Leofwine_draca CELLULAR is one of those vapid Hollywood thrillers that think they're far cleverer than they actually are. It's one of those films screaming 'look at me, look at me!' while hitting you over the head with the 'cool' plot at the same time. This kind of gimmicky marketing stuff leaves me cold, and for the record, I much preferred PHONE BOOTH, which follows a similar premise while adding a ton more suspense and tension. CELLULAR, despite script input from genre favourite Larry Cohen, never really gels with the viewer, following well-worn genre conventions with a sometimes wearying routine touch.The script is also uneven. It's as if the writers knew that the kidnap plot was hackneyed and unbelievable, and so instead focused on the so-called 'comic' scenes: most of these involving the intensely irritating Chris Evans, who has yet to give a mature performance. Basinger, who is star billed, actually has a supporting role here, and a somewhat minor one at that. Much of the film focuses on Evans driving around and unbelievably outwitting a gang of bad guy cops. There's some cynical product placement here, along with the lowbrow humour and some frankly annoying performances (Macy is usually all right in films, but I found him as irritating as Evans in this). Statham does a wide-eyed hard man with little effort and Biel is there for bikini scenes.In the end, it's all rather bland, despite efforts at style and a super-fast pacing. Goes to show you can't have everything.

missesaw-770-220611 I didn't see this movie until probably 2007. I don't even remember it being advertised. Then someone recommended it for a stormy weekend that most folk were already planning a marathon. Said it was the sleeper of the last 5 years. Ddaaahhhnnnnngggg....could NOT have been more right. I mean Amazon Prime *still* rents it for $4. It's *that* good. It's a buy and keep for sure. I don't want to give away spoilers or more than the synopsis, because *you* need to watch it for the plot twists and superb acting yourself. The script and character development are both amazing. Chris Evans, William H. Macy and Kim Bassinger give highly praiseworthy performances. And if you think I purposely left out Jason Statham, I did not, so *don't* think you know his type of character acting when watching this movie.If you've read my other movie reviews, you'll know I'm a tough sell to 'animate my suspended disbelief', but this one, I think any of us could see happening in the current news. No point in dragging this out. Just watch it. Enjoy. Thank me later.

Hollywoodshack The kidnap hostage always has a cell phone to call someone with. Why did the kidnappers let her keep it? The cell phone can call other people in other places as well as the two people talking all at the same time. Conveniently the bad guys answer the phone instead of murdering their hostage. The hero drives his car backwards full speed through a tunnel jammed with traffic without hitting anyone. The action is entertaining but the fights are stretched out too long just like the other scenes in the movie. Even the corny line of Basinger after she's been rescued, "how can I ever repay you?" sounded more like a line from a MAD magazine movie satire than any film someone would make. Stuntwork goes overtime to impress people and cover the absurdity of it all.

FlashCallahan A woman is kidnapped and locked in a room. There's a phone in the room but, her captor smashes it. She manages to get a dial tone but is unable to dial. She crosses wires and contacts a young Captain America. When she tells him that she has been kidnapped; he doesn't believe her, but he goes to the police to report the crime. He learns that her family's in danger so he tries to help them, but in the process of doing that he commits some acts that make the police sit up and notice him, but not in a good way.....It's directed by the guy that gave us Final Destination 2, SOAP, and Shark Night 3D, so you should realise that the film shouldn't be taken serious in the slightest, as you know for a fact that it won't take itself seriously.And then just realise how wonderfully absurd the whole thing is, from Basinger's hilarious acting, to Statham's accent, to the really fun set pieces, its a hoot from beginning to end.Macy is great, ever playing the serious role in something absurd, but his seriousness equals the funniest role in the whole movie.Evans is wonderful, and just spends the whole film looking perplexed and running really fast.Its high concept of the highest order, but it has a good story, and this is what makes it all the more watchable.