LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Denzel Washington's new movie, "The Taking of Pelham 123," is not a remake, even though Walter Matthau starred in a film by the same name in 1974, the actor told CNN. Denzel Washington plays a transit official, once demoted, in "The Taking of Pelham 123." Moreover, Washington's character is not like the hostage negotiator he played three years ago in "Inside Man," although the movie is about his negotiation with a deranged ex-con hostage-holder, played by John Travolta, Washington said. And he's right. The updated "The Taking of Pelham 123" is a riveting movie about a subway dispatcher confronted by a former Wall Street trader seeking revenge -- not just a ransom, as in the 1974 film -- from the city of New York for sending him to prison.
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"The Taking of Pelham 123" is re-imagining of 1974 film
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Denzel Washington stars as N.Y. transit official negotiating with villain John Travolta
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Washington: I wanted to make the character distinct from negotiator in "Inside Man"
@placeholder, who looks younger and more fit than his character, said to prepare for the role he "ate a lot and kept getting smaller and smaller sweaters to wear."