Phone Booth

I’m grateful to Telecom/Télefonica O2 for getting rid of the telephone boxes from my neighborhood. I’m such a dummy that I also might pick up a forlorn call. Just that I’m in no way such a hot shot like Farrell. I’d be a darn piece of cake for “that guy". And for this movie is a piece of cake too because everything works as it should and practically all came out unprecedentedly well. Especially the atmosphere. Something that would be hard to find in a regular Prague phone booth. (2007-01-19)

Yeah, when the phone rings in the booth nearby again, I can't even imagine going to pick it up... or can I? Joel Schumacher's film meets all the criteria of an "intelligent" thriller. Minimalist design, great acting (especially the rebirth of narcissist Farella is a delicacy!), interesting work with images (the twisting of shots increases the tension and gradient), decent music and especially a solidly written screenplay which, with a minimum of resources, escalates the absurdity and horror of the situation in which the hostage of the voice on the phone finds himself. I could probably do without tacky and theatrical ending. All in all, it's not a movie that I get overly excited about, but I certainly recommend watching it on movie night for sure... (2004-07-03)

How much does each of us hide? How much do we pretend in front of others and what will we do when we are exposed? What if his threats are not empty and the revealed secret won't be the end of it? How quickly are we able to reassess our highest priorities when it comes to life, not just for ourselves, but also for those closest to us? Maybe I shouldn't have taken that pizza after all... Colin Farrell's perfect performance and the brilliant voice acting of the sniper in a film, which at the time had absolutely no competition. Even many subsequent screenings cannot change the fact that Schumacher and Cohen then surpassed themselves forever. (2005-12-22)

Joel Schumacher is truly a unique person, he can make crap like Batman & Robin, but he can also make gems like Falling Down or 8mm. This project, Phone Booth, is considered the pinnacle of his filmography because it has everything a film in this genre should have: a great main hero, a devilish villain, captivating atmosphere, excellent camera work, and solid music. That's why it is one of the best thrillers of the year. (2003-10-26)

The maximum out of the minimum, there's probably no better way to describe Phone Booth. Joel Schumacher managed to turn a simple and unassuming idea into a thrilling and dynamic thriller that ranks among the best of the turn of the millennium. I was surprised by Colin Farrell, who pulls it all off with the grace inherent in the most brilliant actors and contributes greatly to the final quality of the film, which could not have been better given the premise. I hope that Schumacher is yet to say his final word. (2012-06-15)