Rating: 
Summary: BE PREPARED - FOR TENSION, PROFANITY, AND VIOLENCE
Review: This is a psychological thriller which takes place in the Times Square neighborhood of NYC. The central character (he is no way a hero) spends almost the entire length of the movie (only one hour and twenty minutes) in a phone booth. Stu Shepard (Colin Farrrell) is the epitome of a loudmouthed publicist and con artist who is currently attempting to pursue a relationship with Katie Holmes (Pamela McFadden) despite being in love with his beautiful wife Kelly (Radha Mitchell). The movie begins slowly as we watch Stu engage in several cellphone conversations which seem more attuned to promoting himself than his clients. Stu then stops at the infamous PHONE BOOTH to call Katie (who does not know that he is married) to set up a date supposedly to discuss promoting her career.As Stu is about to leave the booth, the phone rings and a mysterious caller threatens to kill Stu with a high powered rifle if Stu hangs up and leaves the booth. The caller seems omniscient, and wants Stu to confess his imagined infidelties to both Kelly and Katie. To prove his intent, the caller (the creepy voice of Kiefer Sutherland) kills a pimp (John Enos) who is harrassing Stu because he will not free the phone so that it will be available for his girls to talk to their clents. Of course, the murder immediately attracts a police presence, and Stu logically is assumed to be the killer. Forest Whitaker is well cast as Captain Ramey, the person in charge of the situation. His presence of mind and determination to discover the cause of the bizarre standoff actually create believabilty in the screenplay. Meanwhile, the mystery caller eventually manipulates Stu into confessing to his wife after attempting to protect her initially by denying to the police that he knew her. Of course, the situation seems hopeless for Stu, especially given the technique used by the killer to frame Stu for the murder. A good part of the tension is wanting to know who will remain alive (Stu, Kelly, Captain Ramey, the caller?) and how the standoff will be resolved. And the conclusion is satisfying in a Hollywood sense but not at all the typical happy ending for all concerned. I had decided to see this film despite the almost total implausibilty of the plot because I was intrigued to see if director Joel Schmuacher could really sustain the audience's interest given the constaints of the story. I found my intere sustained and was much more impressed than I expected to be. Of course it is unbelievable, but no more so than most movies. The fact that the actors are recognizable but not major stars contributed to its intensity, since you could relate to them in the roles which they played. It was also the right length; the story played out in a coherent way without seeming either drawn out or becoming unbearably tense. There was also sufficient humor to both break the tension and make the movie considerably less depressing than it would otherwise have been. This is certainly not a movie that everyone will enjoy. There is almost no action other than the dialog, minimal cinematic effects, only one location, and incredible and almost continuous profanity (although most is in character rather than gratuitous). Not surprisingly given the lack of sophisticated content, the few media reviews by professionals which I have seen have ranged from lukewarm to outright pans. Nevertheless, I enjoyed PHONE BOOTH and recommend it with the caveats outlined in this review.
Rating: 
Summary: Good film from an often bad director
Review: "Phone Booth" is simple, and it's strength lies in that simplicity, even if on a realistic level it seems to have a few plot holes. Colin Farrell plays Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell), a relatively sleazy and manipulative PR man who makes the major mistake of calling a female client he wants to seduce: Pamela (played by Katie Holmes) from a phone booth. As he's about to walk away, a pizza turns up for him. He tells the delivery guy to take it away. The phone rings again. He picks it up. On the other end of the line is a self styled angel of vengeance played by Kiefer Sutherland. If Stu hangs the phone up or moves out of the booth he is dead. A bullet through the side of the booth convinces Stu he isn't kidding. After the killer shoots a man in the street the police arrive backed with a small army of sharpshooters. Senior officer, Captain Ramey (Forest Whitaker), tries to talk Stu out of the booth, and Stu can't tell him that he's in a sniper's sights. What the disembodied voice wants is for Stu to own up to his sins, particularly to his wife Kelly (Rhada Mitchell) and mostly they don't seem all that bad by current standards. He hasn't even slept with Pamela, the actress he was calling, he has just attempted to. And if he lies and manipulates, well he is in PR after all. The film wan't all that expensive to make. By definition it can't move away from the phone booth, which is supposed to be in New York but was actually filmed in Los Angeles. The script's by a true B- movie veteran of the industry, horror writer and director Larry Cohen, some of whose work I've much enjoyed. (Guilty as Sin, It's Alive, The Stuff) Joel Schumacher, who is sometimes an awful over the top director, directs. He was responsible for the terrible "Batman and Robin", and the not so good "8mm", but he's also done "Falling Down" and "Flatliners" both of which I did like. On this occasion Schumacher does seem a little worried by the film's reliance on one location and tries to glitz it up a little with computer graphics at the beginning and end - even taking us out in orbit around the planet - and split screen images in the middle. Phone Booth would not have suffered from being more claustrophobic. There are lots of questions one could ask about how believable the events in the film are, but it works pretty well as a thriller and as an exercise in free floating anxiety. Take Sutherland's character as a guilty conscience made real. A kind of very mean spirited ghost of Christmas past. Colin Farrell was wise to decide to do this script. No doubt he could see it gave the chance for a bravura performance. You don't even see his antagonist most of the time, and the focus is very much on Farrell. He makes the most of it, going from cocksure confidence to emotional melt down. The release of "Phone Booth" was delayed due to the real life crime of the Washington snipers. If their activities didn't increase paranoia enough in some places, "Phone Booth" should help to do so. As I said, totally the opposite of "Adaptation" but in its own modest way, pretty gripping.
Rating:
Summary: Try Not To Bite Your Nails While Watching This
Review: I find it absolutely amazing how a movie based almost exclusively on a phone booth and a telephone can cause so much intensity! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole film. Honestly, I never even considered renting this movie because I thought a movie like this would be boring, but I caught it on HBO and was rewarded handsomly in watching it.
Rating:
Summary: Ahh...You Gotta Love Those Mind Games!
Review: Will "Phone Booth" run away with the award for "Best Picture of 2003"? Probably not. Does "Phone Booth" contain enough dramatic chills, thrills and hooks to keep even the most ardent moviegoer entertained? The answer is: Most definitely! Director Joel Schumacher uses the limited physical scenarios presented here to good use, including the panoramic camera angles, which add even more depth and intensity to the film's storyline. The viewer probes in on a talent agent named Stu (Colin Farrell), who is about to be the recipient of a rude awakening, courtesy of an 8th Avenue pay phone on the busy streets of New York City. A sinister voice on the other end of the phone line (voiced remarkably deceptive by Kiefer Sutherland, who has a brief cameo as well), is in complete control of Stu's person, badgering and threatening Stu to no end. Then, a swarm of mind games played on our innocent pay phone "consumer" ensues throughout much of the movie. The average viewer might see this film's plot as rather shallow and aimless, but they'd be missing the point. "Phone Booth" deals with society's ills in an off-handed sort of way as a whole, in that various people are dealt with difficult people and impossible situations from time to time, and must guard against such travesties at all costs, no matter what the odds are. Just because "Phone Booth" is a "one-shot locale" type film (featuring a limited geographic setting), doesn't make it a shallow picture, not even in the slightest bit. Colin Farrell's performance here is every bit as raw and powerful as is his previous role in another 2003 gem - "The Recruit", where Farrell gives a strikingly similar standout performance as well. Remember, this limited setting has worked wonders for fellow director John Hughes as well in "The Breakfast Club". Schumacher is well-known for his directorial prowess behind the camera in "St. Elmo's Fire" - a film which put Schumacher on the map. Since this "Phone Booth" is of high-intensity and quite dangerous, it should be entered with extreme caution, before it detonates. Make this important "call" at a theatre near you soon, because you never know who's just "dying" to speak to you!
Rating:
Summary: Obnoxious Yuppie versus Evil Avenging Angel
Review: You don't know who to root for in this fast-paced modern morality tale, Colin Farrell as the self-absorbed, abusive and manipulative publicist or the murderous and unseen presence voiced by Kieffer Sutherland (with near-perfect syrupy malevelance). Farrell has a routine that utilizes one of the last freestanding phonebooths in New York City to make the phone calls he doesn't want his wife to know about. Unfortunately for him, a high tech sniper with a penchant for morality judgements is all too familiar with Colin's life and activities and has chosen the phone booth as the place for Colin's redemption or death. For the bulk of the movie, Colin is trapped in the phone booth between the imposing forces of the New York City Police (who believe him to be the murderer of an abusive pimp); and the sniper that threatens to shoot him (as he did the pimp) should he attempt to leave the phone booth. The voice of the shooter does not belong to a lunatic that's merely looking to score an innocent victim or two. He's studied Colin, decided that he's unworthy of living his successful life and determined to reform him or remove him from life's mortal coil. We see just enough of Colin's character in action during the first ten minutes or so to fully understand that this is one self-absorbed, manipuplative jerk of a human being. But that somewhat begs the question as to whether or not his misdeeds truly warrant the forfeiture of his life and/or the murder of two others. That's the ultimate weakness of a film that aspires to be a powerful psychodrama but only barely reaches the level of a brisk, lightweight thriller. Forest Whitaker lends a powerful presence as the police captain that tries to talk Colin out of the booth. But his talents are underutilized by a script that gives any worthy dialogue to Sutherland's malevolent voice of persecution. The filmmakers at least make an attempt to answer the obvious questions like why is an old-fashioned phone booth still standing on an NYC street, and why can't Colin use his cell phone to call get help or explain his predicament to the police. But in the end, questions remain, like why target a philandering publicist, when there are plenty of other evil types that are more deserving of a bullet to the head? So just forget the serious morality and grab a bucket of popcorn. There are worse ways to spend 88 minutes on the couch.
Rating: 
Summary: Will the Real Plot Stand Up Please?
Review: I can't say this film is disappointing because I didn't expect much from it in the first place. I got what I expected which was a tired, cliched, boring, half-done plot by a film industry who loves to throw together mess for money. The one thing Phone Booth has is good acting by good actors like Keifer Sutherland and Forrest Whitaker ( both who I cannot believe even thought twice about this film let alone agreed to be involved in it ). This movie tempts the audience with promise of thrills and chills but you only get 80 minutes of Colin Farrell whining like a baby and we still don't know why. Okay, the sniper picks out people he thinks should pay for their sins...we get that but the plot was pointless. Then again there wasn't really a plot at all. Skip this unless you find watching a ceiling fan rotate exciting. If you do, then this film is your speed. Enjoy at your own risk.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting misfire.
Review: I recently caught Phone Booth on HBO, and found myself rather riveted to the TV. Despite early warnings from friends, this really isn't a bad film. Considering it's directed by the guy, who destroyed the Batman series.
The movie stars Colin Farrell as a slimy New York publicist, who goes to make a call on a New York public phone, and ends up answering a call that changes his life. On the phone is a sadistic sniper who informs Farrell, that if he leaves the booth, he will kill him. To prove he's not kidding around the sniper kills a pimp from the strip club across the street. Farrell is blamed for the murder and must convince the police he's innocent. He is also forced to publicly confess to his wife,he has a mistress.
The voice of the sniper is played by Kiefer Sutherland(who actually replaced actor Ron Eldard after the film was finished).Sutherland's voice is very creepy and menacing.
My problem with the film, is that it's never revealed why the sniper chooses Farrell. He seems to know everything about him, but in the end, the two finally meet, and Farrell doesn't recognize him. The film also stars the talented Forrest Whitiker as the cop that tries to help Farrell.
I recommend this film if you're bored, and tired of watching repeats of Cribs or The Real World. The movie is a short 80 minutes, and should hold the attention of any slack jawed, attention deficit, MTV viewer.
Rating: 
Summary: CUTIE COLIN!
Review: I LOVE COLIN FARRELL!
HE IS SEXY!
Rating:
Summary: One big confession in a phone booth
Review: This movie was okay. The thing that made me watch the movie was I really wanted to see how it would end. I found the movie to be nothing but one big confession in a phone booth. You never understand how "The Caller" knows what he knows about his "victims", but at the same time you can't tear yourself away from the screen. You wonder does the Stuart wish he had not picked up the phone, will he just say to heck with it and leave, can the cops do anything? How is it the caller can get in the head of Stuart the way he does. It's an interesting suspense thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really BAD!
Review: How bad can you get. This is one of the worst movies in history! There is no plot. The police wouln't just stand there, they would all go out and storm the booth. This movie isn't realistic at all.
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