The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Four men hijack a subway car, holding its riders hostage, and demand a million dollars to release them unharmed. The overriding principle of the storytelling here seems to be "tell 'em what they need to know only when they need to know it" and this holds true for the characters too. The person we get to know best is Garber (Matthau) -- a lieutenant for the Transit Police. And, boy, I love this guy. Like, when he finds out that the Japanese businessmen he's been dismissively mocking as he's been guiding them on a tour can understand English, he just absorbs the information with a "huh" look and moves on with what needs to get done.

Not as flashy as modern-day thrillers, but that's why I like it. The action we get is appropriate and believable, the comic moments feel natural, and the danger is tangible. Though there're some gross moments with Mr. Grey, one of the hijackers, I also thought those scenes worked and made sense for his background.

A-