Welcome back to Movie Recap. Today I'm gonna show you a 2009 American action thriller film called,
The Taking of Pelham 123. Spoilers ahead. Sit back, relax and enjoy the video.
The movie begins with a man calling himself Ryder and his accomplices, Bashkin, Emri,
and former train operator, Phil Ramos to hijack Pelham 123, a subway six train of New York City,
at 77th street. While waiting for the train, Ryder patiently waits for the signal and people
to get inside first. Once it arrives, Ryder's accomplices walk separately inside the train,
coolly placing themselves near the front door. Later at 1:59 PM, Ryder drags himself to the train
station below 51st street, wherein his accomplices are inside, waiting for him to make a signal.
Afterward, he places himself beside the window of a motorman named Jerry Pollard,
and as soon as Jerry calls his attention to move because he can't see where he's going to
look on the platform, Ryder suddenly takes out a gun points out his head. Ryder then
orders Jerry to unlock the door immediately, or else Ryder will kill him. Leaving Jerry no choice,
he quickly locks the door, and Ryder beats his head to get him unconscious.
Once the train door is locked, Phil starts operating the train and maneuvers it alone,
while the rest, including Ryder, patiently wait for their next move. Riding the train below 51st
street, Ryder and his accomplices eventually begin taking their mission. As the train never
stops moving, Bashkin follows the conductor, Regina, towards the train's first car. Afterward,
Phil orders Jerry to give the cutting key. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority employee Walter Garber, working the Rail Control Center as a train dispatcher, suddenly
notices the train's stop in Pelham 123. So, he asks the operator why the train is at a standstill
despite its all green ahead. Yet, Walter receives no answer from Jerry as Ryder takes him hostage.
Then, Phil, on the other hand, walks toward Regina as he gets the cutting key. Uncoupling the
train's front car below 51st street, Ryder and his accomplices finally take the passengers hostage.
Afterward, Walter reports in the 42nd Street tower at the control center that he
got a train wrong-railing on the southbound Lexington Avenue Lite just north of them.
Afterward, Walter announces stopping and staying in-station the trains as he calls
for Jerry to know what's going on in train 123. However, Walter still receives no response from
Jerry, and suddenly, the South Ferry 105 operator reports that he can't get his windshield wiper to
turn on. So, Walter answers, saying that there's a circuit breaker right behind him for that.
Suddenly, his co-worker begins asking what is happening, but Walter leaves him no answer.
Meanwhile, a New York City Transit Police officer eventually approaches Phil and Bashkin
to know the situation inside the train. But then, Bashkin begins shooting him because
the policeman is suspicious and thinks he might ruin their plan to hijack the train.
Suddenly, all the passengers start panicking, making Bashkin air gunshots inside the train
to make them stop shouting. Afterward, Ryder's accomplices order the passengers to move against
the window. Feared, Phil radios Emri that Bashkin killed a cop. Emri then commands
Regina to put the radio on, ordering her to drive the passengers off the train up to the platform.
Meanwhile, the police officers make their way toward the train station as all the passengers,
who are not in the front car, are released. Then, Bashkin and Phil,
on the other hand, walk toward the railroad car where Ryder and Emri are staying with the motorman
and other passengers. Afterward, Emri orders Phil to turn the power off from there down.
Suddenly, Walter receives a call from Ryder, saying that one car they got is
much more manageable than ten with the workforce he got. Afterward,
he puts the radio on Jerry to tell that there are hostages inside the first car. Then, Ryder
receives an answer from him, saying that Walter is not the man who can give Ryder some money.
But then, Ryder begins ordering him to get a calculator as they estimate the funds that Ryder
wants to have, which is $10 million in cash and needs to be paid by the mayor within 60 minutes.
As Ryder makes a deal, he suddenly begins threatening Walter,
saying that every minute he waits past the deadline, he will kill a hostage, and that's
a punishment Walter will get for the late fee. Unfortunately, Walter reluctantly negotiates with
Ryder despite his struggle to convince the mayor to lend them some funds.
Then, after a few minutes, Walter radios Ryder that his men are notifying the mayor already.
As they finish their small talk, Phil and Emri, on the other hand, set up Internet access in the
tunnel. While setting up, Ryder opens his laptop to wait for the internet connection.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Camonetti of the New York City Police Department Emergency Services Unit
arrives at the Control Center to investigate the situation on Pelham 123. It's 45 minutes to the
deadline, yet Walter is still lending his time to report Ryder's information and the money he wants
to get. Camonetti asks for the call to talk with Ryder, so Walter points to the blue button and
hits it to reach Ryder. However, Johnson suddenly interrupts and orders Walter to take the rest of
the day off. To Walter's dismay, he immediately walks out without responding to Johnson.
Meanwhile, Ryder suddenly receives a call from Camonetti, who takes over negotiations instead
of Walter. As they talk, Camonetti eventually infuriates Ryder after answering him that Walter
is not on the Control Center anymore and is no longer involved in the case. Because of that,
Ryder kills the train's motorman as he triggers Camonetti to bring Walter back. Unfortunately,
the after 60-minute late fee suddenly turns into 60 seconds before killing another hostage if they
will not get back Walter. Panicking, Camonetti eventually orders his men to call Walter.
Luckily, Walter immediately returns from the Control Panel and talks to Ryder. Ryder
then tells Walter that he only has thirty-nine minutes before killing all the passengers inside.
However, upon preparing the ten-million-dollar money to Ryder, Camonetti suddenly learns that
Garber is under investigation for allegedly accepting a $35,000 bribe over a contract for new
Japanese subway cars upon going to Japan. Then, on the other hand, Ryder watches the Dow Jones
Industrial Average plunges nearly 1,000 points in response to the hijacking on his laptop. While
the rest of his accomplices, especially Phil, is starting to get nervous about what they're doing.
Camonetti eventually talks to Walter at the Control Panel, asking him how he receives a
call from Ryder. So, Walter answers, saying that he got Lexington Avenue coming through his desk.
However, Camonetti is still trying to bait him, so he wonders why Ryder is targeting Walter.
But then, Walter keeps saying no, but not until Camonetti asks if Walter picks the
desk or Johnson assigns it to him. To Walter's surprise, he suddenly engages
himself with an interrogation with Camonetti. Meanwhile, at Pelham 123, Phil reveals Walter's
case, so Ryder browses the internet and eventually discovers the allegations of bribe-taking online.
Because of that, Ryder reveals to Walter that he finds out his case about the contract.
Afterward, Walter assures that he only gets accused of taking the bribe. Nevertheless,
he's still under investigation as he has not been proven guilty. And because of their talk,
Walter triggers Ryder to answer how Walter took the bribe, yet Walter assures him that's his
innocent. To Ryder's dismay, he forces Walter to confess by threatening to kill a passenger.
As Ryder takes a passenger to kill, Walter reveals the truth.
Walter then says that he gets offered the bribe while deciding between two companies,
saying that he didn't get to vote but make only a recommendation,
wherein he chooses the Japanese subway cars. As Ryder listens, he asks Walter where he spent the
money, so Walter answers, saying that he used the money to pay for his children's college tuition.
Almost crying, Walter receives a thank you from the passenger for saving his life.
Twenty-one minutes before the deadline, the mayor finally agrees to Ryder's ransom
and orders the police officers prepare the money as they are going to deliver it.
However, upon the delivery, Leo's laptop, who's a hostage, suddenly connects to the
internet inside the tunnel, giving him access to a webcam to communicate with his girlfriend.
Afterward, Geo orders his girlfriend to stream their video call on the site as she
calls the news. Eventually, the webcam allows the control center to observe Ryder and Phil.
Afterward, Camonetti orders Walter to rodeo clowns with him as he gives
Walter a crash course on hostage negotiating. Later, Ryder talks with the mayor as he makes a
deal that he will trade him for all the passengers on the train. But then, the mayor refuses to
accept the offer and declines it. Because of that, the mayor infuriates Ryder and says that
the money must be on the train already, or else he will start killing all the passengers. Panicking,
Walter tries to calm Ryder by telling him that the ransom is on the way already.
Meanwhile, Camonetti makes his mission to know all the information about Phil,
who was arrested for manslaughter a few years ago. Unfortunately, upon en route, a police car
eventually involves itself in a car accident, making it a failure to deliver the money in time.
Then, upon receiving the news, Walter attempts to bluff Ryder, saying that the ransom has arrived,
unaware that Ryder has been monitoring events on his laptop. While talking, Walter tries to deflect
Ryder by asking how he meets the guy, Phil, in prison. Then, Camonetti, on the other hand,
begins signaling the men to make a move. And while Walter and Ryder are talking,
the mayor's aides suddenly report the extreme drop in the major stock indexes,
making the mayor stress himself about the problem as thinking that Ryder is the person who attempts
to manipulate the market via put options. However, Ryder suddenly stops their talk as
he wants to get the money. Unfortunately, the last police car involves an accident again,
making Ryder execute seven hostages, including the child's mother. Suddenly, another hostage,
a former soldier, sacrifices himself to join the execution. And while Walter
tries to convince Ryder that it's an accident, Ryder eventually decides to shoot the soldier.
Suddenly, a brief gunfight erupts after an Emergency Services Unit sniper is bitten by a rat,
making his weapon discharge and accidentally killing Phil.
Ryder then suddenly radios Walter that somebody else has to die after pulling a gunshot.
However, upon their conversation, Ryder eventually wants Walter to go down
and deliver the money alone, giving him only seven minutes to transport.
Later, Camonetti and Walter drive a helicopter to deliver the money. Then, upon their arrival at
the train station, Camonetti makes sure that the police officers have a radio set up for the train.
Afterward, the police officer guides Walter towards the Pelham 123,
while Camonetti, on the other hand, is making a call with Ryder inside the train control area.
Then, upon Walter's arrival at the terminal, the police officer gives
him a pistol for protection and teaches him how to pull a trigger once he uses it.
Meanwhile, a police officer suddenly enters the office at the Control Center.
Afterward, he begins reporting about Ryder, wherein he says that Ryder was released from
Clinton Correctional two weeks ago, the last four on the same cell block as Phil Ramos.
Eventually, the police officer says that Ryder's name shows up on the Icelandic Air
passenger list right after Fashion Week, revealing his actual name, Denis Ford,
a manager at a private equity firm who gets sentenced to prison for
investment fraud. As the police officer narrates the information, the mayor suddenly
interrupts and tells that Ford had an agreement regarding a plea bargain to serve three years.
However, instead of receiving only three years, Ford received ten years instead.
Later, Walter finally delivers the money to Ryder. However, Ryder suddenly brings him aboard,
ordering him to operate the train down the tunnel below 33rd Street after confirming that Walter
can drive a train. Despite not wanting to help Ryder and his accomplices, Walter has no choice
but to operate the train to exit the tunnel. However, Ryder suddenly gets a problem upon
seeing the red lights that will trip the brakes. So, he radios Camonetti to put it in green.
Upon getting into 33rd Street, Ryder immediately calls his accomplices to move out,
including Walter, rigging the train to go on without them. Afterward,
Ryder asks which way they will take for exit to Walter. Fortunately, Walter manages to separate
himself at a railway crossing after running away. Later, Walter attempts for a phone call but fails.
So, he decides to follow Ryder to Track 61 underneath the Waldorf Astoria hotel. And while
Walter follows them, Ryder suddenly parts from Bashkin and Emri as they finally divide the money.
Meanwhile, the first train's car passengers continuously panic as the train goes faster.
However, the train eventually comes to a screeching halt safely just before Coney
Island station, saving the passengers inside from death. However, the police officers suddenly find
out that Ryder and his accomplices are no longer on board. But then, Camonetti discovers their
actual location after asking the first stop they made, which is in Roosevelt spur that shelters a
derelict tunnel built under the Waldorf Hotel. Meanwhile, Ryder hails a taxi when suddenly
Walter finds him and follows on foot. Bashkin and Emri, on the other hand,
are suddenly surrounded by police. So, they begin shooting them and provoking the police
officers to use deadly force, resulting in their death as apparently suicide-by-cop.
Meanwhile, Walter steals a car to follow the taxi where Ryder is inside.
Then, Ryder, on the other hand, unfortunately, amassed 307 million dollars through his scheme.
As Ryder celebrates his mission inside the taxi, Walter pursues chasing him.
Upon chasing, Walter suddenly calls 911 to report to Camonetti that Ryder is
heading to the Manhattan Bridge. Luckily, after a brief chase, they reach the area,
helping Walter and the other police officers quickly catch Ryder because of the traffic.
Eventually, Walter catches up with Ryder at the pedestrian walkway and holds him at gunpoint.
As Walter tries to stop Ryder from moving, Ryder suddenly gives him a 10-second request to pull
the trigger before he kills Walter first. So, in the final seconds, Walter eventually shoots him.
Afterward, Ryder says his last words to Walter before his final breath,
saying he's Ryder's hero. Walter then solemnly watches Ryder collapse
and die in front of him. Afterward, he looks to Camonetti from above,
who's observing approvingly from a chopper. The movie ends with the mayor thanking Walter
on behalf of New York for sacrificing himself to catch the hijackers alone.
Afterward, the mayor assures him that tomorrow, the city of New York will 'go to bat' for him over
his bribery admission, giving him more assurance that the city has an outstanding batting average.
To Walter's surprise, he shakes hands with the mayor to show his appreciation for the
compensation. Fortuitously, Walter returns home bringing the groceries,
especially the milk, for his wife as he promised her to pick them up before getting home.