Blu-Ray Review: Denzel Washington, Tony Scott Take ‘Pelham 123’ Seriously

CHICAGO – When a New York subway dispatcher finds himself locked in a tense battle of the wits with a deranged criminal onboard Pelham 123, he’s offered this bit of advice from a seasoned hostage negotiator: don’t enter his world. The same warning could be issued to viewers intent on entering the world of Tony Scott. It is a cinematic landscape that is alternately marred and enhanced by ADD.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

With his ever-changing frame rate and rapid editing, Scott speeds through his story until he lands on a part that sparks his interest; often a moment of physical or emotional violence. This plays out in extreme slo-mo, halting the movement and blurring the action to such an extent that the audience feels like they have been punched in the head.

The Taking of Pelham 123 was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video

From “True Romance” to “Man on Fire,” violence has always been justified by Scott’s characters, often as a result of vengeance. Any viewers leaving the theater without a somewhat rancid taste in their mouths are most likely leaving instead with a compromised conscience. In Scott’s nifty remake of “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” a gun-toting killer (John Travolta) repeatedly justifies his acts of vengeance, claiming it is not him, but the city’s deep-seated corruption that has killed his victims. If this were a normal Scott picture, he would be the protagonist. But here, the killer meets his match in the form of an “average Joe” (Denzel Washington) just going about his duty, who wouldn’t dream of resorting to violence unless it was a necessity.

The Taking of Pelham 123 was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009. Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video

Of course, we all know Washington is no “average Joe.” As one of the most commanding actors of his generation, it takes a considerable leap of faith for moviegoers to buy him as a soft-spoken, blue collar everyman. But Washington, concealed behind thick glasses and a mustache borrowed from Samuel L. Jackson in “Changing Lanes,” is more than up to the challenge. His perfectly modulated performance consistently anchors the film in tangible reality, just as Scott’s hyper-active style threatens to send the film flying off the rails. “Pelham” marks their fourth collaboration, and proves once again that the actor and director complement each others’ work nicely.

Travolta, on the other hand, seems lost at sea. His villainous comfort zone is often confined to quietly brooding (as in “Pulp Fiction”), and he looks ill-at-ease while screaming ultimatums at Washington. His entire character lacks the chilling edge and mystery of Robert Shaw in Joseph Sargent’s original 1974 picture, which still stands as a pleasing minor classic. The film’s color-coded villains each exuded distinctive personalities, but in the remake, Scott focuses entirely on the two leads, while taking full advantage of the technological progress that has occurred since the previous film (which alters the plot considerably). James Gandolfini breathes vibrant life into the thankless role of New York City’s boneheaded mayor, while John Turturro (as the negotiator) exists primarily to give Washington a “thumbs up.”

Since much of the film takes place in two stagnant locations, a transit office and a stalled subway car, Scott is forced to devote his antsy attention to the psychological warfare between Washington and Travolta. The resulting film is no masterpiece, nor a sizable improvement over the original, but it is surely one of the most purely entertaining films of Scott’s career.

“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” is presented in 1080p High Definition (with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio), and is accompanied by English, French and Spanish audio tracks, as well as a Digital Copy. Apart from the usual BD Live features offered by Sony (cinechat, movieIQ), there are some special features that actually manage to deepen one’s appreciation of the film. In two commentaries and a making-of documentary, the filmmakers explain why they felt the story was ripe for retelling, and how they went about updating the plot for modern times. Say what you will about Scott, but he’s certainly no slacker when it comes to research.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com