The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on YouTube TV. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 3,431 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Denzel Washington's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

There is a reason The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 keeps coming up in conversation. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Armed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day's work for dispatcher Walter Garber into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime. Denzel Washington and John Travolta lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2009. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 passes that test consistently. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Denzel Washington anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.