I am such a Denzel Washington fan and as an actor he does not disappoint in this film which ticks all the boxes for a hostage flick. However, by its very nature there are no real surprises - there are the requisite negotiations, the impossible demands, a few shootings, and of course getting the bad guy. What’s new?
There was so much advertising and so many millions spent on this film that I really thought it was going to be a summer blockbuster but it just didn’t cut the mustard. Not even the loud soundtrack music or the stylish and choppy editing could hide the fact that it just wasn’t exciting enough. The acting was certainly not to blame as MTA Dispatcher Walter Garber was played expertly by Washington and John Travolta pulled off a believable, albeit rather too cranky, criminal called Ryder.
This film, which is a remake of the original thriller in 1974 and adapted from the book by author John Godey, pretty much gets straight into the action with Ryder and his gang hijacking a subway train full of hostages. Garber is a little down on his luck having been demoted to a dispatcher after bribe allegations. It just so happens that he is controlling the subway line of Pelham 123 on the day that Ryder takes over the subway train and demands $10 million within a hour; if the city does not pay up in time hostages will die.
The mayor is notified and the money is sent for. The transfer of the money to the subway provides probably one of the best action scenes I’ve seen for a while. It’s a race against time to get the money there within minutes and the cops can’t stop for anyone, burning rubber and even crashing their way through the city.
Meanwhile, Garber develops a rather unlikely, and volatile, rapport with Ryder, a rapport which is initially unappreciated by the NYPD Hostage Negotiator Detective Camonetti (John Turturro ), with disastrous consequences. Garber, with his vast knowledge of the subway system and his impressive parley skills, teams up with Camonetti to try to stop the determined and crazed Ryder from taking lives and succeeding in his plans.
The film was exciting, even riveting in some parts, but it just did not live up to the hype.
Verdict: 3/5
