B-Movie Gazette: THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3 (1974) (TV 1998) (2009) - AND HOPEFULLY NO MORE AS TWO OF THESE WERE UNNECESSARY

B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - THE DEATH OF RITCHIE (TV 1977)

Looks like a lot of fun to me, I don't know. Seriously and for those that don't know, The Death Of Ritchie is one of the most iconic TV movies of the entire '70's decade. I was roughly 15 when it aired and i can tell you that both Robby Benson and teens taking drugs were very hot topics at the time. The film is based on a true story where a father who couldn't control his teen's behavior from drug abuse was forced to take the law into his own hands. The father here is good ole Ben Gazzara and he is at his Gazzara best with a ferocious intensity, his scenes with Benson as father and son a perfect chemistry. At the time more emphasis was on Benson as a model but his performance here is really amazing. Streams free on Tubi, Freevee, Roku and Plex, if this was being rated on the standard scale I would give it five stars, 'nuff said. 2.75 stars/2.75

Sunday, June 30, 2024

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3 (1974) (TV 1998) (2009) - AND HOPEFULLY NO MORE AS TWO OF THESE WERE UNNECESSARY

Oscar snub? - Dick O'Neill as dispatcher and alter-ego to "Garber" (Walter Matthau)

1974 VERSION

There must be literally a dozen or more great films from the '70's that should have never been remade and this one is a doosie. From the perfectly grimy photography of the subway sequences to the near-perfect editing and of course, performances, the original Pelham is a Bonafide classic through and through. Robert Shaw's performance as the hijacker's ringleader is one of his best and although Walter Matthau is great as the cop, it's his counterpart, Correll (Dick O'Neill) that should get top honors. In the event you've never seen it then don't pass go and don't collect two hundred dollars - just get your butt over to Tubi where it's streaming for free. Easily one of early 70's best films. 4.0 stars/5

TV 1998 VERSION

Produced by MGM for ABC, this television adaption stars Edward James Olmos as the cop and Vincent O'nofrio as the ringleader. They make a couple of politically correct changes such as making one of the four robbers a woman. "Mixed results" I think would be a great term to describe this version. The casting here is really good but the dialog isn't. The editing is hip for the time period but the underground photography leaves a lot to be desired. Lorraine Bracco is here as a cop but it's certainly not the same woman I saw in Goodfellas. As my man Rod Serling used to say, "subject to your approval," you can decide for yourself, use the embed or it's on Tubi, Roku and some others. 2.0 stars/2.75

2009 VERSION

Oh, man. From the dredges of the deep dark comes this absolutely unnecessary version that has one thing and only one thing going for it which was Tony Scott behind the camera. Having said that, it's his worst by a mile. The changes they make to the plot are many (such as making the robbery about a stock trade) and so vast and off the track of the story. It has been known to make fans of the original version puke. For instance, a scene where a boy needs to pee and an adult wants to but can't and Travolta makes a stupid comment, all of it totally unnecessary. (For whatever reason, this scene is also in the 1998 TV version but is not in the original book or movie which means 2009 copied that from the TV version.)

And then there's John Travolta. Miscast isn't the word to use, it's just wrong, doesn't work. Scott should have told him to come back with a different approach to the character. I am calling miscast though on both John Turturro way out of place as a cop and Michael Rispoli who is so much better than this material. Same thing with Denzel who can play anything but this isn't him. It's a car wreck folks, it's up to you whether to look or not. On VOD. 1.25 stars/5