The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

5 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: Before this train reaches the next station it will become the scene of the most spectacular hijack ever attempted
Directed by: Joseph Sargent
Written by: John Godey, Peter Stone
Actors include: Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama
Length: 104 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Wow this was one heck of an exciting thriller and influential flick from the second it opens until the second it finishes, the tension is magnificent! It's about a well choreographed hijacking of a New York subway car by four Men who address each other only by the color of their hats. (Mr. Brown, Mr. Green etc). They demand a million dollars in just one hour or else they'll kill a hostage a minute for each they are late! It's a very exciting and well planned out plot full of surprises and several familiar faces. Look out for Jerry Stiller (who looks just the same as he did on Seinfeld), Dick O'Neill, Doris Roberts and my personal favorite Walter Matthau as wiseass Lt. Garber. It's extremely thrilling, it's well acted and it's one heck of a fun film with beautiful shots of New York contrasting the darkness of the subway. One of the best of it's kind, heck I'll maybe even check the remake out after this, really seriously awesome!

Availability:  On DVD

Charley Varrick (1973)

4 / 5 Dec '11
Tagline: When he runs out of dumb luck he always has genius to fall back on!
Directed by: Don Siegel
Written by: John Reese, Howard Rodman
Actors include: Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, Felicia Farr
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Length: 111 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is a fun little film about a group of robbers who take on a small bank only to obtain one heck of a big score...only the radio announces that they only made out with a few thousand dollars! They know something is wrong, but Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) figures out that it must be mob money! Then the cunning robbers must figure out how to survive and to stay hidden from the mob featuring more elaborate schemes and tricks along the way. Matters are not made simple by the fact that his main associate is frighteningly reckless. It's very exciting, it's filled with action and fun and there is never a dull moment. Certainly one of the better films like this and well worth a viewing, something for everyone in this I think.

Availability:  On DVD