The Taking of Pelham 123

Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzman, James Gandolfini and John Turturro
DVD release: 6 January 2010
Rated: MA 15+

Back track on the Washington line

Another "summer" movie; another remake... Sometimes though a screenwriter can come up with a fresh new take on old material; and to some extent, that lifts The Taking of Pelham 123 above the usually low expectations of do-overs.

Let's be clear here though, the original - titled The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (note the subtle variation) - wasn't great cinema. Made in 1974, was a serviceable action flick that centred mainly on the mechanics of the plot; namely, how the hijackers who take over a New York City subway train would get away with it. Interestingly, that film was released at a time when the world was deeply concerned about terrorism, following the Munich massacre and a string of airliner hijackings. The thought of a similar stunt on the New York subway system pushed a lot of buttons.

The remake taps into a similar zeitgeist. Although the more emotive responses to the 9/11 terror attacks have subsided somewhat, there's no doubt terrorism is still a "hot button" issue. It's something screenwriter Brian Helgeland (who has credits for LA Confidential and Mystic River, among many others) cleverly exploits here. The other twist that Helgeland introduces is to make the story less about the "taking" itself and more about its consequences for all concerned. There's a neat little sub-plot involving some financial dealings, and a greater focus on the backstories of the major characters.

For all of that though, this is still primarily an action thriller with all that entails - car crashes, gun fights and slick double-crosses. It's still not going to win any Oscars, but this is an entertaining variant on the original. Helgeland's script isn't perfect (the 'deus ex machina' epilogue, for example, is particularly jarring) but he knows how to keep things moving along.

Our hero, naturally, is Denzel Washington, who plays Walter Garber, a train controller on the NY subway. Those familiar with the original will note that the character was originally a cop named Zachary Garber and was played by the late, great Walter Matthau - the name change being a tribute to the actor. He has to face off here against John Travolta, who plays the chief hijacker and goes by the 'nom de guerre' of Ryder. There are some genuinely tense moments as the plainly psychotic Ryder makes demands of the rather mild-mannered Garber.

Both actors hold up their ends of the bargain, with the sparks flying even though they're hardly in the same frame at any time in the film. I have to say I'm more a fan of Washington's than Travolta's at the moment; but the Ryder character certainly suits Travolta's rather over-the-top style. Washington meanwhile plays against type as Garber, but still manages to exude quality.

The supporting cast - large though it is - actually don't have a lot to do. John Turturro as a cop is a dependable back-up for Washington, in much the same way as Luis Guzman is as one of Ryder's henchmen; while James Gandolfini is totally believable as the New York mayor (who woulda thought!).

Director Tony Scott thankfully strips down his normally seizure-inducing visual style for a more sedate approach to the material. I guess when much of the film is occupied with a subway train sitting in a tunnel, it's hard to be too manic with the stylistic flourishes. He actually gets back to some of the things that made him a notable director in the first place - a keen sense of timing, a fluid approach to the plot and eliciting credible performances from his cast.

For those who've seen the original version, this take on The Taking of Pelham 123 should prove a worthwhile re-visitation. This really isn't one for the film buff though. This is a popcorn movie - well done, to be sure, but a popcorn movie nonetheless. With that in mind though, there are certainly worse choices for your DVD buck at the moment.

David Edwards