Phone Booth (R)

This movie doesn't make sense on any level.

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Common Sense rates it
2
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
  • Directed By: Joel Schumacher
  • Cast: Forest Whitaker, Colin Farrell
  • Running Time: 80 minutes
  • Release Date: 04/04/2003
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 07/08/2003
  • Genre: Thriller
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: pervasive language and some violence

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has extreme and intense peril and violence. Characters are killed without provocation, and there are references to other murders. Characters smoke and use very strong language, and there are references to adultery (or the wish to commit adultery).

Families can talk about what the characters are likely to do next. How will Stu change?

Message

Social Behavior:

Strong, wise, capable African-American character

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Smoking

Violence

Intense peril, characters shot and killed Intense peril

Sex

References to adultery

Language

Very strong language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

PHONE BOOTH begins as publicist Stu (Colin Farrell) walks down the street, his intern trotting beside him, handing him pre-dialed cell phones so he can keep up a continuous loop of shmoozing, lying, and manipulating his various connections -- including a pretty would-be actress named Pam (Katie Holmes), a tasty prospect for both business and pleasure. But Stu doesn't want to call Pam from the cell phone because his wife sees the bills. So he stops in the last phone booth in Manhattan, which turns out to be a very big mistake. The phone rings, and Stu answers. The man on the other end (Kiefer Sutherland) tells him that he has a rifle pointed at Stu, and that he will shoot him if he hangs up or tells anyone about it. He seems to know all about Stu, his wife Kelly (Rhada Mitchell), and Pam. When a pimp comes after Stu because his girls want to use the phone, the sniper shoots him, and the police, led by Captain Ramey (Forrest Whitaker), think Stu did it. Stu is surrounded by police with guns pointed at him, both Pam and Kelly are there, and the sniper will not let him get off the phone.

Is it any good?

2
Even the most paranoid fantasies have to make sense at some level, and this one just doesn't. This film is based on a short student film and was shot in just 12 days. It's a Hollywood film that is trying for the vibe -- and the indie cred -- of a smaller film. Phone Booth tries to have Stu's confinement in the phone booth shape both the story and its impact.

The premise is all right and while it does create a lot of tension and Farrell and Whitaker are always great to watch, the movie feels manipulative and padded. The "Who do you think you are?" sign behind Stu and the "I'll never lie again and will show the proper respect" climax are heavy-handed and pretentious and the attempted twist at the end is heavy-handed and predictable. Farrell, usually impeccable with American accents, completely misses in his attempt to sound like an upwardly mobile guy from the Bronx.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

3


Posted on 04/14/07 by the wise one Kid contributor, age 13

An overall okay movie

Stu Shepherp a publicist is man who thinks he is on top although he doesn't who watching and finding his terrible secrets that he is hiding. He steps into a phone booth not make a call back home, but to call a Pamela McFadden a woman that he is having an affair. The phone rings right after he hangs up he is expecting it to be Pam but it is a madman physco who has stalking Stu for quite some. He tells Stu if he hangs up he will kill him. A angry pimp comes to booth to make Stu get off the phone so that his hookers can you use it. When Stu refuses he brings out a baseball bat breaks the window an almost drags out Stu. The rest of movie is overall good thriller filled with a lot of suspense. There is some violence- when the pimp is shot we see a little bit of blood on his back. Not much sexual content although references to it. There is a lot of dirty language. About 100 F words or more and other bad words such S--t and other words. I saw this movie when I was 13 but parents, before taking your kid to see this I suggest you watch it first, becuase there is a lot of cursing. But in the end it has a good message- honesty is the key to any relationship.
4


Posted on 11/01/06 by Rachel D Adult contributor

Adult suspense

I was only disappointed with the excessive language in this movie. The plot was inventive and the moral choices presented were issues Hollywood tries to gloss over for the most part. Faithfulness to your mate is the real issue in this one and for that I commend the effort.
4

Posted on 05/20/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Good Suspence thriller

As a suspence fan this movie is awsome. This movie is so cool with alot of action too. No bad moments
5


Posted on 04/28/04 by Panya Adult contributor

Great movie

I've watched it twice in the past three days, and I can't get over how utterly fantastic the acting is. Because of the violence, language, sexuality, etc., this is NOT for kids.
2


Posted on 09/16/03 by kvirgin Adult contributor

An ugly movie about ugly minds and what they're capable of

3

Posted on 06/16/03 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

Good Stunt

Joel Schumacher makes a good yarn out of this one set piece. The way he uses split screen techniques really pumps up the suspense. And Colin Farrel is gripping as a not so perfect man. In this day and age of box office obsession, its good to see some experimental stuff at the megaplex.

Adult Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

4


Posted on 11/01/06 by Rachel D Adult contributor

Adult suspense

I was only disappointed with the excessive language in this movie. The plot was inventive and the moral choices presented were issues Hollywood tries to gloss over for the most part. Faithfulness to your mate is the real issue in this one and for that I commend the effort.
5


Posted on 04/28/04 by Panya Adult contributor

Great movie

I've watched it twice in the past three days, and I can't get over how utterly fantastic the acting is. Because of the violence, language, sexuality, etc., this is NOT for kids.
2


Posted on 09/16/03 by kvirgin Adult contributor

An ugly movie about ugly minds and what they're capable of

Kids Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

3


Posted on 04/14/07 by the wise one Kid contributor, age 13

An overall okay movie

Stu Shepherp a publicist is man who thinks he is on top although he doesn't who watching and finding his terrible secrets that he is hiding. He steps into a phone booth not make a call back home, but to call a Pamela McFadden a woman that he is having an affair. The phone rings right after he hangs up he is expecting it to be Pam but it is a madman physco who has stalking Stu for quite some. He tells Stu if he hangs up he will kill him. A angry pimp comes to booth to make Stu get off the phone so that his hookers can you use it. When Stu refuses he brings out a baseball bat breaks the window an almost drags out Stu. The rest of movie is overall good thriller filled with a lot of suspense. There is some violence- when the pimp is shot we see a little bit of blood on his back. Not much sexual content although references to it. There is a lot of dirty language. About 100 F words or more and other bad words such S--t and other words. I saw this movie when I was 13 but parents, before taking your kid to see this I suggest you watch it first, becuase there is a lot of cursing. But in the end it has a good message- honesty is the key to any relationship.
4

Posted on 05/20/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Good Suspence thriller

As a suspence fan this movie is awsome. This movie is so cool with alot of action too. No bad moments
3

Posted on 06/16/03 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

Good Stunt

Joel Schumacher makes a good yarn out of this one set piece. The way he uses split screen techniques really pumps up the suspense. And Colin Farrel is gripping as a not so perfect man. In this day and age of box office obsession, its good to see some experimental stuff at the megaplex.
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