The Taking of Pelham 123 Review

Published by Jeff Leins on June 19, 2009

Anyone wondering why Sony Pictures chose to remake 1974’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three will still be asking themselves the same question after sitting through the 2009 version.  Tony Scott’s Pelham 1 2 3 is almost a carbon copy of the original, only with minor changes for the worse. The revamped adaptation of John Godey’s novel is a familiar ride that often substitutes style for substance.

Scott’s kinetic camera captures all the intensity of a rail control center as Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) directs subway traffic under New York City.  Colored blips of rail cars traversing the sub-city landscape are about as exciting as watching a slowly moving Lite-Brite.  This riveting action is spliced with high-energy cuts of an organized team positioning themselves on the subway platform. You’ll know it’s them because they’re the only ones sinister enough to wear sunglasses underground.

The armed men hijack the 1:23pm train out of Pelham Bay Park (hence the title) and after the initial scuffle their leader Ryder (John Travolta) contacts Garber, the railway dispatcher on duty. Demands are made, conditions are outlined, and the stage is set. Meanwhile, a former MTA operator named Ramos (an underused Luis Guzman) halts the hostage car on the tracks in a prime spot for WiFi access. This 21st century technology means Ryder and Ramos can periodically check the stock market while one of the passengers stares wide-eyed at a connected webcam. If only the original film was still available on Hulu maybe they could have gathered around for a lesson in storytelling.

Sizable portions of the plot are hijacked by lengthy conversations between its two A-list actors.  A bespectacled Washington and a mustachioed Travolta converse over radio coms like a couple of foul-mouthed truckers who might as well be hauling Pampers not negotiating a hostage situation.  At no point does their coerced chat resemble a psychological duel, nor does all the gabbing explain Ryder’s odd admiration for Garber.  Sure, the gunman repeats, “You’re my hero” to the family man, but there is nothing in their roughly hour-long discourse to suggest they are anything more than CB radio buddies catching up on old times.

With the focus squarely on the macho banter, the “motherf-cker” this and “f-ck” that dialogue delves into Garber’s past instead of introducing significant danger for the people actually at gunpoint.  We learn the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employee is under investigation for a bribe involving a shady train manufacturer recommendation.  Harnessing the powers of the Internet, Ryder googles the situation and grills Garber to fill time.  While they shoot the breeze, the NYPD negotiator (John Turturro) and the mayor (James Gandolfini) run down the $10 million ransom.

The rest of the passengers– terrorists and hostages alike — are as expendable as Ryder considers them.  Scott barely establishes they’re even on board before each overdone, slow-motion death sequence, as if we’re stunned when a glorified extra shuffles off this mortal foil.

The audience is periodically reminded of the time frame by characters checking their watches and jarring “minutes remaining” words slicing across the screen.  The good news is the ticking clock scenario brings an inherent level of suspense and the pace rumbles quickly along the track.  The bad news is the third act derails into an above-ground car chase and noisy commotion before the inevitable face-off.

Tony Scott’s The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is a frantic re-telling of the clever original without the social commentary or charismatic interactions.  It’s simply another remake riding the rail to mediocrity.  I suggest you stand clear.

2.5 out of 5.