The Re-Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

I never saw the original, so I have no idea how good or bad, in comparison, this remake is. In and of itself, it's a tense character drama masquerading as an action piece. Or possibly vice versa.

Travolta takes over a train and holds the passengers hostage for money (or does he?). Washington is the unlucky work-a-day joe who is stuck with dealing with him, without even the aid of an e-meter. The movie is, by and large, a 'two-hander' as they say, with these two playing off each other. And a bunch of other people as well, but it is basically these two taking up time chatting to each other, with the occasional threat of violence to liven things up.

John Travolta and Denzel Washington can pull this off, both fine actors. John Turturro plays a grease ball of a cop, and James Gandolfini is the mayor (now we know what happened after the end of the Sopranos). No-one else really stands out, although there is a good moment between Washington and 'wife' Aunjanue Ellis.

Not a bad movie to pass the time with, although trainspotters might get over-obsessed about a few things. Although now I want to go rewatch The Negotiator.

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