"THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123" (2009) Review

[seldonp38]

Comments

[turk_diddler]

For me it's a mostly a work a day film, if I catch it on TV late at night it'll pass the half an hour until bedtime, but I would struggle to understand why anyone would seek it out. Except that is to enjoy the scenery chewing from Travolta, completely unrestrained and badly chasing the ballsy characteristics of a role 20 years younger than he was at the time. I remember a reviewer at the time saying f you want to watch Travolta shouting obscenities into a radio mic for 90 minutes this is your film, and that's its main value.

And I agree with you about the tagged on ending. Check out the final scene in the of the 1974 version, which ends without dialogue, just Matthau giving one of the crooks a wry look. In 1 second he out-acts every scene from the 2009 film. Indeed that's why the 1974 version is worth making an effort to see, Matthau in his prime, or maybe just after his prime, crumpled, world weary but still the coolest guy in the room. Makes Washington look ultra-conservative and a bit boringly worthy in how he played a nominally similar role.