Joel Schumacher is one of the most overrated film makers of all time. This isn't to say that all of his movies are terrible. I have a soft spot for The Lost Boys and happen to think that Cousins and Falling Down are quite good. However, more often than not, Schumacher has taken interesting premises (see 8 mm) and all but destroyed them with sub par execution. He will also go down in history as the man that came awfully close to destroying the Batman franchise (happily, new Batman films are under development and attached to a different director). This is to say nothing of last year's dismal Bad Company.

Of course, sometimes even the most overrated of directors is capable of doing something right. Enter the entertaining thriller Phone Booth, Shumacher's reunion with actor Colin Farrell (the two first worked on one of Shumacher's few good movies, the military drama Tigerland).

In Phone Booth, Farrell plays a cocky publicist who usually gets what he wants, even if it means squashing other people to get his way. While making his way down the streets of New York City, he makes the foolish mistake of answering a ringing pay phone. On the other end of the line, is a crazed sniper (brilliantly voiced by Kiefer Sutherland), who has Farrell in his sights. Then the real thrills begin as Sutherland makes demands that, if not met, will result in some untimely deaths.

Farrell is a bundle of energy, bringing to mind a young Pacino or DeNiro. While his New York accent is hit and miss, this up and coming star commands the screen. Even though Phone Booth comes in at a brisk eighty minutes, Farrell's transformation seems real. Sutherland is absolutely convincing as a the sniper, a mysterious man from Farrell's past. While this is primarily a voiced performance, he gave me chills nonetheless. I guess he needed a breather from saving the country on TVs 24. Forest Whitaker is also great in what could have been a thankless role. Again, this underrated actor takes a one dimensional part, and breathes life into it, much in the same way he did in last year's Panic Room.

Schumacher should be commended for keeping this picture moving at a breakneck pace. He's assisted by truly gifted cinematographer Matthew Libatique (Requiem For A Dream) and a flawed but entertaining screenplay by Larry Cohen (creator of such B-Movie classics as It's Alive, The Stuff and Q). Sure, there are things going on in Phone Booth that are underdeveloped and one moment towards the end of the picture, is meant to fool the audience but fails miserably. Still, Phone Booth works for many reasons. First of all, it's a taut thriller rarely giving the audience a chance to breathe. Secondly, it's extremely well acted. And third, I really liked the sniper's motivation. He isn't interested in killing drug pushers and other such baddies. He's interested in being the conscience of an entirely different kind of criminal. He's sort of a variation of Kevin Spacey's memorable villain in Seven.

Phone Booth takes place primarily in one confined setting and in real time, and despite the limitations, the movie remains tense (remember how boring John Badham's Nick of Time was?.)

Going into this film, I was expecting a twist ending. I already had it figured out in my head. Thankfully, Phone Booth didn't go where I thought it would. In fact, the twist is there really isn't a twist. Who's on the other end of the line? Well, there is an explanation of sorts, but the movie is more about Farrell facing up to who he is.

In the end, this is just a fun time and plays on a scenario that many of us may be familiar with. How many times have you been in a public place and heard a pay phone ringing? If anything, Phone Booth suggests you shouldn't answer. Especially if you're an insensitive human being. Or, maybe you should.