The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

(USA, 2009, 103 minutes)

A New York subway train is hijacked by a gang of gunmen who demand a $10 million ransom from the City Hall. Unhappy remake of a fondly remembered B-thriller that cleverly updates the plot but then lets the director's trademark flashy visuals loose in a story that doesn't really need them. The acting and production values somehow survive.

Columbia Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures present, in association with Relativity Media, a Scott Free/Escape Artists production. Starring Denzel Washington, John Travolta; John Turturro, Luis Guzmán, Michael Rispoli; and James Gandolfini. Directed by Tony Scott; produced by Todd Black, Tony Scott, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch; screenplay by Brian Helgeland, based on the novel by John Godey, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3; music by Harry Gregson-Williams; director of photography (DeLuxe prints, Panavision), Tobias Schliessler; production designer, Chris Seagers; costume designer, Renée Ehrlich Kalfus; film editor, Chris Lebenzon.