OK, so there really is at least one good reason for a studio to delay a film's theatrical release.
Most of the time, delays have to do with the movie itself — usually it's just such a bad film that the studio has to work overtime on a new marketing campaign to try and get people into the theater.
"Phone Booth" is the happy exception to that rule. This thriller about a sniper was pulled from its scheduled release date last year because the central story line is perhaps too close to last year's Maryland sniper attacks. And while it's not a great film, it is an entertaining, briskly paced little suspense piece that features some effective performances.
The film also gets considerable mileage out of what seems to be a fairly limited premise, as public-relations whiz Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell) finds his life endangered when he enters a phone booth on New York City's unfashionable west side. Stu is planning to make a call to his "favorite client," an up-and-coming actress he is trying to seduce (Katie Holmes). Instead, he receives a call from an unseen man (the voice of Kiefer Sutherland) who is threatening to shoot him if he leaves the booth or hangs up.
The situation continues to escalate, as the mysterious caller shoots a bystander and manages to make it look like Stu is the culprit. This draws both the police and the news media to the scene. Also drawn into the situation is NYPD Capt. Ramey (Forest Whitaker), who tries to talk Stu into surrendering. Easier said than done, when Stu's wife (Radha Mitchell) and his would-be girlfriend both show up during the middle of this media circus.
More surprising than the film's designed-to-shock ending is the fact that it was directed by Joel Schumacher, who manages to at least keep some of his more visually "intense" tendencies in check for a change. While there are still a few jittery camera movements, the film is more substantive than stylish.
Schumacher also allows both the intriguing premise and his cast to carry the film. Farrell is solid as the fast-talking media consultant, while Whitaker is nicely subdued. And Sutherland really seems to relish his turn as the film's heavy — one who, for the most part, is only overheard.
"Phone Booth" is rated R for frequent use of strong sex-related profanity, violence (shootings and a beating), gore, and some use of crude sexual slang terms and racial epithets. Running time: 80 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com