THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (USA 2009) ****
Directed by Tony Scott

A remake of the excellent wry 1974 comedy suspense thriller of the same name that starred the late Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw, action director Tony Scott’s version is an adept adaptation set to the present day.

Though still based mostly on the novel by John Godey, and scripted by Brain Helgeland who wrote L.A. CONFIDENTIAL and directed actioners like Mel Gibson’s PAYBACK and A KNIGHT’S TALE, the film is almost non-stop frantic action from start to finish.

From the opening credits with rap music and jump cuts (which is used sporadically throughout the film especially during the chases) to the very end, director Scott keeps the audience at the edge of the seats.  Dialogue is filled with one-liners (as in the original) and it is good to see no repetition of humor from the original movie.

The story concerns a demoted NYC subway official to dispatcher, Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) stuck with the hijacking of a train on his watch.  He is forced to match wits with the psychopathic leader, Ryder (John Travolta) who proves to be violent and non-negotiating, but smart.  Enter the major (James Gandolfini) and hostage negotiator (John Turturro) to help but to no avail. 

Scott’s film is ultra violent during the first half with hostages shot by the screaming Ryder or his henchmen.  Scott’s employment of the freeze frame during various times before the ransom deadline heightens the suspense. 

The use of a laptop by a teen passenger and the hook on to the internet are credible changes that work well into the story, instead of just inserts for the sake of updating as in the case of a lot of Hollywood remakes.  The cops and officials at the subway control center tap into the goings-on through the internet.  Other adaptations involve changing Walter Garber’s profession from a subway cop to a dispatcher who has taken a bribe.  Garber is also forced to deliver the ransom money.  Interesting to note too is the fact that the two heroes of the movie are Garber and a black passenger who sacrifices his life during the hijack.

However, the soft spots of the film unfortunately do not work that well.  The segments of Garber promising his wife (Aunjanue Ellis) to bring milk home or him confessing he used the bribed money to support his children at college are too melodramatic.  When a hijacker discovers the teen communicating on the laptop through the internet, nothing happens after.  The logical conclusion would be the kid being shot in the head as this hijacker had previously shot a cop for no apparent reason.  One can assume that the filmmakers decide to ease off on the violence despite the complete change in mood of the film.  Supporting actor Luis Guzman’s Ramos role is also almost non-speaking making one wonder what has been cut from the film.

But the performances are top notch, especially the two leads Travolta and Washington.  Washington, having put on some weight, looks totally credible running with a gun, panting and breathing heavily as he pursues his prey. 

Both THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3’s are excellent thrillers that succeed on their own merits.  The original should be seen again for comparison.