finds himself in the middle of the chaos, negotiating with Ryder. He has to use all his skills to keep Ryder from killing the passengers. But how does Ryder plan to get away with the money? Is he really after the ransom or something bigger?
The major difference between the original and this update is that the actors in the original help raise the film to a higher level while the actors in this one do no such thing. John Travolta’s character is in sharp contrast to Robert Shaw’s in the original. He overdoes his part. His mad man act is quite familiar by now and it irritates more than a little. Denzel Washington is a suitable choice and he plays it right but I’d definitely prefer Walter Matthau any day.
Scott (True Romance, Man on Fire, Deja Vu) and writer Brian Helgeland (L. A. Confidential, Mystic River, Man on Fire) have all the ingredients to make a watchable thriller and they do but this one does not distinguish itself from its predecessor much. Scott adds some more action and a laptop with a webcam and internet connectivity to reflect the time but there isn’t much incentive for viewers who have seen the original to drag themselves to watch this.
This isn’t a film that you’d need to run to the theater to watch but it should make for entertaining viewing on a lazy day at home.
P.S. If you don’t mind watching a film from the seventies, the original is a better choice.
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