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TAKING OF PELHAM 123

Starring: John Travolta, Denzel Washington, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli and James Gandolfini

Directed by: Tony Scott

Rated: R for violence and pervasive language

Genre: Action/Drama

By John Delia

Take some A list stars, lets say Denzel Washington and John Travolta. Throw them into a storyline where they are at odds with each other. Make one of them a recently demoted subway station dispatcher and the other a very scary criminal mastermind. Then mix it all up using one of the best dramatic thrill directors Tony Scott and what you get is a recipe for a winner.

The film sets up quick with the hijacking of a subway train in New York City by Ryder (Travolta) and three of his heavily armed fellow ex-cons. His intent is to ransom the hostages for 10 Million dollars and he has no fear of shooting them one by one if the delivery is late. Making contact with Walter (Washington) a subway dispatcher, the two become linked in the drama and the confrontations that follow.

If you like your thrill with some excellent drama, then there is no one better than director Tony Scott to provide a big helping. Having assisted a lot of A list acting careers with his excitement, dramatic style of delivering the story and box office success, Scott hardly ever deviates from his captivating formula. In The Taking of Pelham 123 he pits a cool and calm character played by Washington against Travolta, as a man whose about to explode. The two go head to head with Travolta being the prime antagonist much like he was in Swordfish, but edgier. He has a 10 million dollar goal and a murderous mentality. Scott takes the two to new heights as he plays the game of right versus might.

Scott knows Washington real well having directed him in many of his more popular roles like; Crimson Tide, Man on Fire and Déjà Vu, but here in Pelham he takes the tough guy attitude and calms it down creating a character that you don’t often see for Washington in an action film. I loved his dowdy character and the way Scott delivered him to the screen, making the scenes believable and enjoyable to watch.

Travolta provides an emotionally scary Ryder who deals in carnage and expresses his demands in menacing terms. Playing an over the top ex-con who desires to get even with the system that put him in jail, he’ll stop at nothing to obtain his goal.

I will make mention that the film is a remake, but only the basic storyline gets resurrected. This edition makes the script more modern, inserts a bevy of excellent actors, adds some twists and makes use of a lot of very cringing special effects.

The film is rated R for violence and pervasive language. But lets be clear on this, there are some startling killings and strong face-to-face anger displayed in the film so take this into consideration when deciding to let immature children see the movie. Also as a word of caution, the movie trailer gives away too much so please avoid watching it prior to going to see the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Dramatic action junkies this is one top-notch thrill ride. (4 of 5 Palm Trees)