Review of Phone Booth

Larry Cohen's concept was originally offered to Hitchcock back in the '60s – but the auteur director couldn't figure a reason for keeping the guy in the phone booth for the whole thing, so it got delayed forty or so years until now. With CELLULAR, another hi-concept offering from Cohen focusing, this time, on a mobile phone, it's worth checking out PHONE BOOTH as it definitely stands out as one of the freshest films of the early 2000s, right up there with the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy in terms of quality. Short, snappy and extremely realistic, to say much about the plot would be to spoil this one, other than the banter between Farrell and the killer has you on the edge, as well as the small-scale but riveting action and drama. This definitely one of the most suspenseful films I've ever seen, with the gripping story evolving so far that you'll be sweating as you watch this, right along with Farrell.

The Irish-born star is top-notch in his leading role, consolidating his place as one of Hollywood's most promising A-list stars. The supporting cast is also great, with Forest Whitaker typically excellent as the detective on the scene, and ex-NEIGHBOURS actress Radha Mitchell as Farrell's wife. Although this film only takes place on one location, I would say it matches the thrills and tension seen in the likes of the DIE HARD trilogy, it's that riveting. A film to be watched more than once, PHONE BOOTH is definitely gonna be a hard one to beat in the years to come.