Rating of
2.5/4
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
MovieAddict - wrote on 01/28/12
It begins in New York City, where a MTA dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) feels he is just having an ordinary day like any other that is until his train Pelham 123 is hijacked by group of gunman, led by Ryder (John Travolta). The gunmen take the train and its passengers’ hostage and demand a ransom of 10 million dollars to be paid within one hour. Every minute past the one hour deadline will result in a hostage being killed.
But Ryder suddenly grows interested in Garbers` background and feels that they alike in many ways because Garber has an ongoing investigation against him for taking a bribe. Garber soon finds himself trying to negotiate on behalf of Ryder's subway hostages. Their performances are truly brilliant as Garber tries to keep Ryder talking, trying to outwit him, in hopes to save the passengers, before it's too late. Travolta manages to create an atmosphere of insanity with his tendency to switch from having a calm conversation to uncontrolled rage at a moment's notice and threatening to blow everyone's brains out. That being said, did I enjoy it? I sure did. The dialogue is good, aside from the often pointless abundance of 'f' bombers. I loved the mental cat and mouse between the two stars, the scenes at the train station are tight and interesting and the film speeds on to a violent climax that will not surprise any seasoned movie watcher.
