娱乐英语新闻:John Travolta proud of "Pelham"

BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. actor John Travolta, still in mourning over the death of his teenage son earlier this year, said he is proud of his latest film "The Taking of Pelham 123."     

    "I promise, you won't be disappointed," said Travolta in media reports Tuesday, who plays a deranged ex-inmate who takes hostages on a New York subway.

    Travolta did not join co-star Denzel Washington in the promotional tour for the movie because he said his family needed "additional time to reconcile our loss."

    Travolta's son Jett, 16, was found unconscious on Jan. 2 while on vacation with his family in the Bahamas. The teen was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, local police said.

Actor John Travolta arrives at the 80th annual Academy Awards, the Oscars, in Hollywood, in this February 24, 2008 file photo

    Instead of giving interviews and making red-carpet appearances to promote "Pelham," Travolta has posted a letter to his fans on his Web site praising the feature and expressing his gratitude to the filmmakers, his fellow actors and Sony Pictures for their support as he and his family continue to grieve for Jett Travolta.

    Travolta's statement on his official Web site said Washington, director Tony Scott and the producers "stepped up without hesitation to help promote this wonderful film, and their unselfish efforts have allowed my family the additional time to reconcile our loss." Making the movie was "a labor of love," Travolta said.

    "Tony gave me the freedom to define, and then to become, the ultimate evil mastermind," he said. "This role as an actor gave me the chance to dispense with all moral and ethical limitations, and explore just how bad this character could really be. I believe you will like the result."

    Washington, who plays a subway train dispatcher forced to face down Travolta's character, said he talked to Travolta about three weeks ago. "Needless to say, he's struggling," Washington said in an interview last week.