HOLLYWOOD POV: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

While I'm not a fan of remakes I must be honest and tell you that THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 is a fast-paced and far-better version of the novel by John Godey that the original 1974 Joseph Sargent film starring Walter MatthauWalter Matthau TAKING OF PELHAM ONE, TWO, THREE.

I usually stay away from reviews of films until I've see the film for myself, and I'm particularly glad I did that with this one. Most reviews I've read complain about how this version of the film is not as good as the original. But I challenge you to go see THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 for yourself, then Netflix the original. Once you do, you'll quickly realize that those doing the comparing to the earlier version and then doing the complaining have clearly not actually seen the original version, certainly not recently, and are probably just using the opportunity to complain.

I saw the original years ago and watched it again a few days after seeing the new PELHAM. The older version is poorly cast, not that well acted, slowly paced, and features no layered characters, and little-to none plot motivation. In addition, the 1974 PELHAM is chock full of social and racial stereotypes, it's so racist, in fact, that I cringed when Matthau called a group of visiting Japanese "monkey's" to their face assuming they couldn't speak English. This newer version of PELHAM is particularly interesting because Director Tony Scott layers in messages and motivation for each of the primary characters; with race, social standing, and gender thankfully playing no part...other than the fact that apparently no women work for the NYC subway system.

While Tony Scott directs his camera at a frenetic pace with electrifying grace and energy, Ryder (John Travolta) slams onto the screen with a look that will make you not want to enter an elevator with him, in fact, if you see his character on the street you will be crossing to the other side to keep away from him. He's got black and white skin graffiti running up and down his neck and his mean angry face sports a black goatee and mustache. He's smart and dangerous and moves with the grace of a panther.

Travolta stalks down to the IRT platform in Grand Central Station and jabs a gun through the motorman's window of the Pelham Bay Park train that leaves the Bronx at 1:23 (that's why it's called Pelham 123) and takes him and the train hostage. Number 1 henchman Phil Ramos (the great Luis Guzmán), an ex-motorman himself, takes the controls and almost immediately experienced New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) knows something is amiss. Soon Travolta calls in to inform them that he's hijacked a subway train and Garber answers, beginning a relationship neither one will forget.

Ryder is a criminal mastermind with a plan to manipulate the gold market to make trainloads of cash, leads a highly-armed gang of four. He detaches the subway train car he's in with 19 hostages from the rest of the train and threatens to execute the train's passengers unless a 10 million dollar ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages.

But Garber himself has a secret that Ryder soon figures out and the two form an attachment created in the figment of Ryder's wronged imagination. Soon Ryder will only talk to Garber, and forces Garber to confess to a crime the audience is never sure he actually did, but one that he is under investigation for by his higher-ups.

One riddle Garber can't solve is a riddle I quickly understood the answer to because I grew up taking the NYC subways...even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?

None of the secondary motives of the lead characters were present in the original film, and that's one of many things that make this PELHAM a better version. The characters are more complicated and compelling, laptops, webcams, and financial players figure into the plot in a way that brings this version of the book up to date.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ © 2009 by Digital Dogs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Digital Dogs rating: B+

MPAA rating: R for violence and pervasive language.

Running Times: 121 Minutes

Producers Tony Scott, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Director Tony Scott, Screenplay Brian Helgeland from the novel by John Godey, DP Tobias Schliessler, Editor Chris Lebenzon, Music Harry Gregson-Williams, Actors Denzel WashingtonDenzel Washington, John TravoltaJohn Travolta, James GandolfiniJames Gandolfini, John TurturroJohn Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli

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