The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

Starring Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, James Gandolfini, et al
Rated R, 106 minutes

"Pelham 123" was one of those rare trailers that I took notice of. I thought the movie would deliver a good, if not predictable evening, with an entertaining ratcheting up of tension and good performances. If somebody wanted to go to the movies that weekend, it would probably top my list of picks.

Based on a 1973 novel, this is the second major movie adaptation of the story. It features John Travolta as a man hijacking a subway train and holding its passengers for ransom. Denzel Washington is the subway dispatcher turned hostage negotiator.

One strange style choice was the use of flying maps and other graphics that would look at home in a Dateline NBC story. The extra f-words also felt like a shot of modernization that didn't always work.

Still, "The Taking of Pelham 123" was a good, if not predictable movie, with an entertaining ratcheting up of tension and good performances. The trailer left no secret, really, on what was going to happen. Things unfolded in an engaging manner, so I got what I asked for. You will too, if you see it.

***½