FILM REVIEW: The Taking of Pelham 123 (1 1/2 stars out of 4)
PHOTO Columbia Pictures
The shortening of the title “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” to “The Taking of Pelham 123” is the most interesting update in this frantic remake of a reliably entertaining 1974 heist flick.
Denzel Washington fills in for Walter Matthau as Walter Garber, a dispatcher who is routinely working at a New York subway control station until a malicious criminal named Ryder (John Travolta) hijacks the film’s namesake. Filled with passengers, the subway car sits in a dark tunnel as Ryder reaches dispatch and begins to explain to Garber why Pelham 123 stopped.
Washington handles the distress with an average “why me?” performance. His quaint charm amuses Ryder, and they become forced acquaintances.
Like every prompt and organized lunatic, Ryder gives demands, sets deadlines and makes failure not an option because he’s not afraid of killing hostages. Travolta puts a lot of energy into the role like his villain in “Swordfish,” but Ryder lacks a signature swagger. Anything interesting he does is overshadowed by his quick temper and foul language.
Ryder’s henchmen, who were referred to only as colors in the first “Pelham 123,” now have real names and little dialogue. That’s unfortunate, because their clashing is what made the first “Pelham 123” entertaining. Tense bickering is replaced with stern stares and more brawn than brain. It’s almost as if Travolta bought his henchmen at a store before he entered the subway.
Director Tony Scott mixes quick editing techniques with flashy cinematography to speed the plodding pace of the 1974 “Pelham 123” and make sure everything potentially good about the original film is blurry. It would be wise to invest in a bottle of aspirin after seeing the updated “Pelham 123.” Your head will ache as you watch a car flip over nearly two dozen times.
Unfortunately, the film acts much like a stalled train. It never gets totally lost because it’s on rails, but it definitely strains to get to its destination.
Most of the film is dizzying and overly tense, but it picks up speed in the final act. Contributions from supporting stars James Gandolfini as the mayor of New York City and John Turturro as a New York Police Department hostage negotiator make things tolerable until the train makes its final move.
“The Taking of Pelham 123” isn’t a complete disaster; it just needed more reason to hop on the rails again.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment