Phone Booth (2002)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writer (WGA):

Larry Cohen (written by)

Release Date:

4 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

A ringing phone has to be answered.

Plot:

Stuart Shepard finds himself trapped in a phone booth, pinned down by an extortionist's sniper rifle.

Plot Keywords:

Publicist | Sniper | Sniper Rifle | New York City | Hostage

Awards:

7 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 14	10:00 PM	MTV
Sun. Nov. 15	12:00 AM	MTV

Cast

Colin Farrell	...	Stu Shepard
Kiefer Sutherland	...	The Caller
Forest Whitaker	...	Captain Ed Ramey
Radha Mitchell	...	Kelly Shepard
Katie Holmes	...	Pamela McFadden
Paula Jai Parker	...	Felicia
Arian Waring Ash	...	Corky (as Arian Ash)
Tia Texada	...	Asia
John Enos III	...	Leon
Richard T. Jones	...	Sergeant Cole
Keith Nobbs	...	Adam
Dell Yount	...	Pizza Guy
James MacDonald	...	Negotiator
Josh Pais	...	Mario
Yorgo Constantine	...	ESU Commander

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and some violence.

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Swahili

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #39201) | Sweden:11 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Netherlands:12 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Germany:12 (cut) | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (re-rating on appeal) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | Mexico:B15 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | UK:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

The word "fuck" is said 143 times.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When the caller/sniper gets a bit twitchy, threatening to shoot Stu's wife and the police officers, we hear him cocking the rifle five separate times. At no point do we hear him un-cocking the rifle between those moments, but he would have to physically cock and load the rifle every time he needs to fire a round. But since there are two rifles in play (one left with the dead pizza guy, and one the Caller carries in the final scene), the Caller could easily have had an empty rifle that he cocked, seeing how he uses the sound to intimidate Stu.

Quotes:

[Stu is not answering The Caller]
The Caller: Stu, don't do this. Please, come on. My sainted mother used to do this. She used to dish this out... Stu, please don't this. Stu, you're bringing back my unhappy childhood. Stu, talk to me, please! Talk to me! I can't take it Stu... Ahh!
[the Caller laughs]
The Caller: I'm kidding. I had a very happy childhood.

Movie Connections:

References "Bette" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Operator

Small scale and slightly flawed but gripping and very enjoyable thriller

Stu Shepherd is in public relations and uses lies and deceit everyday in his job to get things moving. When calling a client from a phone booth in the hope of getting her to a hotel. When he hangs up the phone rings and he answers to what he assumes is a prank call. However the caller reveals more and more about Stu exposing his lies. When Stu tries to leave the caller reveals that he has Stu pinned down with a sniper rifle and the death of a man by the booth proves it. The police arrive and surround Stu while the caller continues his game.

Everyone knows that it had a small budget, a shooting window of just over a week and that it was made years ago and shelved as Farrell's star power increased and real life terrorist attacks and snipers came and went in the media and the mind of the American public. So I'll not dwell on that and instead talk of the film! The pitch was enough to get me interested – `man is held in phone box by sniper' – sounds great! I really wanted to see this film but was put off by the trailer, but not of the films I saw wrong in the trailer were to the detriment of the film as over 80-odd minutes it really runs like a race horse.

Starting with humour and a free-flowing pace it turns sinister early on but keeps the pace. In terms of plot it has many good twists and turns that will keep you interested and on the edge of your seat. The only issue for me was accepting why the sniper was doing it and how he was able to get access to the equipment he would have needed as well as the information – not to mention the WILL to do it! Also little things bugged me, but the film carries itself over these obstacles well enough and reservations are soon forgotten. It sounds simple but the simple ideas work best and, although low on action (sorry, teen boys!) it is driven by dialogue and simply not knowing what will come next.

The direction helps the film by constantly moving and using split screens etc to give the impression that a lot is going on at once – again making the film feel like it has a fast pace. It feels a little gimmicky (especially now that we've had 2 series of 24 doing the same thing) but it works regardless. I wrote in an old review (8mm I think) that I would never pay to see a Joel Schumacher film ever again, and I DIDN'T pay to see Phone Booth! However I was surprised because he didn't ruin it! He did a good job – yes, you heard me! His usual excesses seem to have been controlled by a good producer and editing team and the film works – much to my surprise and relief!

Farrell may not be a bona-fide Hollywood star yet but he takes the task of being onscreen for almost the whole film and runs with it. He makes a comically cruel character someone that reveals himself to be a loser but never loses the audience – and that takes talent. Sutherland's voice on the trailer didn't work for me (too normal and slow) but in the film he is excellent, like the director said, no-one else could have done the role, he is right for it. Whitaker makes up the third lead and he holds his corner well.

It may not be without the odd flaw but this film manages to be simple, gripping and very effective. Well worth a look.