Rating: R
Movie Release Date: June 12, 2009
DVD Release Date: November 3, 2009
Plot 411: Gunmen hijack a subway train and negotiate with an NYC dispatcher.
Review: John Travolta plays Ryder, an ex-con Wall Street stockbroker who hooks up with a fellow inmate (Luis Guzman) to hatch a scheme to make a ton of money. He is angry at the city of New York for putting him away for 10 years and seeks to take his revenge. He demands $10 million in 60 minutes and will kill one passenger for every minute that the money is late. However, the ransom is just a decoy because he's really betting on a tremendous drop in the stock market. Throughout the film, Ryder will speak only to Garber (Denzel Washington), a dispatcher who is under investigation for taking a bribe. When a hostage negotiator (John Turturro) tries to take over, Ryder shoots and kills the subway driver to prove his point. This is mostly a suspense thriller and not really an action flick. I thought there was going to be some kind of message about wrongful incarceration or the evils of capitalism, but this was mostly about revenge. Travolta and Washington just weren't enough to keep my attention. The plot just didn't seem to go anywhere. Things were happening but they seemed disjointed. One event didn't really link up with another. The look of the film was like a high fashion glossy magazine trying to pretend it was all gangsta - bright lights contrasting with the darkness of the subway. This was mostly a disappointing experience.
Movie Release Date: June 12, 2009
DVD Release Date: November 3, 2009
Plot 411: Gunmen hijack a subway train and negotiate with an NYC dispatcher.
Review: John Travolta plays Ryder, an ex-con Wall Street stockbroker who hooks up with a fellow inmate (Luis Guzman) to hatch a scheme to make a ton of money. He is angry at the city of New York for putting him away for 10 years and seeks to take his revenge. He demands $10 million in 60 minutes and will kill one passenger for every minute that the money is late. However, the ransom is just a decoy because he's really betting on a tremendous drop in the stock market. Throughout the film, Ryder will speak only to Garber (Denzel Washington), a dispatcher who is under investigation for taking a bribe. When a hostage negotiator (John Turturro) tries to take over, Ryder shoots and kills the subway driver to prove his point. This is mostly a suspense thriller and not really an action flick. I thought there was going to be some kind of message about wrongful incarceration or the evils of capitalism, but this was mostly about revenge. Travolta and Washington just weren't enough to keep my attention. The plot just didn't seem to go anywhere. Things were happening but they seemed disjointed. One event didn't really link up with another. The look of the film was like a high fashion glossy magazine trying to pretend it was all gangsta - bright lights contrasting with the darkness of the subway. This was mostly a disappointing experience.
Watch It: If maybe you need your fix of Travolta. However, even then there are other ways to service your needs.
Skip It: In favor of the 1974 version. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 100% rating.
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