Variety
More than anything a fascinating portrait of how much New York has changed in 35 years, the film delivers the goods in excitement and big-star charisma.
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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. A mustachioed John Travolta stars as Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train’s passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there’s one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?
Tony Scott (Top Gun, Enemy of the State) directs this remake of the Walter Matthau-starring 1974 thriller.
2009Rating: R16, contains violence & offensive language121 minsUSA, UK
ActionDramaThriller
- Director:
- Tony Scott ('Top Gun', 'Days of Thunder', 'Enemy of the State', 'Spy Game', 'Man on Fire')
- Writer:
- Brian Helgeland
- Cast:
- Denzel WashingtonJohn TravoltaJames GandolfiniJohn TurturroLuis Guzmán
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) / Reviews
Total Film
For a good hour, Scott delivers a tense cat-and-mouser. Goes off track when Denzel turns action hero, but his riffing with a sinister Trav is what propels this Pelham.
Full reviewThe New York Times
Even at a distance from each other (Washington/Travolta), they conduct a tag-team master class in old-style movie star technique, barreling through every cliché and nugget of corn the script has to offer with verve and conviction. Even when you don't really believe them, they're always a lot of fun to watch.
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Roger Ebert
There's not much wrong with Tony Scott's The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, except that there's not much really right about it.
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Otago Daily Times
If you can abide cringe-worthy scripts, over-the-top stunts, and "what a guy" posturing, then The Taking of Pelham 123 is probably not a bad way to disengage the brain.
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Los Angeles Times
So professionally done you rarely have the luxury of taking your eyes off the screen.
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Hollywood Reporter
Curiously, despite the ever-energetic Tony Scott at the throttle, the sleek new edition isn't as transporting as it should have been.
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Empire Magazine
Pelham One was first class. Pelham Two stuck to the schedule. Pelham Three needs a bus pass.
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Dominion Post
Pelham 123 loses all credibility in the last 20 minutes, and a twist I was waiting for never arrived, but the film is still an enjoyable waste of a few hours of your life.
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