Thriller

Crime

Phone Booth

Fox 2000 Pictures

Zucker/Netter Productions

United States of America

English

Kiswahili

Colin Farrell

Kiefer Sutherland

Forest Whitaker

Radha Mitchell

Katie Holmes

Paula Jai Parker

Arian Ash

Tia Texada

John Enos III

Richard T. Jones

Keith Nobbs

Dell Yount

James MacDonald

Josh Pais

Yorgo Constantine

Colin Patrick Lynch

Troy Gilbert

Seth William Meier

Svetlana Efremova

Billy Erb

Domenick Lombardozzi

Maile Flanagan

Tom Reynolds

Julio Oscar Mechoso

Karara Muhoro

Zidu Chen

Shu Lan Tuan

Dean Cochran

Amy Kowallis

Tory Kittles

Bruce Roberts

Tyree Michael Simpson

Dean Tarrolly

Mary Randle

Paul Fontana

Steve Alterman

Kimberly Bailey

Jason Broad

Lanei Chapman

Django Craig

Judith Durand

Greg Finley

Ramón Franco

Anneliese Goldman

Rick Gonzales

Tracy Metro

Jason Pace

Juan Pope

Nicole Prescott

Cheryl Tyre Smith

John Vargas

Tanya Vidal

Billy 'Sly' Williams

Ruth Zalduondo

Ben Foster

Jared Leto

Mia Cottet

Matthew Libatique

David Zucker

Mark Stevens

Joel Schumacher

Larry Cohen

Stephen V. Johnson

David Schreiber

Dean Garvin

Dennis T. Benatar

David Melito

Michael D'Imperio

Richard 'Rocky' Nichols

Steven Wayne Cramer

Mike Linn

Jason Talbert

Jason Rez

Darryl Levine

Jennifer O'Rourke

Dan Kneece

Brad Peterman

David Ronan

Edward Espinoza

Mary Ann Newfield

Victor Svimonoff

Matthew Livingston

Jon H. Epstein

Penny Sprague

Randall J. Smith

James Coffin

Nicholas Franchot

Michael Manzoni

Kim Crabb

Frank Torres

Don Diers

John Robotham

Chic Daniel

Eric Barginear

Gregory E. McEachen

Tommy O'Connell

Joshua Dean Foster

Larissa Supplitt

Tim Y. Wetzel

Kevin Brown

Don Tomich

Matthew Devitt

Randy Kutcher

Javier Arrieta

Greg Nelson

Gregg Edler

Ted Kurdyla

John A. Machione

Eli Richbourg

Norman Edward Parker

Jeffrey Norvet

Robin Bursey

Thomas M. Dangcil

Michael Joseph Reyes

Osorio Kerwin

Rick Boomhower

Trenton Driver

Ivan Bates

Duncan M. Sobel

Jesse Cartwright

Michael Koepke

Austin Gorg

Richard Walden

Paul Gonsoulin

Chris Davis

Uriel Uribe

Ann Rabin

Christopher Duskin

Joe Luther

Paul Plannette

Dave O'Brien

Todd Ellis

Jeffrey P. Soderberg

Ashley Kimmet

Brian McEachen

Darrin Porter

David Darrow

Chris Soronen

David Liebshardt

Gil Netter

Michael Trisler

Glen Trotiner

Jay Meagher

Scot A. McKay

Michael Bauman

Chaddon Edward Merrick

Michael J. Allison

Susan Roberts

Kimberlina E. Whettam

James Fredburg

Stephen Pietropaolo

Alan Kaneshiro

Tana Dubbe

Derek Kleindolph

The Movie Diorama

Phone Booth dials up its millennial tension through suspenseful confined calls. Joel Schumacher is a rather inconsistent director. Unusual, yet capricious. From ‘The Lost Boys’ to ‘Batman & Robin’, his career has been considerably scattershot in terms of quality. Phone Booth, whilst quintessentially being a product of its time, happens to be his most simplistic. An arrogant publicist is held hostage in a phone booth by a mysterious sniper who offers him an ultimatum.

A hyperbolised exercise in absolution from an absurdist’s perspective, Schumacher delivers a nail-biting thriller from the confinement of one besmirched public booth. Unscrupulous sex shops on one side of the grubby New York street, and a religiously inclined series of posters dictating “who do you think you are?” on the other side. It may just be a lightning paced disposable techno thriller to many, but if you divulge into the finer details you’ll notice it is overwhelmed with morality. The repentance of sins. Cleansing the soul from immorality. The harsh tones of Sutherland’s antagonistic voice, likening himself to a higher (or lower...) entity, offering Farrell’s Stu a chance for redemption. A surprisingly thematic endeavour for Schumacher, whether intentional or not, the religious symbolism in its subtle visuals or literary narrative were certainly profound.

It smooths out the neo-noir roughness that forces this thriller to be nothing more than disposable entertainment. Aside from Farrell’s strong performance as the arrogantly unlikeable Stu and Sutherland’s menacing tone, the supporting cast were mediocre at best. Whitaker, Mitchell and Holmes rarely had an opportunity to shine within the mucky street and had a tendency to overact. The act of forgiveness, whilst being a pivotal point to the whole ordeal, seemed incredibly vacuous without much deliberate intervention. All too easy, considering how long Stu kept his unfaithful behaviour up for. Cohen’s script was sharp and concise, occasionally stagnating in moments of desperation when not knowing how to progress the hostage situation further.

Stevens’ editing was swifter than Sutherland cocking his sniper rifle multiple times. On screen graphics to display scenes running simultaneously, such as police officers tracing the encrypted phone call, keeping the pace consistently tight. Some of visuals, such as the red dot from the sniper, obviously smelt of fakery as well as the space effects showcasing the satellite sending communications to mobile phone chips etc. Y’know, common tropes from films created in the early naughties.

As I said, it’s very much a film of its time. Yet despite the rough disposable nature of Phone Booth, it’s a much more entertaining call then being on hold for an hour and a half. I can tell you that from experience...

"Phone Booth" starts off a bit slow in the first act, but it quickly picks up the pace and becomes more intense as it goes along.

Colin Farrell and Forest Whitaker deliver fantastic performances that really bring the intensity to life. Kiefer Sutherland, who I know and love from 24, is chilling as the voice on the phone, adding a menacing layer even without much screen time.

What’s also impressive is that the whole movie was shot in just 10 days, with two extra days for some additional shots. It’s amazing they created such a suspenseful film in such a short time. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

Phone Booth (2002) Original Trailer [FHD]

Phone Booth ≣ 2002 ≣ Trailer

Best Movies

Phone Booth

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Colin Farrell

Kiefer Sutherland

Forest Whitaker

Radha Mitchell

Katie Holmes

Paula Jai Parker

Arian Ash

Tia Texada

John Enos III

Richard T. Jones

Box office

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