Recently Hollywood seems to have this thing for making us stay away from ringing phones. First we had "The Ring," and then we have this one. The difference of this is clearly about morality because "Phone Booth" is a lesson in how our small lies can ruin us and kill us in the end... probably literally.
The film mainly works because of its intricate plot and fluid camera work in the limited area of a small and claustrophobic phone booth. Reportedly based on a short student film and shot in just 10 days, the film tries to have Stu's confinement in the phone booth shape both the story and its impact as there is almost no action here other than the dialogue between Colin Farrell and Kiefer Sutherland. Director Joel Schumacher's main job here is to totally get the viewer's attention in a labyrinthine plot involving hookers, pizza delivery guys, and Katie Holmes, so that at the end of the film you haven't even noticed that virtually all the scenes are in one place.
The climax and the ending, however, tend to be this film's greatest misfires. It seemed all the energy the movie had to offer was used to the limit in creating tension and edginess for the other parts of the film that the climax was left heavy-handed and pretentious. The attempt for the twist at the end was also predictable.
But Colin Farrell carries this film noir suspense thriller straight to the end with his convincing performance. Because the movie is told in real time, he has to create a significant degree of tension among Sutherland and Whitaker. And he does, which makes an otherwise boring premise interesting to watch.
Grade: B
The film mainly works because of its intricate plot and fluid camera work in the limited area of a small and claustrophobic phone booth. Reportedly based on a short student film and shot in just 10 days, the film tries to have Stu's confinement in the phone booth shape both the story and its impact as there is almost no action here other than the dialogue between Colin Farrell and Kiefer Sutherland. Director Joel Schumacher's main job here is to totally get the viewer's attention in a labyrinthine plot involving hookers, pizza delivery guys, and Katie Holmes, so that at the end of the film you haven't even noticed that virtually all the scenes are in one place.
The climax and the ending, however, tend to be this film's greatest misfires. It seemed all the energy the movie had to offer was used to the limit in creating tension and edginess for the other parts of the film that the climax was left heavy-handed and pretentious. The attempt for the twist at the end was also predictable.
But Colin Farrell carries this film noir suspense thriller straight to the end with his convincing performance. Because the movie is told in real time, he has to create a significant degree of tension among Sutherland and Whitaker. And he does, which makes an otherwise boring premise interesting to watch.
Grade: B