--- title: "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3" critics_score: 48 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 48 from 14 reviews: 2 positive, 5 mixed, 7 negative. The reviews lean negative, with seven of fourteen unfavourable and only two clearly recommending it. Where praise comes, it comes for the two leads: most critics enjoy watching Denzel Washington’s restrained performance set against John Travolta’s manic one, and several say the cat-and-mouse exchanges between them are the one thing holding the film together. The supporting cast is noticed too, with John Turturro and James Gandolfini each singled out. The reservations cluster almost entirely on Tony Scott’s direction. Critic after critic faults the frantic editing, restless camerawork and visual tricks, which several say drain tension from the climactic chase rather than add to it. The spread is wide: the kinder reviews call it solid, dumb summer fun, while the harshest find it a pointless and sensationalist remake that compares badly with the original. Empire goes further than most in finding Travolta’s villain erratic and unconvincing, where others count his mania as a plus. ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 25 June 2009. Turan gives the film a clearly positive verdict, saying it is worth seeing in theaters. He praises its professional execution and gripping action, which keep viewers’ attention. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-25-et-kenny25-story.html) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2009. McCarthy finds the remake an efficient, exciting thriller, though Scott’s visual tricks weaken the climactic chase. He praises the chemistry between Washington’s restrained performance and Travolta’s increasingly engaging turn. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3-1200507042/) ## Screen Daily — Brent Simon Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2009. The review's verdict is not visible in the accessible page. Its specific praise or criticism is also unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-taking-of-pelham-123/5002254.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — The Associated Press Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 4 June 2009. The critic finds the film entertaining but less transporting than it should be, with its momentum faltering in the third act. They praise the Washington–Travolta pairing and the supporting cast, especially the leads’ game of cat and mouse. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/pelham-1-2-3-film-93249/) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 2/5. 28 July 2009. The review gives the film a negative verdict, calling the remake pointless. It singles out the remake’s lack of justification as its central complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3-1) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 1.5/4. 9 June 2009. Schager finds the film an overblown, ultimately unthrilling remake with more visual commotion than substance. He praises John Travolta’s manic performance, while faulting Tony Scott’s excessive stylistic flourishes and the film’s silly plotting. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3/) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Rating D. 11 June 2009. Rabin gives the remake a harsh verdict, calling it an awful desecration of the original. He faults its generic cityscape and frenetic editing, while singling out James Gandolfini as the film’s standout. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3-1798206401) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2009. French prefers the original and finds Tony Scott’s remake excessively sensationalist. He singles out John Turturro’s performance as a hostage negotiator for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/aug/02/taking-of-pelham-123-review) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2009. Lane finds the film loud, emotionally manipulative, and too self-conscious to sustain its thriller story. He particularly criticizes the frantic camerawork and editing, which leave little room for subtlety. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/06/22/off-the-rails-3) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2009. Newman gives the remake a strongly negative verdict, finding it unengaging and far less effective than the original. He particularly criticizes the overcomplicated character backstories and John Travolta’s erratic, unconvincing villain. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/taking-pelham-one-two-three-2-review/) ## NME — Owen Nicholls Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2009. The critic recommends the film as dumb summer fun despite its many flaws. They praise Denzel Washington’s performance, while faulting the chaotic direction and distracting subplots. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/the-taking-of-pelham-123-review-46483) ## Den of Geek — Rupert de Rating 3/5. 23 July 2009. The review calls it solid entertainment that loses its way in a generic finale. It praises Denzel Washington’s performance and the tension of his exchanges with Travolta, while criticizing Travolta’s overacting and Scott’s visual gimmicks. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-taking-of-pelham-123-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Laraine Sztypuljak Rating 6/10. 11 January 2010. The critic finds the film enjoyable but only solid, not among Tony Scott’s best. She praises the spectacular New York aerial shots and particularly exciting motorcycle-and-police-car chase. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/blu-ray-review-the-taking-of-pelham-123/) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2009. Carty finds the remake unremarkable and rarely thrilling. He criticizes its predictable story, stock characters, and illogical plot turns. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3-film-review-by-stephen-carty) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3.md