Denzel Washington faces off with John Travolta with a subway train full of hostages' lives in the balance in 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.' Still in mourning over the loss of his son Jett earlier this year, John was understandably absent from the film's junket interview, but Denzel shared details of their recent conversation.

"I talked to him three weeks ago. We talked for quite a while, a couple of hours at least -- or I should say I listened," Denzel told our own Kevin Frazier. "He's just working it out. It's a process, and its obviously a tough process. What can you say? For the most part you just listen, try to be a friend. He's really a sweet, sweet good guy, really good guy, and life ain't fair."

A re-imagining of the 1974 film, Denzel plays a New York City subway dispatcher whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos when four criminals take over a subway train, threatening to execute hostages unless a large ransom is paid in one hour. But even if they do get the money, how will they get away?

Denzel has a lot of interaction with John in the movie, but not face-to-face. "We did nothing but talk; we were just not seen together," says Denzel, who adds that John was always there for their scenes. "He was always off-camera in a room on a mic, so we always heard John. We had to do it that way because, he is, and I, are professional -- you want to be there for the other person and didn't want to phone it in."

Filming in the dark tunnels underneath New York, Denzel says he was on the lookout for rodent "extras," but was surprisingly disappointed. "You know what? Didn't see a rat," he says. "Rats don't like noise and vibration -- 200 people moving around banging lights -- by the time I come down, not a one, and I was looking, brother -- trust me."

Also starring James Gandolfini, John Turturro and Luis Guzman, the film reunites Denzel with director Tony Scott ('Déjà Vu,' 'Man on Fire,' 'Crimson Tide').

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