I can’t get it out of my head. I’m gonna die today.|Jun. 10, 2009|United States | United Kingdom|106 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Crime;Thriller
Description: The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) is a gripping thriller set in New York City. The story follows Ryder, the mastermind behind a daring subway hijacking. Alongside his accomplices—Bashkin, Emri, and former train operator Phil Ramos—Ryder seizes control of Pelham 123, a subway train. After uncoupling the front car near 51st Street, they take the passengers hostage.
Walter Garber, an MTA employee working as a train dispatcher, becomes the unlikely negotiator when Ryder demands a $10 million ransom within 60 minutes. Ryder threatens to kill a hostage for every minute the deadline is breached.
Tensions rise as Bashkin kills a suspicious transit officer, and most passengers are released except for those in the front car. Ryder, monitoring the stock market’s reaction to the chaos, watches the Dow Jones plummet. Meanwhile, a hostage’s laptop camera allows authorities to observe the hijackers.
When NYPD Lieutenant Camonetti takes over negotiations, Ryder retaliates by killing the train’s motorman, forcing Garber back into the role. It’s revealed that Garber is under investigation for allegedly accepting a bribe, a detail Ryder uses to manipulate him. Garber confesses to taking the bribe to fund his child’s education but maintains it didn’t influence his decisions.
As the mayor agrees to the ransom, the delivery is delayed due to a police car accident, escalating the already volatile situation. The film is a tense portrayal of crime, negotiation, and moral dilemmas, set against the backdrop of New York City’s bustling subway system.
Cast director: Tony Scott
Cast actor: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzmán, James Gandolfini, Michael Rispoli, Gary Basaraba, Alex Kaluzhsky, Alice Kremelberg, Katherine Sigismund
Original name: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3