Cellullar --- pls. try your call later

Title:
Cellular (B)
PH Release Date:
October 20, 2004
Actors:
Kim Basinger, Chris Evans, Jason Statham, William H. Macy, Jessica Biel
Director:
David R. Ellis
Story & Screenplay:
Larry Cohen / Larry Cohen and Christopher Morgan
Editor / Music:
Eric Sears / John Ottman
Design / Photography:
James Hinkle / Gary Capo
Producer:
Lauren Lloyd and Dean Devlin
Studio:
New Line Cinema

Once the ringing stops, everyone dies----- yeah right!!!

Ever been in a situation wherein you can’t get out of? I know you’ve never been in one cuz if you have been then you wouldn’t be here (how funny!!!). Ryan (Chris Evans) is a typical young American living in LA, a call from a timorous lady out of nowhere from his mobile phone will haul him to the most dangerous position he’s ever been—between a kidnapping caused by crooked police officers. Will he be able to have enough time to save the life of the feeble woman and her family who’s only chance of survival is her feeble connection to him, just in time before he gets killed with them?

It’s a good thing that I didn’t expect way too much from this movie cuz it made it more acceptable for me. The at times unique and at times awkward situations shown in this movie were truly successful in mixing my emotions. The beginning of the movie was something really unique and gave this movie a robust start. It was shocking, staggering and exciting. I even began to think that it could be something I never expected. But then the main concept came along.

The idea of being randomly called from one’s phone in such a condition is way way too whimsical to me. However, the funny thing is, you get convinced to accept it, it’s because the writer adds the ingredient of reality into it. Despite the implausible circumstance Ryan was in, the additives to it such as the scene when the phone battery’s about to go off made it adequate. I love that scene. And was starting to love the entire thing until the other half of the movie started, it became too Hollywoody for me.

Kim Basinger wasn’t like Kim Basinger at all. I found her acting rather atypical. It was really weird, I didn’t know whether I should laugh or feel for her. Chris Evans did surprisingly well. There’s more to that boy (as if I’m older than him) than meets the loins I mean eyes and he’s so good when he acts scared. The girls will definitely go gaga over him and you can continue doing that when he comes back on the big screen with Jessica Alba this summer on Fantastic 4. He plays the human torch, he’s hot enough to play it. William H. Macy was good too, and Jason Statham kinda reminded me of Woody Harrelson doing serious acting, I dunno maybe it’s because of the hair. Jessica Biel? I almost didn’t know it was she, she looked different.

Everyone did a fine job on the first half of the movie, but the other half was disappointing, too ordinary, and too nondescript. The editing was fine, the photography was good, the shots at times were brilliant and I like the sound as well.

It’s a movie strong enough to make you move to the edge of your seat. It’s strong when it tries to be strong and it’s weak when it tries to be so. A little bit more experimenting just like on the first half may have made his movie incontestably remarkable but it wasn’t. Girls can watch it to see more than an hour of Chris and guys would love the adrenaline rush. It’s your call to see the movie or not. It’s not a bad movie but definitely one that can be put on hold.