Thrills and Tension: A Critical Review of The Taking of Pelham 123'

The Taking of Pelham 123, 2009

Directed By: Tony Scott

Link to Trailer

The film, "The Taking of Pelham 123", is about a New York City subway dispatcher named Walter Garber is briefly demoted as a result of his participation in a bribery scam. So he finds himself in the Rail Control Center, directing the subway trains. One day, the Lexington Avenue Line subway train Pelham 123 is hijacked as it leaves the Pelham Bay Park station by a heavily armed group under the command of a man only known as Ryder. Ryder threatens to execute prisoners if he doesn't get his $10 million ransom within an hour. Ryder's main point of contact with the authorities is Walter Garber. As time runs out, Garber must use his social skills to reason with Ryder and attempt to prevent the situation from getting worse. Ryder turns out to be a crafty and unexpected opponent, increasing the tension. In the meantime, the city's police officers and the mayor of New York City are planning how to handle the hijacking and the discussions. The cops make an effort to locate Ryder and look for any weaknesses that they might be able to exploit. While the police and Garber attempt to meet Ryder's demands and gain the release of the hostages, they also seek to understand the reasons for the hijacking. As the movie goes on, it becomes more and more obvious what Ryder's true motives are and why he chose to attack Pelham 123. 

In The Taking of Pelham 123, a specific plot device is not specifically present. Instead, the main plot revolves around the hijacking of Pelham 123, the New York City subway train,

The 3 main acts begin with A heavily armed squad under the direction of Ryder kidnaps Pelham 123, a New York City subway train on the Lexington Avenue Line, in the first act. Ryder threatens to execute prisoners if he doesn't get his $10 million ransom within an hour. Ryder's primary point of contact with the authorities is Walter Garber, a New York City subway dispatcher. The hijackers seize control of the train and its passengers during this incident, and Ryder delivers his initial demands. The movie builds up the tense situation as Garber, the Mayor, and the police hustle to handle the emergency and start talks with the hijackers.

This act focuses on the continued discussions between Ryder and Garber. Garber tries to understand Ryder's motivations for the hijacking while using his friendly abilities to prevent things from getting worse. In the meantime, the police and authorities look for Ryder's location and potential weak spots. Ryder explains some of his reasons for the hijacking as the tension rises, including his need for money and his desire to make a statement against society's greed and corruption. While trying to learn more about the hijackers and their plans, the authorities make an organized effort to meet Ryder's demands and gain the release of the hostages. 

Lastly, this act is when the suspense is at its peak as Ryder's deadline for his demands comes near. To protect those held captive and disrupt Ryder's ambitions, the authorities and Garber must make crucial choices. The details of the climax reveal Ryder's true intentions and the reasoning behind his choice to target Pelham 123. The fate of Pelham 123's passengers and the hijacking's outcome are revealed in the suspenseful finale of the movie. 

The main character changes that I noticed are in Walter Garber, a New York City subway dispatcher at the start of the movie, is temporarily demoted as a result of his role in a bribery incident and now finds himself in charge of the subway trains. He is committed to ensure passenger safety in his job as a dispatcher and is calm, resourceful, and quick to think. Garber goes through a range of emotions as the hijacking progresses and he becomes Ryder's primary point of contact. 

At first, the sudden hijacking and the brutality of the hijackers surprise and catch him off guard. He quickly adjusts to the circumstance, though, and makes use of his social skills to engage in difficult discussions with Ryder. Garber's character demonstrates resilience and determination to save the hostages. He becomes emotionally invested in the passengers' safety, and his commitment to resolving the crisis and outsmarting Ryder drives much of the plot.