Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The
- Directed by: Tony Scott
- Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli, James Gandolfini
- Genre: Action/Adventure
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Rating:
- Theater Release: 06/12/2009
- Video Release: 11/03/2009
- Run Time: 1hr 46min
Synopsis
This remake of the 1974 classic pits heavyweights Denzel Washington and John Travolta against each other. Washington plays a subway dispatcher in New York City who uses all his knowledge to stop the train hijacking by Travolta's Ryder.
This remake of the 1974 classic pits heavyweights Denzel Washington and John Travolta against each other. Washington plays a subway dispatcher in New York City who uses all his knowledge to stop the train hijacking by Travolta's Ryder.
Reviews
"[A] fascinating portrait of how much New York has changed in 35 years, the film delivers the goods in excitement and big-star charisma..." (Variety)
3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Scott offers a topical, visceral entertainment: his best since CRIMSON TIDE....PELHAM demonstrates how a gripping crime flick can be a great leveler." (Box Office)
"THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3 boasts a smart cast headed by Denzel Washington and John Travolta and a literate Brian Helgeland script..." (Hollywood Reporter)
3 stars out of 4 -- "In this retelling, director Tony Scott uses quick panning shots to intensify the action scenes....And Brian Helgeland's script gives the characters more depth and dimension." (USA Today)
"PELHAM is so professionally done you rarely have the luxury of taking your eyes off the screen....A crisp, effective New York subway hostage drama..." (Los Angeles Times)
"[Scott is] a canny director of actors....Mr. Travolta brings his patented evil elation to the role of the hijacker..." (Wall Street Journal)
"[A] canny, energetic updating of the 1974 mass transit thriller....The subway system itself serves as an index of how the city and action-movie technology have evolved over the years." (New York Times)
"[As the characters] and the film escape the confines of the subway, their volatility propels PELHAM through a crackerjack third act that finally transcends the arena of guilty pleasures." (Movieline)
"[T]he new film, directed by Tony Scott, captures some of the grand venality of New York that make the original so much fun....John Travolta is in high manic mode, seething and unpredictable, violent and charismatic..." (Washington Post)
3.5 stars out of 5 -- "This movie hits you like 600 volts from a sparking third rail....It's electrifying..." (Rolling Stone)
3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he leads share an edgy chemistry that, coupled with the no-nonsense real-time structure, keeps the suspense bubbling." (Total Film)
"[A] fascinating portrait of how much New York has changed in 35 years, the film delivers the goods in excitement and big-star charisma..." (Variety)
3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Scott offers a topical, visceral entertainment: his best since CRIMSON TIDE....PELHAM demonstrates how a gripping crime flick can be a great leveler." (Box Office)
"THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3 boasts a smart cast headed by Denzel Washington and John Travolta and a literate Brian Helgeland script..." (Hollywood Reporter)
3 stars out of 4 -- "In this retelling, director Tony Scott uses quick panning shots to intensify the action scenes....And Brian Helgeland's script gives the characters more depth and dimension." (USA Today)
"PELHAM is so professionally done you rarely have the luxury of taking your eyes off the screen....A crisp, effective New York subway hostage drama..." (Los Angeles Times)
"[Scott is] a canny director of actors....Mr. Travolta brings his patented evil elation to the role of the hijacker..." (Wall Street Journal)
"[A] canny, energetic updating of the 1974 mass transit thriller....The subway system itself serves as an index of how the city and action-movie technology have evolved over the years." (New York Times)
"[As the characters] and the film escape the confines of the subway, their volatility propels PELHAM through a crackerjack third act that finally transcends the arena of guilty pleasures." (Movieline)
"[T]he new film, directed by Tony Scott, captures some of the grand venality of New York that make the original so much fun....John Travolta is in high manic mode, seething and unpredictable, violent and charismatic..." (Washington Post)
3.5 stars out of 5 -- "This movie hits you like 600 volts from a sparking third rail....It's electrifying..." (Rolling Stone)
3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he leads share an edgy chemistry that, coupled with the no-nonsense real-time structure, keeps the suspense bubbling." (Total Film)
