Rolling Stone's Peter Travers has a load of praise for a pair of new films At the Movies this weekend, starting with the popcorn action flick The Taking of Pelham 123, a supped-up reboot of the 1974 original. The film casts Denzel Washington and John Travolta in the roles of hero and villain in a story about an ex-con who holds a New York City subway car and its passengers hostage. Unlike other remakes, Pelham 123 pays homage to its roots, renaming Washington's character Walter Garber in honor of the original actor to occupy the role, Walter Matthau. "They know what they're following, and they're showing respect," Travers says of the electrifying film.
Also hitting theaters this weekend is Moon, a sci-fi masterpiece shot on a shoestring budget starring actor Sam Rockwell as a man stationed alone on the moon for three years who, just before he's set to go home, meets another astronaut, played in true science fiction fashion by Sam Rockwell. Yes, Rockwell plays both characters in this complex mind-bender of a summer film. If it sounds both confusing and mesmerizing, maybe the director Duncan Jones' upbringing has something to do with it: Jones is the son of Ziggy Stardust himself, David Bowie. Moon is "a small movie that has imagination to spare," Travers says.
Lastly, in the Scum Bucket, there's a movie out this week that you shouldn't even see if someone dared you for a hundred dollars. It's called Imagine That and it stars formerly funny actor Eddie Murphy as a divorced father for the countless time. Murphy is too busy working to pay attention to his daughter, but when she magically begins predicting stock tips thanks to her imaginary friends, Murphy is thrust into a world where being a good, attentive father pays off both financially and in the heart. That sentence hurt our fingers to type, so we can't imagine how much pain you'll be in if you actually see this debacle. Travers didn't, he just saw the trailer, but that was enough for him to imagine putting Imagine That in the Scum Bucket.
Watch every episode of our weekly Peter Travers video podcast by subscribing via iTunes (when prompted, click “Launch application”). Every Friday, a new episode will be delivered to your iTunes. [If you don’t have iTunes, download it here.]
Read this week's reviews:
The Taking of Pelham 123
Moon
Food, Inc.
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Stuart | July 7, 2009 4:50 PM
TONY SCOTT'S BEST MOVIE. I expected a bit of cheesiness because it's based on a 70's film. i saw the original and i thought it was pretty good, not great. then i saw this incredible reimagining of the film.the original director would've been pruod. amazing direction, incredible acting,especially from denzel who again leaves his typical good guy rolelike he did in the incredible "training day"and delivers a great performance. also the most superb and darkest backstories ive ever witnessed. these characters are flawed like normal people. "Pelham 123" deserves an award. it might not be recieved in the Oscars, because its an action, but it do great at the golden globes. and, once again, THIS MOVIE IS FUCKING AWSOME!!!
P.S: Denzel deserves an Oscar in his role.
Eddie Van Halen | June 18, 2009 5:02 PM
Just had to set my guitar and sneakers aside for a few and plug in to Pete's reviews. And you know what? I get it. Eddie M. is doing "Beverly Hills Cop 4" (which is cool...I suppose...); Wolf and I will watch "Imagine That" when it hits DVD. We both enjoyed "Wolverine" a lot. So what? Pete's entitled to his opinions. So are you. So are we. Big deal. Hey--just lettin' our fans know we've got a new CD hitting stores hard at the end of July. Dave sounds great. So does Alex. Peace!
stupid | June 13, 2009 5:09 PM
will denzel washington ever not play a cop or lawyer? i realize he's not exactly a cop in this movie, but he may as well be. he's more typecast than rob schneider.
also, would john travolta pleeeze just go away! we do not want to see you in movies anymore.
Tim Eimiller | June 12, 2009 8:40 PM
What the fuck kind of movie critic posts a review without even seeing the fucking movie? Time to retire, Travers. Even if you're right.
Bo | June 12, 2009 1:42 AM
Yes, bucket throw as many as you please, this is a breath of fresh air, let's concentrate on the worthwhile titles, they exist.
Jake | June 12, 2009 12:42 AM
Again, you never put Wolverine in the scum bucket. You simply said it was ok....
What The Crunch? | June 11, 2009 11:40 PM
Uh, how can you review a movie you haven't even seen...lack of credibility much?
Nmar | June 11, 2009 8:36 PM
Glad that Pelham got a good review, Love Denzel Washington, This is going to be a cool summer flick. Now I will ask the question all us movie purists are wondering, How does Eddie Murphy still get work? Dude hasn't made a really funny movie since,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Still wondering,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Nutty Proffesor or Life. Man needs to stick to Shrek movies.
dude | June 11, 2009 7:29 PM
How could he know it sucks even though he didnt see it? im sure its gonna suck but i cant say for sure because i havent seen it. i love peter travers but
how does he expect us to see movies that look boring to us based on the trailer but are actually really good even when he does the same thing
what kinds of film critic is this?
Lady | June 11, 2009 6:50 PM
"Imagine That".. hmm
comedian + adorable kid(s) x their ability to predict something that would be in the main character's favor= Bedtime Stories?
....I'm not exactly sure if it worked the first time.
At least Sandler is still funny and 'Stories' had Russell Brand in it...