PHONE BOOTH [2003] Colin Farrell, Forest Whitaker ; Rated 15

Joel Schumacher takes the helm for this well conceived suspense thriller. Farrell is brilliant as the shallow 'Stu Sheppard' and his Irish persona successfully keeps you transfixed on this character from start to finish. For me Schumacher is one of those directors who is a bit hit and miss with the quality of the films he puts out, 'Batman and Robin' anyone? However 'Phone Booth' is most definitely a shot on target for the director. Basically Farrell's character is picked out by a crazed sniper (for which you don't learn the identity of until then end), who feels he has some duty to either kill 'Stu' for his sins, or force him to seek redemption. The bad fellows true motives remain un-clear by the end of the movie, but nevertheless the drama which unfolds as a result is some of the best to hit this genre in quite some time. The fact that the film is kept short (under 90minutes) is a testament to it's un-compromising story. In other hands, the movie might have been filled out and stretched to meet a more standard duration, but luckily this time it wasn't, and even though yes, it is short, it is also quality material throughout every minute of it's running time. 'Phone Booth' is a relatively ambitious work by some Hollywood standards, but with the great combination of the slick talent of Farrell and the on form Schumacher, 'Phone Booth' should thoroughly entertain almost anyone.