Tony Scott turns his rapid-fire direction to this remake of the 1974 classic thriller and the results are more miss than hit, resulting in a superficial heist movie which bludgeons you alongside the head with its visual style and allows no room for subtlety.

Ryder (John Travolta) and his gang hijack a New York tube and demand 10 million dollars for the release of 19 hostages. He sets a deadline of one hour and every minute it runs over, hell kill one hostage. On the other end of the phone is Garber (Denzel Washington), now with the first name Walter as a nod to the original 1974 version starring Walter Matthau, a train dispatcher who just happens to be the controller for that line.

Unable to do anything to reach the isolated train carriage, the Mayor (James Gandolfini) is forced to accede to his demands, frantically scrabbling to get the funds together in time. Meanwhile, hostage negotiator Camonetti (John Turturro) tries to take over, but Ryder wont speak to anyone but Garber forcing him into an inevitable confrontation.

Tony Scotts trademark staccato editing and direction are odds with the main bulk of the film. His choppy, rapid cuts and flashy visual style are well suited to high-adrenaline action and its well served in a scene involving the delivery of the money on high-speed bikes and cars. But the film is more about the tense negotiation and verbal sparring between the leads and the fidgety camerawork makes it hard for any tension to develop.

Having said that, the film looks slick and the influence of technology is everywhere. Sometimes its a blessing – the Google Maps style aerial zooms, the computerised layout of the subway system at Metro Control (this must be a New York thing – Im convinced Londons Underground is run by a couple of tin cans and a piece of string), and Ryder constantly checking on the reports of the hijacking on his laptop are involving and move the plot along at a decent pace. At other times its like its been crow-barred in to show how modern everything is – a fallen laptop retaining its connection to a college students webcam is unlikely and irritating.

Denzel Washington is ever reliable as Walter Garber, an everyman trying to do his best under difficult circumstances. Indeed its interesting to see Washington in such a subdued role, having to downplay his natural charm in order to seem compliant and reasonable. It contrasts completely with John Travoltas performance whose over the top flamboyancy and maniacal over excitability is almost a reprise of his role as Castor Troy from Face/Off with added handlebar moustache. Unfortunately, he ends up looking like a fat member of the Village People on speed.

Its a film that offers no surprises and one in which almost any actor could have been substituted for any of those on screen. Any tension that the film may have had is not helped by Scotts misplaced and overblown direction. Take the bus next time.

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By: Mike Edwards