Phone Booth

Plot synopsis:
Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell) is an arrogant New York City publicist who is contemplating cheating on his wife Kelly (Radha Mitchell). He calls Pam (Katie Holmes), a young actress, from a phone booth on a side street. When a delivery man (Dell Yount) tries to deliver a free pizza to the booth, Stu rudely dismisses him. After the phone call with Pam, the phone rings and Stu answers it. The caller (voice of Kiefer Sutherland), says that Stu should have accepted the pizza as it would have "kept his strength up for what comes next". He warns Stu not to leave the booth. Stu, again dismissive, is skeptical toward the mystery caller. The caller says that he will say 'hi' to Kelly for him, then hangs up, leaving Stu visibly concerned.The unseen man calls back and reveals that he had previously setup two other dishonest individuals in a similar situation, where he gave them a chance to redeem themselves but since both refused he had to kill them. One was a pedophile, and the other was a business executive who used inside information to cash in his stock options before the company share price collapsed (and refused the caller's request to share the proceeds with regular investors who got burned on that stock). The caller tells Stu that he must tell Kelly and Pam the truth: that he is cheating. The man calls Pam, puts Stu on speakerphone, and he tells her that Stu is married and does not want anything with Pam except to sleep with her. He then tells Stu to call his wife and tell her the truth, or else he will. Angrily, Stu does so.Before he has a chance to tell Kelly the truth, Stu is distracted by three prostitutes who want to use the phone. The prostitutes become hostile due to Stu's refusal to leave the booth, and they start banging against the glass. Stu becomes agitated and finally hangs up on his wife and yells at the prostitutes to leave him alone. As the three girls leave, the man calls and warns Stu that if he hangs up again, he will shoot him. Stu does not believe him but is convinced when the man cocks his rifle. Stu gets scared, warning him that if he shoots, the cops will arrive. However, the sniper proves him to be wrong by shooting a toy robot next to the booth without anyone noticing. The caller continues to mock Stu's faith that the caller is not capable.The situation escalates further when the prostitutes and their pimp, Leon (John Enos III), approach the booth and demand that Stu leave. Terrified that he will be shot, Stu refuses. The impasse between Stu and Leon escalates to the point of Leon breaking into the booth with a bat and attacking Stu. The sniper tells Stu he can help him and Stu says "yes". Leon is shot in the back by the sniper, horrifying the prostitutes, who accuse Stu.The police arrive and Stu is instantly the suspect. He doubts that they will find any evidence to suggest his guilt to the murder, but later finds out the sniper has planted a gun in the phone booth's roof, on top of the light panel that could be used as evidence in Leon's murder. Captain Ed Ramey (Forest Whitaker) arrives tries to negotiate with Stu to exit the booth but he says he cannot get off the call and he is talking to his "psychiatrist". Multiple news vans arrive, and reporters begin filming the situation, putting pressure on the police to deal with the situation without appearing trigger-happy. The caller continues to taunt Stu by telling him to take hold of the planted gun, or he would "Blow him (Ramey) Away!" but Stu refuses, knowing the police will likely shoot him.Kelly arrives at the scene and the sniper makes Stu confess to her about his infidelity, which Stu does. The man asks Stu to choose between Pam and Kelly, threatening to kill one of them to eliminate further temptation. The unseen caller tells Stu that there are policemen right now trying to tap into the call, but will never succeed as the caller has taken precautions to avoid it.Stu pleads with the sniper while at the same time using his cell phone to call Kelly, who secretly informs Captain Ramey of the sniper's presence when Ramey hears the conversation. Stu confesses his bad character to the crowd, telling his unpaid assistant, Adam (Keith Nobbs), who looks up to Stu, not to become a publicist and admitting his $2,000 watch is a fake, like himself. Stu explains he grew up in the Bronx and he wanted to put his past behind him by buying expensive clothes. He is also not as rich as he seems.
The police finally track down the sniper by tracing the call the sniper made to Kelly, and Ramey tells Stu through a cryptic message that they have done so. Stu informs the sniper that the cops are coming to get him and the now enraged sniper chooses to take Kelly with him, seeing as she is the most important thing in his life. Panicked, Stu takes the planted gun, runs out of the booth and yells, "it's me you want!" Stu is shot and falls down just as police break into a hotel room, discovering a dead body, a phone, and a sniper rifle. It is then revealed that Stu had been hit by a rubber bullet from a police sniper, leaving him relatively unharmed. Kelly runs over and kisses Stu who is still on the ground. The police wheel the body they found in the hotel room down onto the street, and Kelly insists on seeing the sniper's body. Stu identifies the body as the pizza delivery man.Stu is recovering under morphine in an ambulance which makes him drowsy. A man carrying a large suitcase walks up to him, and compliments his shoes. The man says that he regrets killing the pizza deliverer and warns Stu that if his newfound honesty does not last, he will be hearing from him again. He walks away and smiles as he passes the phone booth, revealing himself to be the caller. Stu falls unconscious.The caller, now the narrator, says, "Isn't it funny? You hear a phone ring, and it could be anybody...but a ringing phone has to be answered, doesn't it?" The view goes from an aerial view of the city way into space with a satellite passing by turning to black with a ring once again, and the film ends with a man answering, "Hello?" The murderous caller has apparently resumed his crusade to rid the world of wrongdoers.

Tags: suspenseful, psychedelic, murder, flashback

Review:
With a sniper rifle aimed at Stu's head.When you take into account that `Phone Booth' was filmed in just ten days, on a limited budget with a dearth of special effects, one principle actor and a single venue you could be forgiven for questioning the potential success of this film.
Some things are worth the wait.While he stole the spotlight as the maniacal hit man in `Daredevil', Farrell is faced with a different animal in `Phone Booth', an 80-minute soliloquy which lives or dies on his performance (several A-list stars walked away from the project for this very reason).
Farrell also demonstrates a presence, beyond mere charisma - his good looks can only inspire interest for so long - that draw the viewer into the story.While the supporting cast - Katie Holmes as the naive ingenue and Forrest Whitaker as the good cop - fulfill their purpose, it is Keifer Sutherland who takes up what little slack there is.
A gaudy character stuck inside a phone booth in a busy locale, some good camera work, bunch of apartment windows, a psycho sniper and 10 days of excellent filming supported by a 'worth a mention' cast easily will manage to get into a good bundle of "top ten" lists.
The lead could have been played by any yuppie looking actor but Colin Farrell does a good job anyway in a role that puts you in his character's place.It's hard to make a movie work when it takes place in a confined space with few characters, but when those movies succeed, it shows.
You have to remember, almost the whole film takes place within a phone booth!Colin Farrell does a super job playing a sleazy guy held captive in the phone booth by a threatening sniper-caller.
I hope you have a surround sound system because the caller's (Keifer Sutherland) voice on the other end of the line is something to hear!There is a big moral message in this film, too, about doing the right thing and paying for your sins, which Farrell sure did.
The police arrive and surround Stu while the caller continues his game.Everyone knows that it had a small budget, a shooting window of just over a week and that it was made years ago and shelved as Farrell's star power increased and real life terrorist attacks and snipers came and went in the media and the mind of the American public.
It sounds simple but the simple ideas work best and, although low on action (sorry, teen boys!) it is driven by dialogue and simply not knowing what will come next.The direction helps the film by constantly moving and using split screens etc to give the impression that a lot is going on at once  again making the film feel like it has a fast pace.
While these elements don't make up what a classic movie sounds like on paper, add director Joel Schumacher (Bad Company, 8mm) into the mix, along with screenwriter Larry Cohen, who had this story handed down to him by Alfred Hitchcock himself about 30 years ago, and you have the perfect blend of blackmail, violence and extortion:  Phone Booth.
It's amazing that how they managed to make an 80 minute movie with just a guy in a phone booth but the full credit goes to Colin Farrell and Larry Cohen the writer not Joel Schumacher because he is a crappy director.
Joel Schumacher's films are rubbish especially The Number 23, Phone Booth was shot in 10 days with a budget of $10 million so it wasn't a hard job to make it, that's why Joel doesn't get any credit but the cast & crew did a fantastic job.
Forest Whitaker was very good.Kiefer Sutherland was excellent!The performances from Radha Mitchell,Katie Holmes,and Paula Jai Parker were good.I like how the film had the Hulk like split screens.I also like that fact that it focused on the victim and the killer almost the entire hour and twenty-one minutes!The end is just unbelievable!
Joel Schumacher is a very good director in My opinion and this movie deserves a lot of attention in My opinion.If you want a short film that keeps you going until the end and an ending that is very surprising then check out the Phone Booth!.
The film stars Colin Farrell, Forest Whitaker, Katie Holmes, and Radha Mitchell, and is about a man who is held hostage in a phone booth by a sniper.
I thought that Colin Farrell was great as the lead actor in the movie, and I'm sure that whoever is interested in solid thrillers will most likely like this flick.
Colin Farrel was great in his role while on the other hand kiefer Sutherland did the most best tremendous job as the unknown hidden caller who never showed up until the end comes.
The real movie starts at the time when Colin Farrel is held hostage at the phone booth by the unknown hidden kiefer Sutherland but before he also puts the curtain away from the secret life of Farrel on the other line by calling his girl friend and Farrel was listening but wasn't able to do any thing then he demonstrate to Farrel that he has got an eye on him , a telescopic view through a 50 caliber rifle and if he tries to walk away he ll be shot at point blank range.
for anyone to think that you could make a good movie out of a lousy plot such as a man being made to stay in a phone booth and such a quick film shoot can't believe in good film-making of any kind.
Overall I think Schumacher relied a little too much on the idea and didn't deliver fully on execution Still a great movie though, and one I've watched several times now mostly for Farrell's performance.
It is a thoroughly original idea - a publicist, who has been lying his way to success, is held inside the phone booth he has been using to cheat on his wife by an unseen sniper on the other end of the line, who wants him to confess to his wife.
The shots rotating 360 degrees, looking up at the tall buildings give you a feeling of claustrophobia, like you are also stuck in the phone booth with Stu. Interesting dialogue, a thrilling situation, a couple of nice twists and a completely fresh idea make this a top film, and is one of Joel Schumacher's best achievements..
At just 77min long, Phone Booth could not have been any longer anyway, but it's full of suspense from start to finish, and Colin Farrell can sure act!You don't feel anything for Farrell's Stu at the start of the movie, but as soon as he answers that phone and is forced to play a 'game' with a thoroughly convincing Kiefer Sutherland, you see his vulnerable and softer side, and actually want him to do whatever he can to survive!The tension simply builds and builds to an explosive ending, but has the culprit been nailed?
A terrific nail-biting film that will keep you hooked, Phone Booth is the ultimate in suspense and intrigue, and Farrell is superb, showcasing his talents as a serious actor rather than just being a 'bad boy'!.
It is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller.While much of the success of the film rests firmly on the shoulders of Colin Farrell, who plays wonderfully against the disembodied voice of Kiefer Sutherland, the real star of the movie is screenwriter Larry Cohen.
Stu is trapped in a phone booth in Times Square by a sniper and by the New York police, under the command of Captain Ramey (Forest Whitaker), accused of killing a pimp who was shot by the sniper in front of the cabin a few minutes ago.
I think that this movie didn't take more than 3 days of filming but the result is amazing especially with the great acting of Colin Farrell and Radha Mitchell , the story is well written and the message of the movie is easily understood.i don't know why the movie didn't win a lot of awards or even nominations, especially the director of Batman forever Batman & Robin ,flawless,falling down a time to kill ,The Number 23 , Bad company or 8MM Joel Schumacher who deserve more than a nomination.
The movie is among my Top ten due to many reasons :the deep meaning of the story ,L.A as filming location while the story takes place in New york ,farrell faces and fights the evil in the phone booth which is almost the main filming piece and finally because it's 80 minutes of confession and nerve dialog..
Joel Schumacher's mercilessly overheated "suspense" drama has cocky publicist Colin Farrell trapped in a phone booth by a sniper who knows all his dirty secrets.
Beginning with the caveat this slick, smarmy player is actually married (to a clean-cut good girl!), none of the details in "Phone Booth" manage to convince, least of all the psychopath (voiced by Kiefer Sutherland) who turns out to be smarter than his victims and the entire New York City police department combined.
Colin Farrell stars in this great thriller as Stu Sheperd, a New York publicist, who answers the phone in a phone booth and is told that if he hangs up then he will be shot.
Stu slowly realises how dangerous the man calling is as proof of the sniper is shown and Stu begins to fear for his life.Phone Booth is a gripping thriller that will keep you hooked till the very end.
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All CostsStu Shepard (Colin Farrell) is a selfish,small-time New York publicist who lies to his wife and strings along those he feels he can manipulate.Until one day,however,his judgment day arrives when a mystery caller (Kiefer Sutherland) traps him in a soon to be demolished phone booth,aims a snipers rifle at his head and makes him confess and atone for all his sins.It is from here that he goes on a personal and psychological journey of redemption from which there will be no return...I have something of a confession to make.I had already seen and reviewed this film a year ago.But an element of jealousy was hindering my ability to review it in a professional manner.Namely,that I was going through a phase where I had a huge crush on Britney Spears (today,that's long evaporated though......eeeeew) and to see her snogging Mr Farrell in OK!
Magazine broke my heart somewhat.I've been man enough to admit to my mistake and I'm now well over it.In the back of my mind,I always knew I was kidding myself with regards to my ** rating which I dished out to it.But tonight,I've re-watched and re-reviewed it in a more honest and professional manner.Although touted as a revolutionary new concept for a thriller on it's release,there was a DTV film I saw that year (2002) called Liberty Stands Still starring Wesley Snipes that had a very similar storyline.Which film ripped which film off,I don't know,but in hindsight,I guess it doesn't really matter.Die Hard was a classic that got ripped off many times by other films,but that doesn't mean that I didn't thoroughly enjoy those films!As for the film itself,it's one of those ones where we are thrust straight into the throes of the action.This might mean it lacks things like character development and a focused storyline but on the other hand,it makes things move in 'real-time' and so it feels like we are right there in the midst of the action while everything's going on.It's a gambit that pays off well if you take the movie for what it is and helps it to roll by in no time at all.On the performances front,Sutherland is possibly the eeriest performance ever portrayed by an actor who only uses his voice for the duration of the movie as he quite literally phones his performance in.Farrell (bast*rd!-only joking!) manages the lead role very well,his emotional timing spot on and with a brilliant Brooklyn accent that only occasionally wavers back into Irish brogue.Together,they provide wonderful dialogue between each other as they verbally duke it out in the booth.Forest Whitaker adds good support as the police sergeant trying to talk Farrell out of the booth.Overall,this is a film that magnetizes our attention right through to the end.I promise I'll try not to do what I did with my original review too often,but at least you have my honest thoughts and feelings on the movie now.****.
I got used to the look but, cringed as the story just went nowhere.It was 81 minutes of Colin Farrell in a phone booth...and even he cannot make that interesting.
Music is scored by Harry Gregson-Williams and cinematography by Matthew Libatique.New York City publicist Stu Shepard (Farrell) is a liar, a cheat and an all round weasel, but that is about to change when he enters a phone booth and finds himself at the mercy of a long range sniper who has him in his sights.In real time and set in practically one location, Phone Booth is not your standard thriller.
Publicist Stu Shepherd (Farrell) becomes the target of an anonymous caller (Sutherland) when he enters a Phone Booth in a busy New York street.The claustrophobic thriller genre has taken a wild swing in formation over the past few decades.
When reading descriptions I personally sounded sceptical that this film would not maintain a level of thrilling for over an hour, but somehow it has not only maintained it, but taken the concept of isolation even further.Schumacher's real life shots and exterior portrayals of the location with fast moving hand held cameras help create a feeling of adrenaline and action, with an ounce of drama thrown in to make gripping entertainment.Farrell's character Stu is the subject of a mysterious caller.
Captivating director Joel Schumacher imprisons cocky publicist Colin Farrell (as Stu Shepard) in a Manhattan "Phone Booth" for almost the entire length of this eighty minute movie - and, the result approaches amazing.
Still, Schumacher, cast, and crew keep you on the line.******** Phone Booth (9/10/02) Joel Schumacher ~ Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker.
This film is about a young guy who gets trapped in a public phone booth where he is menaced by a maniac sniper on the line who is watching him.
But in reality, far from gripping me as I thought it would, I found my mind wandering a bit by half-way through - and it's the kind of film where that shouldn't really happen.Colin Farrell is good, as is the disembodied voice of Keifer Sutherland.
But, instead of getting a call from her one day, he gets one from a mysterious man who demands he comes clean with his wife and admit his dishonest attitudes with the people he interacts with through work - his life depends on it.I was turned off by the arrogance of Colin Farrell's character and the overly excessive amount of profanity in the film, but, have to say that the plot with Farrell pleading for his life and the lives of those he loves while stuck in the phone booth is quite riveting.
Phone Booth is a terrific movie with a very well developed storyline and breathtaking performance's from Colin Farrell,Forest Whitaker,Radha Mitchell and especially Kiefer Sutherland,I know we only hear him and can't see him,but his creepy voice was done so well and it was really convincing,I didn't even know it was him until the end credits,and I was very impressed with that.I was also really impressed that this movie was so thrilling all the way through,even though the entire movie is just Colin Farrell in a phone booth,I found it very impressive that it managed to be so entertaining.Fans of thrillers will really enjoy this movie.Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell) is forced to remain in a phone booth by a mysterious man talking to him on the phone that knows everything about him,and while shoot him the minute he walks out of the phone booth..
Thanks to the great job of the actors: Colin Farrell, whose performance is so intense that it makes you feel like you share the space of the phone booth with him (one should be so lucky!); Forest Whitaker, who brilliantly gives life to a troubled character who saves the day; Radha Mitchell, the poor unaware main character's wife; last but not least, the screen-filling voice of the sniper: the actor's ability to keep it warm and ice-cold at the same time makes it impossible to turn your eyes away from the screen.
Colin Farrell is terrific as an obnoxious New York publicist whose sins finally catch up with him when he finds himself trapped in a phone booth by a sniper, (voiced to perfection by Kiefer Sutherland), who threatens to kill him if he hangs up.
What develops is a stand-off situation with Farrell caught between the sniper and the police and although the action is confined almost entirely to the phone booth and the street around it, director Joel Schumacher makes brilliant use of that once much over-used and now hardly ever seen technique of splitting the screen to show the action from various viewpoints.The premise isn't particularly new but Larry Cohen's script is a model of its kind and once upon a time would have made one hell of a B-movie, (it clocks in at around eighty minutes).
"Phone Booth" is an action suspense movie that stands head and shoulders above all the big budgeted films with multi-million dollar stars that Hollywood has made through the years.
Now I realize that this is no original idea, Hitchcock wanted to make a movie like this in the past but funny enough, was unable to come up with a reason to have the main character have to stay in a phone booth.
I'd recommend this movie to anyone who likes exciting thrillers (or Colin Farrell :))..
The result is a "real time" movie, where we never leave the phone booth.