PHONE BOOTH

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX

RELEASED 18 April 2003

When PR man Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell) picks up the payphone on a busy New York City street, it’s the beginning of the worst day of his life. On the other end is a mysterious voice who tells Stu he has him in the sights of his sniper rifle and that if he hangs up, he will die. To prove his point, the sniper kills a pimp trying to get into the the phone booth (or ‘box’ I think we should say!) The shooting brings the cops, who believe Stu has a gun, and it also brings Stu’s wife Kelly, and Pam, his almost-mistress, onto the scene. 

The central performance of Colin Farrell in the lead role is paramount, and he does a very good job, despair and fear gradually drawn onto his face. Although the film’s premise is an interesting and original one, it’s also where the plot creaks. There is not much of a story here, just a cool idea. It feels underdeveloped. There’s also a problem with the cliched script which is unintentionally funny at points. Lastly, the sniper is only ever heard, but you know who it is. It’s Keifer Sutherland, or Jack Bauer as most people know him at the moment. So while watching the film it feels like you’re listening to an episode of ‘24’ at the same time. He’s got a great voice, but it’s too familiar for an ‘unseen’ villian.

TWO OUT OF FIVE