Entertainment Today and Beyond

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 – a SOLID adult oriented ENTERAINMENT that’s a RIDE well worth taking

Being a really big fan of the 1974 Joseph Sargent original “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” I must admit I had serious reservations about this remake, but I was pleasantly surprised and thought it was actually really good. While I consider the original to be one of the very best films of its decade, this new version is a shot in the arm for R-rated adult entertainment at the movies. Directed by Tony Scott (Crimson Tide) this rendition of the John Godey potboiler novel is much more of a re-imagining than a flat out remake, and that was a smart move from a creative point of view.

Like the ‘74 version, the story revolves around the takeover of the lead car of a NYC subway train by a handful of armed gunman, lead in this update by a character who calls himself Ryder, (John Travolta). He plays an insane but intelligent loose cannon whose motives aren’t as transparent as they initially seem. While Travolta is technically playing the Robert Shaw role here, the characterization is almost completely different. Travolta seems to relish the role and I had a blast watching him do his thing. Denzel Washington plays Walter Garber (the Walter Matthau character in the original but here he has a very different personality and back-story). He’s the train dispatcher who takes the initial call from Ryder that Pelham has been seized, along with the demand of a ransom of 10 million dollars in one hour, or a hostage will be killed every minute it arrives late. Garber and Ryder then begin a game of radio cat and mouse as the city races to get the cash while a hostage negotiator (John Turturro) ups the anti, and the city’s Mayor (James Gandolfini – very good in the role) worries about his image.

Washington and Travolta are really at the top of their game and the interplay is compelling and very entertaining to watch. Screenwriter Brian Helgeland (LA Confidential) adds a few nice wrinkles (a lot of it pretty inventive and well thought out) to both the Garber and Ryder characters that help build and maintain interest as the story unfolds.

In my eyes Denzel Washington can do no wrong and he once again proves that he is the most likeable leading man in film today. While the movie overall doesn’t deliver on some of the smaller nuances of the original, including better characterizations of the train passengers and Ryder’s three henchmen (in many ways they’re wasted), it is a suspenseful, very well acted thriller that takes the story into our modern setting and entertains throughout. My one other bit of criticism would be that even though this version also takes place in NYC, Sargent’s version of NYC was more authentic. Also while the last act of the ‘74 version is superior and in most ways classic, this film’s last act is a bit over the top and slightly rushed but still satisfying. While I was a naysayer when the project was first announced, I’m happy to report that Scott does the property a solid job (other than the annoying freeze frame minutes countdown). If you’re a fan of R-rated suspense thrillers with top notch star appeal, this is a train well worth taking. I give it 4 out of 5 Zombies. Take the ride!

June 15, 2009 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | Reviews | The Taking Of Pelham 123 Review | Leave a Comment