This film follows in the footsteps and even surpasses some of the films of the last decade dedicating and priding themselves simply on a highly entertaining plot (both "Speed" and "Panic Room" come to mind). Although none of these films are truly amazing films (duh....), they are very fun if you're looking for a good use of $10 and two hours at the movies. "Phone Booth," ending after only about an hour and twenty minutes, succeeds where "Speed" and "Panic Room" could not--it never lags, and doesn't try to wrap everything up in a corny Hollywood bundle. From the first frame to the last you are entirely engaged and hardly can wait for the next plot development. "Phone Booth" is indeed very intense and almost so much so that at times it's hard to watch. As with all these rollercoaster films the dialogue was only average, but "Phone Booth" does blow-away its predecessors in two very important categories: Script complexity and quality of acting. Both Farrell and Whitaker are fantastic, and don't just make the movie believable, but really a nail biting experience. Farrell's transformation from a cocky and pretentious playboy to a fearful victim to a man pushed to his limits was truly solid, and finally establishes him as a fine actor (if only he could choose his projects better...Daredevil??). My real problem with the film was the complete hack direction job by Joel Schumacher...lime green split screens and other equally nauseating cheap effects prove that the director has no respect for the intelligence level of his audiences, and reminded me of the 1970's sex-ed films I was forced to watch in junior high. Schumacher obviously likes Farrell, and I will give credit to the director for bringing out a great star-performance as well as solid supporting roles. I also enjoyed the stable and to-the-point cinematography, but Schumacher really made an error with the crappy effects. Where "Speed" and "Panic Room" really failed was their lack of any thought-provoking moments in the script, and "Phone Booth" proved to be a taut physical AND psychological thriller . Anyway, I do suggest this film, rental or theater, as it's a rapid hour and a half and a good use of a few bucks. Very Fun!
Review of Phone Booth
