Little Tony DeFranco
09-10-2004, 07:08 PM
Review: Cellular http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php
I have been waiting for the release of "Cellular" for some time now only because it was written a few years ago by Larry Cohen, my favorite cult writer. He most recently wrote the similar titled "Phone Booth", a very engaging thriller with Colin Farrell. "Cellular" has been doctored by 4 more screen writers and made to be more of a teen thriller with star Chris Evans.
The story kicks in the first 2 min with an abduction of a middle class science teacher named Jessica (Kim Basinger does a good victim), the abductors are tough and mean and want something from her husband Craig. In a locked attic, and a shattered phone, she does a 'MacGyver" and fixes the phone to call a random person. In this case it's a slacker surfer named Ryan (Chris Evans is good looking but not Al Pacino in the acting dept.), who races all over LA to get help. This is just a take-off on the 'Speed' meets 'Falling Down' popcorn flick. You can see one scene to the next with no problem, this is the problem.
Throw in a vet desk jockey cop, Mooney (very good reg-guy William H. Macy) and some funny jabs at LA type asswipes (a lawyer gets carjacked by Ryan twice), and the crooks are cops (no shit, again?). The showdown is the same as 'Falling Down'...why...lazy writers. David R. Ellis (Final Destination 2 was stellar work) directs with speed and accuracy, but alas it's a lazy script. Brit action star Jason Statham is miscast as a rouge cop villain (hard to hide the limey accent) and is been done better. It passes the time and some of the younger people will like it. It's ok. BTJ gives it a bonus point for Jessica Biel (oh MaMa please) cameo.
oh mama (http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php)
Heartbeat is a Love Beat
I have been waiting for the release of "Cellular" for some time now only because it was written a few years ago by Larry Cohen, my favorite cult writer. He most recently wrote the similar titled "Phone Booth", a very engaging thriller with Colin Farrell. "Cellular" has been doctored by 4 more screen writers and made to be more of a teen thriller with star Chris Evans.
The story kicks in the first 2 min with an abduction of a middle class science teacher named Jessica (Kim Basinger does a good victim), the abductors are tough and mean and want something from her husband Craig. In a locked attic, and a shattered phone, she does a 'MacGyver" and fixes the phone to call a random person. In this case it's a slacker surfer named Ryan (Chris Evans is good looking but not Al Pacino in the acting dept.), who races all over LA to get help. This is just a take-off on the 'Speed' meets 'Falling Down' popcorn flick. You can see one scene to the next with no problem, this is the problem.
Throw in a vet desk jockey cop, Mooney (very good reg-guy William H. Macy) and some funny jabs at LA type asswipes (a lawyer gets carjacked by Ryan twice), and the crooks are cops (no shit, again?). The showdown is the same as 'Falling Down'...why...lazy writers. David R. Ellis (Final Destination 2 was stellar work) directs with speed and accuracy, but alas it's a lazy script. Brit action star Jason Statham is miscast as a rouge cop villain (hard to hide the limey accent) and is been done better. It passes the time and some of the younger people will like it. It's ok. BTJ gives it a bonus point for Jessica Biel (oh MaMa please) cameo.
oh mama (http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php)
Heartbeat is a Love Beat