highly recommend THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3!!!

Oscar jury I would nominate him in the 82nd Oscar ceremony as Best supporting actor, but judging by the average reviews this movie has got, it's pretty unlikely to happen.The visual effects themselves were cool, though I have seen better. I know we are comparing two different types of movies, but Transformers Revenge of the Fallen or Terminator Salvation had much better visual effects. Still, don't watch Pelham 1 2 3 in the hopes of seeing big shooting scenes: It is a well-made thriller that has enough action to captivate you and get you on the edge-of your seat. People, it is shocking to know that this movie is not making more money than it is right now...Go watch it RIGHT NOW! P-S: don't leave your brain at home, keep it with you for once. Have Fun!

a hip, new action thriller. This is a truly excellent film with a great twist. The true delight of this film is watching these two exchange words not knowing who the other really is. They make for some touching moments in which Walter is forced to sacrifice a little something to be the hero of the day. The small parts such as James Gandolfini as the distressed mayor and John Turturro as Camonetti as well as the always reliable Luis Guzman as fellow hi-jacker Phil Ramos make the movie count. A great movie... go see it.

you mother----s" eyes, what a movie! Director Tony Scott is new to me so when the film began with Jay-Z's 99 Problems and the framing being similar to that of a comic book movie, I got a bit concerned. Action was contrasted against blurry backgrounds, the cast of characters were flashed frame by frame and it was all so strange to me I really did not know what to expect. Fortunately once Jay-Z finished, the imagery slowed down and we are introduced to Mr. Walter Garber Denzel Washington and the beginning of what will be the longest day of his life.Synopsis Skip this paragraph if you hate spoilers Ryder John Travolta is a hardened criminal who has teamed up with some friends to hi-jack a train. His plans are to hold the people on board hostage and demand a large sum of money from the city. To do this, he singles out a cab, detaches it from the rest and makes a phone call to the controllers in order to place his demands. Walter Garber Denzel Washington is the man who receives the call. Garber is a seasoned officer of the Subway system, recently demoted to being a comptroller. The two men engage in conversation that goes beyond hostage demands and into a form of familiarity and bonding that turns into a mental Chess match. This is because Ryder isn't a dumb criminal, far from it, he is a brilliant man and this fact makes his demands even more dangerous. None of the police's strategies in hostage negotiation, or tactics in special operations are above his methodology. When the heat gets turned up and three people are dead on the train, Ryder demands one last thing, he wants Garber to bring him the money personally. And this is just half of the movie.The entire movie is a mental game, Ryder is beyond intelligent and Garber has a way with words. Their conversations were so well done I felt it could only be better if Travolta didn't insist on saying mother----r so many times. It just didn't sound natural coming from him he is no Samuel L. , he was seriously in character the entire time though and his little quips and racial epithets were enough to break your tension with a chuckle or two. Denzel Washington was outside of the "cool Denzel" we have seen so many times and was clumsy, overweight and seemed genuinely disturbed when talking to Ryder. There was one scene that stood out to me when he called his wife to coolly try and explain to her why he was in the middle of a hostage negotiation, bumbling his way through it but getting it done nonetheless.The supporting cast was nothing to ignore either, with John Turturro playing Officer Camonetti, the hostage negotiator and James Gandolfini playing the nameless mayor. With this many Italian actors you would think that the pizza jokes would be spared but Travolta's Ryder is apparently not a fan of Italians at all. Throwing around slurs and jokes at Camonetti any time the two were on the phone together. The cinematography was solid, music fit the situation and the plot easy to follow. The Direction was spot on and not once did I feel taken astray from the task at hand.Listen, if you really, really like smart movies with a sprinkling of action thrown in think Heat or The Departed then you need to see The Taking of Pelham 123. It seems to be a growing trend these days to pair up large actors and it is a good one since if everything fails, you still get good character portraits. This movie delivered in suspense, good direction and most of all entertainment. Aside from Travolta's dialogue throwing me off at times, it is damn near flawless in anything I can say about it. A very "human" movie, I recommend you go see it yourself, it will not disappoint.

aspects with this film. If you have the money to cash in on a movie ticket this is one to see for certain.

a laptop, but I wont say anymore as its just a tiny inconsistency.But what really makes this film, for me at least, is the acting, considering John travolta hasn't made a particularly highlighted good film in years, I must say he is back on form in this film, he plays a crazed care free politically criminal who hijacks the train with intentions to not only make money, but to make a statement about the politics and standing of himself and the citizens and the way they are treated, obviously this is all twisted to support his own cause, but what criminal doesn't. He leaves you liking the criminal, but also with a loathing feeling because of his "no mercy" attitude. But an extremely good portrayal and enjoyable performance by John travolta, definitely one of the highlights of the movie.Denzel Washington, not much needs to be said about this mans acting ability, he plays a slightly overweight older character, who is fairly insignificant, he's not an ex-cop or any sort of hero, but is an everyday citizen, that gets dragged into this situation, and becomes an everyday hero, once again he is likable and thorough in his performance, also an extreme joy to watch on the big screen.The chemistry between the two actors is top quality, and the script and direction by tony Scott once again flawless in its thoroughly and conviction. A great film without going over the top with explosions, and trying to make a big statement, lets the acting and script talk for itself, and prove it to be a quality film. No less than what you expect form 3 movie proved men, this film owes itself to Denzel Washington, John travolta and Tony Scott, the scriptwriters and novelist also need praise for this film.

the money's late.This film is a remake of the 1974 original starring Walter Matthau alongside Jerry Stiller and Hector Elizondo. The filmmakers took some liberties with the story, which enhanced it. For instance, Garber is no longer Lt. Garber, a transit cop. "Pelham" is a by-the-numbers heist flick; the good guy will win, but the fun is seeing how he'll do it. Because Garber is no longer a professional crime fighter, an otherwise predictable although enjoyable premise becomes more suspenseful.Also, the updated story portrays technology as both a blessing and a curse to good effect.Washington and Travolta deliver engaging performances. Playing a relatively low-key, almost geeky civil servant is an interesting change of pace for Washington. Travolta is terrifying as a disturbingly intelligent crook who oscillates between being sadistic and amiable. The conversations between Garber and Ryder touch on fate, relationships and even contain moments of humor. Such lines, in the mouths of less capable actors, would have been tedious.A standout in the supporting cast is John Turturro as police negotiator Officer Camonetti, who inserts himself into the hostage situation. Although playing a hard-boiled cop, Turturro handles the role delicately and prevents Camonetti from becoming a caricature.One slight disappointment is that Garber's wife Therese Aunjanue Ellis does not factor into the film that much. Her appearance in the film's trailer is half of her appearance in the film. One would think that there would be plenty of home-related conflict considering that Garber's situation could result in professional, if not fatal, consequences. But then again, the story plays out in a little more than an hour, so the short shrift makes some logical sense: Perhaps there wasn't enough time for panic to mount.This performance-driven I had to make a pun somewhere crime thriller is a must-see for the summer.

through you because he can see only one thing, his goal, and he will have it no matter what.Washington was just as interesting but we never know what he will do because he does not have control of himself or his destiny. Being the nice guy he has issues, guidelines and orders from numerous levels. Having had a few bosses myself, I had been hoping for a different result but I was not disappointed in the movie at all. I did however, have some doubt in a certain confession he made which supposedly cleared one mystery. I didn't buy the confession and I didn't like the reaction it got, but it did not affect the movie as far as I was concerned.While most of the action satisfied me, there was some artificial and unnecessary wham-bam-glam-action which didn't move me. Most of what I enjoyed was the drama and tension along with characterizations. I recommend this movie for anyone who cares for the near-lost art of drama. Matter of fact, I recommend it for anyone who can sit and admire thoughtful direction and acting.Great job Tony Scott! You get an 8 out of 10.

zoom shots, quick cuts assembled in an almost eccentric but to and often amusing end. Here thankfully, I found such freeze frame and camera swirls not to be distracting, just entirely unnecessary. The reported budget for this film was a mind melting $100 million and I literally cannot tell you what they spent it on. The cast is small, aside from the perfunctory action scenes most of the film is set in a stationary train in a dark tunnel or the rail control center. If there has ever been a benchmark for a 'not needed' budget, this would be a front runner. Of the aforementioned action scenes, the films most embarrassing sequence comes shortly after the hour mark and involves an absolutely ridiculous police chase that involves defiance of physics and of logic. That being said, it is ultimately the characters that take central stage and the movie succeeds fully because of the stellar cast.Replacing Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw are Denzel Washington and John Travolta respectively. Washington stars as Walter Garber a timid, but thoroughly likable and charismatic subway operator and Travolta as Ryder, the man on the other end of the line; a criminal who has hijacked Pelham 123 and is one part over-the-top, one part smooth talking' and one part brutal killer. Both these veteran actors pull off their rolls fantastically. Travolta is a far better rounded villain then he was in Swordfish or The Punisher, never playing the character one note, or as a messy collage of traits. Garber is an innerly flawed man, overweight, aging, with strains both on his professional and personal life and Washington makes him into a real sympathetic person about a man in the moment.As we have seen in many movies before, a bond forms between the two men, as Garber frantically tries to fulfill the demands of a $10,000,000 dollar ransom for the lives of his captives on a subway car. But unlike other similar flicks the kinship does not remain all smiles and sunshine, nor does a contrivance of their friendship lead to the villain's downfall. That coupled with an equally intelligent twist there is plenty to admire in Pelham but also enough to scoff at. Joining the duos ranks are two other solid rolls fulfilled by John Tutturo as a hostage negotiator and James Gandolfini as the New York City mayor. In fact, it is almost a four man show, with Travolta and Washington carrying the bulk weight of the film. While still a testament to how Hollywood continues to unearth the classics of the past, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is also a testament to how a film that has fallen to its bluster can be saved by its leads.Read all my reviews at simonsaysmovies.blogspot.com