A good deal was made about how Joseph Sargent, the director of J:TR (because what great/awful movie doesn't look better abbreviated), also directed The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, and how good that was. But did you check out the REST of his career? Goldengirl? White Lightning? Nightmares?
I know I'm stealing from Seinfeld, but Pelham 1-2-3 (TTOP123?) was basically "discovering plutonium by accident".