First off, if you haven’t seen the original 1974 version of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three with Walter Matthau facing off against Robert Shaw and a gang of calculating goons in New York City’s subway system, queue it. Not sure why the working class thriller remains slept on, even amongst geeks sans a homage to the villains’ color aliases in Reservoir Dogs, and the film’s ending definitely ranks in my top 20. Here we have the first images of Denzel Washington starring in Matthau’s old transit chief role in Tony Scott’s 2009 remake, The Taking of Pelham 123 (the title is so modern!).

Currently filming in Queens and Manhattan, Scott’s film pits Washington against John Travolta’s leader of subway highjackers, with James Gandolfini playing the city’s mayor. As you can see, Washington is wearing twee frames and a bad retro tie, but unless I’m mistaken, the film is set in the present. Let’s hope Scott squeezes all of the potential and predictability out of this cast. Matthau and Shaw were fantastic because both played it close to the vest while managing to chew a helluva lot of scenes. I’m already imagining the hushed, petulant tone Travolta will choose as he spouts his demands over a walkie-talkie to a furrowed-brow Washington. I hope I’m completely off.

via Just Jared