Blu-ray Review: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

Release Date: November 3rd, 2009
Running Time: 106 minutes

The Film

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is a remake of a 1974 film, but the core story is just as relevant today as it was thirty-five years ago. The film now stars Denzel Washington as Walter Garber, a man who used to be high up in the NYC subway ranks but has been demoted to dispatcher due to an investigation claiming that he accepted a bribe. On this particular day a spastic man who only calls himself Ryder (John Travolta) takes Pelham 1 2 3 hostage and gives his demands to the only person he is in communication with—Walter. Ryder’s team of thugs detaches a single car and takes hostages. Ryder demands $10 million dollars within sixty minutes or he will execute one hostage per minute past the deadline.

Ryder takes a liking to Walter as they talk more, and when a hostage negotiator (John Turturro) replaces Walter, Ryder promptly executes a hostage. Ryder will only speak with Walter. Their back and forth discussions slowly reveal secrets about both men. Walter has the thankless task of trying to prevent Ryder from killing the hostages as the cops scramble to get the money ready. However, something doesn’t add up. How can Ryder hope to escape; he trapped himself in the subway tunnel. Why ten million dollars? Ryder’s true intentions remain hidden and the lives of nearly twenty people are in Walter’s hands.

Because the film is very dialogue-driven and focused on the two main characters, the success of story can be largely attributed to the actors. Travolta is out-of-his-mind awesome as Ryder, showing multiple sides of his personality while seeming to maintain constant control of the situation. Likewise, Denzel’s performance impressed me because he is playing a character that is not as powerful or commanding as his usual heroic figures, and he pulls it off! It is Travolta’s and Denzel’s chemistry that makes the film. The heart of the story is their interactions, how they feel each other out, and the scenes are simply riveting. Backed by standout supporting actors like James Gandolfini as the mayor and John Turturro as the hostage negotiator, there isn’t a weak link to be found.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 doesn’t revolutionize the action/thriller genre but it is still a consistently entertaining piece of filmmaking. It presents the inner workings of the subway system in detail that I have never seen before, sucking the audience into that world of critical organization. The time limit Ryder gives plays out in what seems like real time, almost like an episode of 24. This is perfectly suited for Tony Scott’s ultra-stylized directing featuring choppy shots, quick editing, and other visual tricks. Like or hate Scott’s style, it works very well with this story to keep the pace and tension. My only real gripe is that the final fifteen or twenty minutes seemed to drag a little bit and was less engaging than the rest of the film. However, this is very much just a personal opinion, and I can honestly say that The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 was an enjoyable, engaging experience from start to finish.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 2.40:1, 1080p High Definition transfer. The high level of fine detail fits perfectly with Scott’s gritty visual style. All of the subway settings have the amount of grime and wear and tear that you would expect. Close-up shots are fantastic as well, showing off the sweaty tension and emotion in the actors’ faces. Exterior shots also create palpable image depth. Colors feature Scott’s typical oversaturated, stylized look, and for the most part there aren’t many bold colors to see. Black levels are very strong which is necessary for the darker subway sequences. Lastly a faithful amount of film grain is preserved, rounding out a very impressive transfer.

The audio is offered in English/French/Castilian Spanish DTS 5.1 master lossless audio tracks and English/Catalan Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/French/Castilian Spanish/Portuguese subtitles. This aggressive track mirrors the chaotic visuals. The sounds of the subway system are completely recreated: all of the rumbles, secondary noises, and the sheer power of movement—you truly feel like you are in the car. Though the film is dialogue heavy (which is always clean and balanced), the rears remain active throughout with plenty of ambience. Gunshots and other effects give the bass a work out as does the score (the opening song for example). The mix may be powerful but not at the sacrifice of clarity. The sound design is very precise and realistic, and the mix lets you hear every detail.

The Extras

Sony has offered a few unique Blu-ray options.

“Cinechat” is an instant messaging application that lets you chat with your friends while watching the film. This should please the social media generation.

“MovieIQ” allows you to turn on a slew of detailed factoids regarding the production. It is much more in-depth than most trivia tracks.

Commentary is offered with Director Tony Scott talking about how he got involved with the project, the challenges of the location shoots, and much more. He’s a good speaker but most of the information can be found in the featurettes. A second Commentary is offered with Writer Brian Helgeland and Producer Todd Black. The two have a history working together and bounce information very well off of each other. They talk about picking a film to remake, the story, and much more. Of the two tracks, this one of is more enjoyable simply because it has two participants.

“No Time to Lose: The Making of Pelham 1 2 3” is a 30-minute behind-the-scenes featurette that is more informative than most promotional segments. Cast and crew interviews lay out the project’s evolution from its genesis and writing to the location shoots. Scott’s unique visual style is also covered.

“The Third Rail: New York Underground” (16 minutes) is my favorite feature on the disc and brings you on an in-depth exploration of the NYC subway system as well as elaborating on the challenges presented by shooting there. This featurette basically expands on some ideas touched upon in “No Time to Lose.”

“From the Top Down” (5 minutes) is one of the strangest inclusions I have seen on a disc. This film is not the type that needs a featurette on hair styles. Why this was included is beyond me.

The “Marketing Pelham” section contains numerous promotional trailers.

Lastly, a Digital Copy is included and the main disc is BD-Live enabled.

Final Thoughts

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is a tight, intense thriller with surprising performances from well-established actors. The Blu-ray disc does not disappoint in any respect, even if it does have one very strange featurette.