Movie of the Week: Phone Booth

   

    Movie of the Week (4/13/14-4/19/14): I missed last week in doing a movie of the week, but I had a few things going on at the beginning of the week and then I just forgot. But, we are back this week with a movie that, I'm willing to bet, most of you have not heard of. I say that because this film is not talked about a lot when Colin Farrell's career is brought up. I don't know why that is because to me it is one of his best acting credentials. Although there is not a ton of plot to the film and it all takes place in pretty much one spot, it will keep you entertained for the short one hour and twenty minute run-time. This is, Phone Booth.
    As I said there is not a lot of plot to this movie but it is fun. We focus on a New York publicist, who likes to talk and lie, a lot, when one day he goes on his regular routine to a phone booth to call his mistress. Once he hangs up the phone rings, he answers it, then his life changes. He is told that if he hangs up he will be shot, he doesn't believe him, then he hears the sound of a bolt-action rifle. He is then put to the test of telling the truth, but he has some obstacles to face, like desperate people needing to use the phone. Attention of the situation soon escalates when the police arrive, as does his wife and mistress.Will he tell the truth about his life or will he avoid it and die saving his own skin?
    What I liked about this movie was the acting from Colin Farrell, who plays Stu Shepard, as I said this is one of his best acting performances considering all he is doing is talking on a phone. But, I was truly convinced that he was scared for his life many times and I really enjoyed his performance. Also, even though you only see him once, Kiefer Sutherland's voice acting was very good, he's the guy on the phone, the relaxation in his voice tells us that he enjoyed the role as a villain that you don't ever see. But, his voice is the villain in this movie and it sometimes gives you chills by how he says things. Forest Whitaker was also very good as a Captain who really has no idea what is going on, like everybody else, and is trying to figure out why this is happening.
    Another thing I enjoyed about this movie is that the villain always has the upper hand, throughout the whole movie he is holding the strings and can decide which ones he wants to cut. Larry Cohen wrote a very good script with some great dialogue that always has a twist on it that gives the villain the upper hand and keeps you guessing on how they will get out of this situation. There is also some fancy editing several times and good cinematography that gives it a very realistic feel to it. Joel Schumacher impressed me too with his good direction that also gives the film an upper hand that it might not have had, but then again I guess anything is a step up from Batman and Robin. Again, there is not much plot here, but we have great dialogue going on from a good script, Colin Farrell at his finest, a haunting voice performance from Kiefer Sutherland, and surprisingly good direction from Joel Schumacher. This is a thriller that will keep you glued to the TV.
3/4 Stars.