Phone Booth review

Released in 2003, Phone Booth stars mainly Colin Farrell, but also includes several other relatively big names. Farrell plays a cocky, smooth-talking publicist with no conscience. At the start, we see him working several of his “clients” to get what he wants out of each one, lying and deceiving anyone he can and stringing along some young kid as a trainee. He has no cares except keeping up his facade. Soon after, he goes to a phone booth in the middle of Times Square and gets a phone call that will change his life. The person on the other end of the line tells him that if he leaves the phone booth or hangs up, he will be shot via sniper rifle.

Almost the entire film takes place in this one location and is only about an hour and a half long. While this may sound limiting, suspense and mood are the name of the game here, and these are done extremely well. The cinematography, music, and the haunting voice of the faceless caller (who is recognizable, but not immediately so) are all used to maximum effect as the tension is ramped up a notch every few minutes. At first, Farrell is convinced he is being messed with and was randomly chosen by some psycho. We learn that this caller knows quite a lot about who he is and how he lives his life. Eventually, a quarrel over the use of the phone booth ensues and someone is killed. Once the cops show up, the suspense is taken to a whole new level as the police are clueless about who is on the other end of the line and attempt to negotiate with Colin as a killer. Finally, it is revealed that the caller wants to teach Farrell a lesson and confess to the rest of the world that his life is a lie and he does not appreciate what he has.

The movie keeps you interested the whole time and the acting is excellent. Farrell, the caller, and the police chief that runs the negotiation are the three main actors but they play their parts well. The caller’s voice is perfect for building tension and walks the line between calm and calculating and slightly insane. Farrell is on the hot seat the whole time and acts his part very well considering that the only way he can interact with his adversary is over the phone. At the end, his character goes through a complete breakdown as the image that he has dedicated himself to maintaining comes crumbling down. Without saying too much, when he finally bares his soul to the world it is truly memorable, some great acting if you ask me.

Sadly the DVD has only one special feature, an audio commentary track. It is a good one however, as the director explains the process of filming a movie on location on only one set. This one should be easy to find on store and rental shelves and I definitely recommend it. One of the most suspenseful movies Ive ever seen!