Based on the 1973 novel of the same name by Morton Freedgood, 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three' is the story of the hijacking and ransom of a New York City subway car. From that brief description what you'd probably expect from a film version is an action movie, and that is to a fair degree what you get with the 2009 remake. However the original 1974 production was more a 'crisis situation procedural'. It was really fun to watch, I love the whole gritty 1970's New York astatic, I loved the pacing, unlike the remake the original was not in a hurry, in fact it seemed to take place in roughly real time.
A fine cast, Walter Matthau, Martin Balsam, Robert Shaw. Both film versions were main stream releases, but the base intelligence level of a wide release film from the mid 70's to that of the late aughts, night and day, the first film is so much more mature.
While there is something to say for Tony Scott not going for a straight remake, (leads Washington and Travolta give reasonably committed performances), it's more of a variation on a theme, it just doesn't have the substance of the original, it's flashy, hollow, disposable. While no doubt it was not helped by my beginning the remake roughly 90 minutes after finishing the original, I have no desire to see 2009's Pelham again, but 1974's One Two Three I would welcome repeat viewing.
1974: ***1/2
2009: *1/2
No comments:
Post a Comment