The Taking of Pelham 123 is a slick, reimagining of the 1974
original that is filled to the brim with suspense, action and the one
thing that is missing from many big budget spectacles, good old
fashioned character development. Director Tony Scott has crafted a
tension filled thriller with both John Travolta and Denzel Washington
sharing a chemistry that propels the film to its rocketing conclusion.
Scott
wastes no time on set up; Travolta hijacks the train before the
beginning credits are done rolling and the film continues at a
breathless pace until the satisfying conclusion. The plot goes basically
like this; Travolta's Ryder (his alias) hijacks the Pelham 123 at 2:13
PM and demands a ransom of $10 million dollars be delivered to him
within an hour or else he will start killing off hostages. Ryder refuses
to speak with the police and Washington as train dispatcher Walter
Garber is forced to serve as negotiator. Scott keeps the film at high
suspense and brings a kinetic feel to the action sequences and chase
scenes that will keep your eyes glued to the screen. Writer Brian
Helgeland best known for L.A. Confidential, has written an intelligent
script with great dialogue, that is fast paced and exciting all the
while developing the characters way beyond what could've been the
stereotypical psycho versus the reluctant hero.
Denzel Washington
is terrific as everyman Walter Garber bringing gravity and a quiet
dignity to his performance, keeping Walter grounded in reality, never
once allowing the character to slip into clichéd action hero mode.
Garber is the heart and soul of the film and you will find yourself
pulling for him from the very first time Washington opens his mouth to
the very last scene of the film. Washington is an amazing actor at the
top of his craft and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
What
can you say about John Travolta? The man plays terrific psychos and his
performance in Pelham 123 is no exception to the rule. With his handle
bar mustache, neck tattoo and menacing glare, he is one badass you don't
want to mess with. He puts a delightful psycho spin on every line of
dialogue and is gleeful in his madness. I've always liked Travolta as a
villain, but in films like Face/Off and Broken Arrow, he goes over the
top with his performances. That is not the case here. Travolta
masterfully takes the character right to the brink, but never crosses
the line. Travolta gives a truly chilling and riveting performance that
you won't want to end.
The supporting cast all give superb
performances as well, especially John Turturro and James Gandolfini.
Turturro plays a hostage negotiator for the NYPD and although he is
forced to take second chair to Washington's Garber, Turturro never once
allows the character to become a clichéd pain in the ass, egomaniac.
Instead he infuses the character with a humanity that makes him
endearing and real and helps keep the film grounded. James Gandolfini
plays the fictional mayor of New York as a combination of Mike Bloomberg
and Rudy Giuliani and pulls it off fabulously. Gandolfini gives the
mayor a quiet strength while also giving him a no nonsense attitude that
is quite fitting for the Big Apple.
To sum it up, The Taking of
Pelham 123 is an electrifying thrill ride that is made even better by
the shared chemistry and the power-house acting of Washington and
Travolta. Pelham 123 is one ride that shouldn't be missed.
Bill Bonfanti is FilmGo.net's movie critic and Box office
analysis. [http://www.filmgo.net] Every week you will find new reviews
and box office predictions for the current crop of films in the theater.
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