Phone Booth

...anyone seen it yet?

Before heading to the theater, I hadn't heard much about this movie other than the lead, of course: the legendary Colin Farrell (honestly, that alone is enough 😉).

I can't remember the last time I watched a film where 99% of the action takes place in such a mundane setting as a phone booth, yet it was still gripping and engaging.

Anyway, long story short, I’d definitely recommend it.
If you haven't seen it, go watch it. If you have, let me know what you thought!

So, it’s actually a decent watch. Even though it’s stuck in one spot and doesn't exactly have a massive plot, it keeps you hooked enough that you aren't staring at the clock or yawning your head off.

Now, there's a catch: nobody was checking the time because the whole thing is only 81 minutes long.🙂 I'm pretty sure even Men in Black runs longer than this.

graniteangler10 said:Even though the whole thing takes place in one spot and doesn't have much of a plot, it still keeps you hooked—you aren't just checking your watch or yawning out of boredom.

🙂 When I told my buddy I watched this movie that's set entirely inside a Phone Booth, he was basically like, "Oh, that sounds like some lame indie flick..."
but honestly? It's actually pretty good.

I’ve always had a massive soft spot for those "single-location" thrillers—you know, the ones where the tension just cranks up because the characters are trapped in one spot? Movies like Panic Room are exactly my vibe. Because of that, watching Phone Booth is a total must on my list.

I really hope he pulls it off...

By the way, who exactly is this Colin Farrell guy?

So, what else has he actually starred in? I feel like his filmography is pretty deep if you know where to look.

He was recently in Minority Report, Daredevil, and Hart's War, plus you probably caught him on TV in Tigerland about two months ago.

Now he’s filming Alexander the Great (any guesses who 🙂) under the direction of O. Stone.

To quote Nicholas Kern3:

I honestly can't wrap my head around when I last sat through a movie where 99% of the runtime takes place in such a ridiculously mundane setting as a Phone Booth, yet somehow it manages to be this gripping, intense ride.

There really isn't much else to say. It's just a great film.

silentpuma9 said:BTW—who is this COLIN FARRELL guy?

What else has he been in?

He was actually pretty solid in "The Recruit" with Al Pacino, for example.

Such a great movie... I mean, it definitely flies by fast, but you should still check it out regardless.

You know what? The movie is actually decent, in a sort of panic-room-kind-of-way. Let me rephrase that—the movie isn't "great," per se, but for an 81-minute runtime with a pretty straightforward premise, it’s definitely watchable. And honestly? There isn't a single yawn.

Supposedly, they shot this before the fall of 2001, but then everything got pushed back—first because of 9/11 and later due to those sniper incidents in Washington last year. So, it ends up dropping this year alongside twenty-seven other films starring Colin Farrell all at once. He actually did a really solid job with this role. I mean, truly solid, considering how adrenaline-fueled the whole thing is; the camera basically never leaves the phone booth, with the entire plot revolving around Colin and whatever is happening right outside that booth. That’s why I think it’s no small feat to carry 80 minutes without becoming boring or repetitive. My only real question is... why on earth is Katie Holmes playing his lover? Hmm...

It’s worth a look—especially after you walk out of the theater realizing that all ten of the big blockbusters you actually wanted to see are sold out; go catch this instead. Okay, I’m kidding—the movie is just fine. It'll probably pull in its few million dollars and be forgotten by tomorrow morning. And frankly, why bother with anything more?

One more thing for anyone who hasn't seen it yet: please, don't let anyone spoil it for you. Because once someone gives away the ending of this film, there's really no point in watching it.
The ending is... well, it's the key to everything. And probably the best part of the whole movie.

I caught him back when he was sponsored by Verizon.
Personally, I thought he was pretty good—not annoying at all, actually—it just felt way too short.
I even laughed a couple of times (though, let’s be honest, I was mostly laughing at this stoner sitting next to me...)

I’m not entirely sure if I can bring myself to watch it... ever since Joel Schumacher completely butchered Batman and killed any lingering hope that we might actually see a decent Batman film, I’ve just developed a genuine distaste for the man...

This movie was a total disaster... It’s basically just a bunch of scenes strung together without any actual plot, and don't even get me started on the lack of tension. I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty more from Farrell in the future, but this one is definitely a skip.
The only thing that actually worked for me was that song at the end.🙂

I honestly don't get what his "massive sin" was supposed to be—what made him such a monster compared to everyone else? You’d think the guy cheated on his wife a thousand times or committed some kind of heinous crime... but I don't see it.
The plot is a bit thin, to say the least.

Regardless, I still had a good time watching it.

If you want something better from Joel, check out Tigerland. It also stars Colin Farrell.

Just arrived. Heading in to check it out now. Any initial thoughts? 🙂

Honestly, I was bored out of my mind. It was so predictable I felt like I’d directed the damn thing myself; if anything saved me, it was sensing the ending coming ten minutes before it actually hit.

There were several scenes that felt like pure filler, just shoved in there to drag the runtime out. Like that whole bit scavenging around the podium roof. 🙄 It adds absolutely nothing to the story—just tedious and totally telegraphed...

The scenes with the hens? Pointless nonsense. They really overstayed their welcome with those vague, rambling subplots. That little trick LaFace pulls with the cop and his "feelings" was just a cliché. On the bright side, the reasoning behind why he was the one chosen? I respect that. (Well, enough to give him a nod!)

The absolute worst part, though—the peak of all the cheap sentimentality—was his speech to the wife from inside the booth. 🙄

👎 👎 👎 👎 👎 👎

I just finished watching it and really enjoyed it. It’s a solid film with a great lead actor—honestly, what more could you ask for?😁 👍

James Jackson9 said:I just watched it and I liked it. It’s a solid movie with a great actor—what more could you ask for?😁 👍

Look, I’m clearly missing something here, so I’ll need an explanation.
I get why you think he’s a good actor (and let's be honest, he's good-looking), but can you actually explain what makes the movie itself so great?
Maybe we weren't even watching the same film?😕

Everyone has their own preferences, so there's really no point in arguing about it.

James Jackson9 said:Everyone has different tastes, so there’s really no point in debating it.

James Jackson9: That phrase is such a tired cliché used to dodge an actual discussion that you're better off not saying it at all.
If you actually liked the movie, lay out your arguments.
For me, there are just things about this "great" film that don't add up.
Does the entire city really have to be on the phone at that exact moment, especially in the age of cell phones and the mobile revolution? Wouldn't professional cops notice a massive holster bulge that's impossible to hide under a jacket? Would that many officers seriously show up just to hunt down one guy? Do you honestly think they'd negotiate that much? I doubt it. If the phone calls are happening in real-time, do you really believe his wife could get to him that fast in a massive city like New York? And when he tells those things to that Black guy, everything suddenly clicks. Does traffic really stop for that long just because some crazy person is on the phone? Don't even get me started on the acting...
You seem to think the movie is good. Fine, explain those points above to me, and maybe I'll try to understand or change my mind.
I love movies too, and I've watched plenty of them—like > or >—but I'll admit to myself that those movies are actually bad...
That's just my taste. My taste tells me I'm not into guys, even though I haven't slept with any, and I base that on the fact that there's zero chemistry in a potential relationship like that—even if I might find it interesting. But I'm not going to argue about it; talking about it feels as silly as some ridiculous response from Zeljko Ogresta when someone corners him and he tries to use "sophisticated" humor to save face.

Fair point, you caught me there, but I didn't feel like getting into a long explanation. To be honest, I enjoyed the movie; I wasn't overanalyzing what was realistic versus what wasn't—I just let myself get lost in the story. All things considered, it's an okay film!

Does the entire city really have to be making phone calls at that exact moment, especially given the mobile revolution?

As far as I know, he has a cell phone too, but since his wife was checking who he was calling, she used a Phone Booth instead.

Wouldn't professional police officers notice a bulge on a guy's back from a gun that would be impossible to hide in a Phone Booth?

Well, how would they know he hadn't already stepped out of the booth and shot someone in the back, especially since those annoying bystanders were screaming that they saw him with a gun?

Would they seriously send that many cops just to hunt down one person?

I'm not sure; I doubt it, but it is a movie, after all.

Do you think there would really be that much negotiation?

It depends on the lead cop.😁

If the phone calls are actually happening in real-time, do you think his wife could arrive that quickly in a massive city like New York?

She didn't arrive *that* fast; maybe she lived nearby, though we don't know where they live.

And when he says those things to the Black officer, it's like everything happens all at once.

Yes, that part felt a bit rushed, but perhaps someone would react that way...🙄

Do you really believe traffic would grind to a halt for that long just because some madman is on the phone?

I don't know; it was on TV, so it probably would.