{
  "id": 8401056,
  "title": "I just watched Denzel Washington and John Travolta's action thriller remake and it really goes off the rails",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/i-just-watched-denzel-washington-and-john-travoltas-action-thriller",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T06:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Guide",
    "slug": "tom-s-guide",
    "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/movies/i-just-watched-denzel-washington-and-john-travoltas-action-thriller-remake-and-it-really-goes-off-the-rails"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) received a rather lukewarm reception from Tom's Guide, scoring it a mere 2.5/5 stars. The verdict was clear: this action thriller is pretty much average, with little to praise or criticize. Despite featuring a star-studded cast including Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, and James Gandolfini, the film struggles to make the most of its talent. Travolta's performance, while present, leaves something to be desired, and Washington isn't particularly captivating either. The movie is inoffensive and doesn't offer any standout moments or performances that set it apart from the average action thriller. In fact, Washington's absence might not have significantly impacted the film's quality.",
  "summary": "\"The Taking of Pelham 123\" stars Denzel Washington and John Travolta in an action thriller remake that underutilizes them both.",
  "key_points": [
    "Film received lukewarm reception with 2.5/5 stars",
    "Star-studded cast includes Denzel Washington and John Travolta",
    "Despite talent, movie struggles to stand out"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The lukewarm reception of The Taking of Pelham 123 underscores that even a star-studded cast does not guarantee a memorable action thriller, leaving the film an unremarkable entry in the genre.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}