Phone Booth


The Plot: Stuart Shepard (Colin Farrell) is one of the many straight-faced lying publicists roaming the streets of Manhattan. One ordinary day, after making a call from the phone booth he's been using to cheat on his wife, the same public payphone rings. Stu does what normal people would do: he answers a ringing phone. Big mistake. The caller (Kiefer Sutherland) doesn't want Stu to hang up.

The Review: The simplest setting I've come across: Phone Booth was shot entirely from, well, a phone booth. Colin Farrell did a brilliant job in this one-man show, dishing out the right amount of cockiness and fear the situation called for. Kiefer Sutherland deserves special mention notwithstanding the fact that he just lent his voice to the movie, appearing briefly towards the end. I'm so used to Kiefer's voice by now, having undergone a '24' marathon. His portrayal of the psycho sniper was done with such devilish glee, it perfectly matched Farrell's intensity. Nothing was overplayed in this minimalist drama. I guess the next time a public payphone rings, don't answer the call.

The caller: You'd shoot me if you had the chance, wouldn't you?
Stu: With a big fucking smile on my face.
The caller: There's the spirit.

The Rating: 7/10. Colin and Kiefer. 'Nuff said.

Photo courtesy of www.rottentomatoes.com