The Taking of Pelham 123

IMPORT-

I was really ready for this movie to be not so good, and was actually supposed to be seeing something else instead (Away We Go). I wanted it to be bad so I could say, "I saw the Taking of Pelham 123 this afternoon and they should of called it, The Taking of $18.50."  But THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 was very well done, and entertaining, something not done so much these days.

I was skeptical because there was no buzz on this movie good or bad, John Travolta often picks odd movies, and Tony Scott the director is less than reliable with his 'Tony Scott style.'  Knocking those worries out of the way was a reliable Denzel Washington, good script by Brian Heglegand (LA Confidential, Mystic River), and a solid, brisk, and tense hostage movie. John Travolta does a nice job making his character real, and still having fun being the baddie like he did in Face/Off. Many movies often also suffer when the main two characters are basically doing scenes not in the same place, think BODY OF LIES, however this only builds when these two men are talking to each other and rises until they actually meet. Also benefiting Pelham is the psychology of all of the characters from the Mayor of NYC, to Washington and Travolta's characters. It makes it so much better for a high speed, hijack, hostage movie to have more meat behind it like this does. The tension works and so does the backstory for the characters. A theme of taking, and greed floats around in this movie, and works the best in the end where Washington's character on the road to personal redemption says no to a simple ride in the mayors car as a sign to no longer take.

I have a hard time saying too much bad about this movie. Tony Scott's hyper style in transitions removes a bit from the reality of this story. However the action, and the progression of the story never goes over the top. Same for the acting, especially Washington who has this amazing ability to play it so honest while selecting perfect moments to have major character revelations in his choices. 

It's hard not to suffer from post movie high. Yes, it's a thing. That high you get after you walk out seeing a new big movie on the big screen which clouds your judgement of what you just saw because you are bedazzled by the spectacle. I think I may have suffered it oh so slightly after seeing Terminator Salvation. But in the case of PELHAM 123 I'm trying really hard to make sure it's not a high when I say this is the fourth movie of the summer season you should see. (STAR TREK, UP, THE HANGOVER, and TAKING OF PELHAM 123)