"Whadda they want for their lousy 35 cents..."

To appreciate "The Taking of Pelham 123" is to understand:
1- What a real New Yorker is.
2- True diversity and why its a fascinating, wonderful mess.
3- Comparing other cities to the one true Gotham is ridiculous.
4- The early seventies produced greatness.
5- A bad attitude is often the best attitude.


I wish to spread the good word: Careful and repeated watching of "The Taking of Pelham 123" can awaken us all. We are asleep in a swamp of highly processed, calculating, artless and over marketed schlock that is passing as entertainment/art. Not surprising considering the bland and insulated lives of most Americans; how can one relate to anything but the simplest emotions and most familiar stereotypes when an isolating little automobile is the only transportation they know? To know urban life is to love watching it played out in an improbable scenario, an only in New York type of situation. Its hard to find a film that so gracefully glorifies reality as does this 1974 masterpiece. Maybe Midnight Cowboy.
The most obvious heist from this movie is Terrentinos' use of color coded names, as in "Mr. Blue"... its an often cited fact but not so interesting. More noteworthy is the Mayors office scene in "Ghostbusters", watch and see. Just make sure its the '74 version, not the worthless 90's remake. Matthau and Shaw are credited but the beautiful aggravation of NYC stars.