As you can probably tell - I'm a massive fan of "One Location" movies - and I've got a real fondness for this little, claustrophobic gem in spite of its more obvious flaws. Please shoot me some recommendations for films that take place in one room/one place in the comments below (I have a soft spot for "Circle" even though the acting is real rough), and thanks again for stopping by and watching another one of our weird little videos. The best way to help us out is to do the whole like/share/subscribe/comment thing (it absolutely helps these videos reach more eyes and ears) and - if you're in a position to do so - head on over to www.patreon.com/inframeout and sign up for our film club. Love IFO
Not a film but the Tv show "The Terror" has an amazing first season all taking place on two ships stuck in the arctic ice as british explorers learn why colonalism sometimes means you deserve you get eaten by a fucking big bear. It has an amazing single location trick. The boat tilts as the ice it is trapped in slowly crushes and moves the ship. As this happens the world the characters are stuck in litterally starts to turn sideways as the show goes on. Pretty effective at adding to the madness of being stuck in the arctic.
How about the film "Liberty Stands Still" starring Linda Fiorentino and Wesley Snipes? Have you heard of that one? It's pretty much "Phone Booth" before "Phone Booth" even existed (although admittedly "Phone Booth" is way better). EDIT: Haha sorry dude, nvm. Didn't watch the whole video before commenting!
I think Colin Farrell‘s performance in the movie was incredible. You saw a sly, arrogant sleazeball in the beginning, and by the end he was completely on his knees. The camera is on him throughout the entire thing. If he didn’t pull it off, it would not have worked, I felt exactly what he felt. One of the most underrated performances ever. I could never understand why anybody would think it was less the great acting. Nice video by the way.
I think it's probably Schumacher's best, which somehow both says a lot and very little. Phone Booth does precisely that, which made it a perfect movie for him. Sure, a higher caliber director like Hitchcock would have elevated it, but like you said, for 2003 it winds up a nice little time capsule. My favorite touch in the movie you didn't mention was how the sniper shifts from the plot agency, to basically the narrator as it all devolves, even if it's just to exposit the themes of the movie by the end. Quick add: Yeah Locke is Hardy's best performance, but I'm a HUGE Fury Road fan so I feel I need to mention I think that's his best work by virtue of involvement. Second best still means way too many people are sleeping on it, because it's fantastic.
I feel like this genre of film could become more popular again, especially if you consider we haven't even seen what the post-COVID film landscape looks like. With most of society locked in their homes for the better part of a year, I'm hopeful that we'll see some great one-location films with the same tension as Phone Booth.
That would be really nice to see. You know what I'd love? Something really out of left field - imagine a Batman movie that takes place entirely in the Bat Cave and just follows Bruce and Alfred solving a crime in real time
Honestly the most underrated channel on TH-cam. As a filmmaker, it's so refreshing to see a film essayist that takes valid criticism that analyses the films rather than simply pulling apart plot holes in a bid to seem intelligent or above the filmmakers. I'm currently editing together a short film that was written as a bottle episode because of the exact points you made in terms of getting creative with limitations, so it was awesome to see this video pop up on my feed. Locke was my biggest inspiration when writing it so if anyone is into Phone Booth, I beg you to go and check out Locke - you won't be disappointed (If you need an incentive: it's written and directed by Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders). You deserve way more views dude. Keep it up, my guy, with love from England
Great topic! Many a movie based on a stage play is also basically the equivalent of a bottle episode. Twelve Angry Men was a live tv drama and became one of the greatest movies ever made (IMHO). I'd also include Sleuth, the 1972 version, which has only three actors in it, but the finest. Brilliant movie.
Every fucking time I watched a new video I always end up shocked at how incredibly underappreciated this channel is. I haven't seen film content this good since the good old days of "Every frame a painting".
That's incredibly kind of you. TH-cam constantly chokes the reach of our videos - so we never take it for granted when someone such as yourself reaches out with kindness :)
A true masterpiece of a movie, my favourite Schumacher's work, great performances by Farrell and Whitaker, great review man! Just have discovered your channel, and its really interesting, informative, definitely for subscription 🤩! As for one room/one place movies some of the better recommendations would be: 'The Sunset Limited 2011', 'Venus in Fur' - 2013, 'Locke' - 2013, 'Sleuth' - 1972, 'Moon' 2009...Cheers!
I like the Teddy Perkins episode of Atlanta where he's stuck at that house. It's trying to reckon with the entirety of someone like Michael Jackson rather than a single narrative of who that person was and what their cultural legacy is. It's strange and empathetic and pretty great.
An outstanding video essay! I love your channel! Here is a bit of deep cut and a nice bit of trivia for you: Phone booth's man-stuck-in-a-telephone-cabin premise was done neary 30 years earlier in the 1972 Spanish TV film "La Cabina" (translated at the time to The Telephone box), winning the 1973 International Emmy. Phone Booth borrows heavily on the social commentary and execution of "La Cabina" -some scenes are very similar in execution too-, however whereas the protagonist is held at gun point in Phone Booth, in "La Cabina" it is never explained why he gets stuck, taking a more surreal undertone and ending in a flat-out dystopian nightmare; which I won't spoil. It is available in TH-cam for those that are interested.
@@inframeout here is the link: th-cam.com/video/1H1_p6B4Ugo/w-d-xo.html, I forgot to add the film has very little dialogue (so don't worry if you don't speak spanish) and a tour-de-force physical performance by Jose Luis Lopez Vazquez. It clocks in shy of 35 minutes and, again, the ending nightmareish ending alone is worth it.
Wow, Coherence. My girlfriend and really enjoy that movie, but I don't know anyone else who has liked it. It's painfully low budget, and very obviously shot with a bullet points script, but I found it uniquely captivating.
Oh it's absolutely held together with spit and the power of prayer at some points - and there's next to nothing in the way of visual flair - but it's still conceptually compelling from start to end
I finally fell off the deep end watching it over the past couple months. I'm glad to see the shoutouts to it. They had a few lines that needed to be said, but otherwise it was an improvised shoot with only character notes being given out before they shot that night for five days straight. I'm attempting to make an episode about it, but, man, are there a lot of bad explainer videos for it.
@@inframeout I do enjoy the cinematography by Matthew Libatique. a stark look at early 2000's New York, not unlike his collaborations with Darren Aronofsky (specifically PI and Requiem for a Dream). for me, the DVR look compliments it very well, in a similar way to 28 Days Later and it's lo-fi aesthetic that enhances the horror tenfold.
I love bottle episodes and movies! And I completely agree that more people should watch Locke. Perfetti Sconosciuti (Perfect Strangers, 2016) would be my recommendation for a (lesser known) film with a single location.
for those born after 2000 a phone booth was a device us human dinosaurs used to make a phone call. you'd put a dime or quarter into the slot and you can make a call. no sms sadly. ;]
That Scrubs cameo trivia - he only did that appearance on the condition that the studio donate a six figure sum to a charity of his choice. Good dude Farrell
@@inframeout Although he has improved over time, he's not great with accents. A bit of Irish peeps out here and there throughout Tigerland and The Recruit. The strange thing is he does actually have an accent coach.
@@inframeout it's definitely a movie that I try to make all of my friends watch, most haven't liked it. I'm currently, right now, watching "inside" which is interesting. Liking it so far 😁
I like to think it's Jack Bauer behind that sniper rifle. It occurs to me that Colin Farrell can actually act, given the right material and direction. I don't mind his wonk (er..you know what I mean). Liminal space=bonus points and sub :)
You know what movie uses scale and size as its own truly successful and unique storytelling device (one of the only ones I've seen use that technique)?, Rouge one.
To an extent I'd certainly agree (I adore the geography and scope of the intercut ground and space battles in the final act) - but my main issue with how "Rogue One" communicates space is just how much of the first hour is bogged down in hopping from planet to planet to planet at nauseum.
@@inframeout Yep, that's why it is the only tool the movie has that works well, because all the other tools it uses have all sorts of problems, scale and distance is its only truly successful trick.
As you can probably tell - I'm a massive fan of "One Location" movies - and I've got a real fondness for this little, claustrophobic gem in spite of its more obvious flaws.
Please shoot me some recommendations for films that take place in one room/one place in the comments below (I have a soft spot for "Circle" even though the acting is real rough), and thanks again for stopping by and watching another one of our weird little videos.
The best way to help us out is to do the whole like/share/subscribe/comment thing (it absolutely helps these videos reach more eyes and ears) and - if you're in a position to do so - head on over to www.patreon.com/inframeout and sign up for our film club.
Love IFO
Not a film but the Tv show "The Terror" has an amazing first season all taking place on two ships stuck in the arctic ice as british explorers learn why colonalism sometimes means you deserve you get eaten by a fucking big bear. It has an amazing single location trick. The boat tilts as the ice it is trapped in slowly crushes and moves the ship. As this happens the world the characters are stuck in litterally starts to turn sideways as the show goes on. Pretty effective at adding to the madness of being stuck in the arctic.
I absolutely LOVED the first season of "The Terror" - still haven't seen the second
@@inframeout beyond picking out every film you referenced in this video, do you have a recommended list of these types of films handy?
Ohhhhhh give me a day or so when I'm less busy and I'll reply here with a list!
How about the film "Liberty Stands Still" starring Linda Fiorentino and Wesley Snipes? Have you heard of that one? It's pretty much "Phone Booth" before "Phone Booth" even existed (although admittedly "Phone Booth" is way better).
EDIT: Haha sorry dude, nvm. Didn't watch the whole video before commenting!
I think Colin Farrell‘s performance in the movie was incredible. You saw a sly, arrogant sleazeball in the beginning, and by the end he was completely on his knees. The camera is on him throughout the entire thing. If he didn’t pull it off, it would not have worked, I felt exactly what he felt. One of the most underrated performances ever. I could never understand why anybody would think it was less the great acting. Nice video by the way.
I think it's probably Schumacher's best, which somehow both says a lot and very little. Phone Booth does precisely that, which made it a perfect movie for him. Sure, a higher caliber director like Hitchcock would have elevated it, but like you said, for 2003 it winds up a nice little time capsule. My favorite touch in the movie you didn't mention was how the sniper shifts from the plot agency, to basically the narrator as it all devolves, even if it's just to exposit the themes of the movie by the end.
Quick add: Yeah Locke is Hardy's best performance, but I'm a HUGE Fury Road fan so I feel I need to mention I think that's his best work by virtue of involvement. Second best still means way too many people are sleeping on it, because it's fantastic.
Fury Road is still the best action movie of the last decade and it isn't even close
Glad someone appreciates this film as much as I do!
Locke is surprisingly amazing.
Who'd have thought a Welshman talking on a car phone about concrete for 90 minutes could be that intense
@@inframeout it was a really big pour. Apparently.
We never do find out who won the football game of if they managed to pour the concrete correctly... sequel?
@@inframeout I'd watch it
"Directed by Michael Bay...and the car is Bumblebee The Transformer"
One of my favourite movies! Love this video; we need more bottle movies in the world.
Give me a film set in an actual bottle and I'll be extremely happy
The Lighthouse
I feel like this genre of film could become more popular again, especially if you consider we haven't even seen what the post-COVID film landscape looks like. With most of society locked in their homes for the better part of a year, I'm hopeful that we'll see some great one-location films with the same tension as Phone Booth.
That would be really nice to see. You know what I'd love? Something really out of left field - imagine a Batman movie that takes place entirely in the Bat Cave and just follows Bruce and Alfred solving a crime in real time
Honestly the most underrated channel on TH-cam. As a filmmaker, it's so refreshing to see a film essayist that takes valid criticism that analyses the films rather than simply pulling apart plot holes in a bid to seem intelligent or above the filmmakers. I'm currently editing together a short film that was written as a bottle episode because of the exact points you made in terms of getting creative with limitations, so it was awesome to see this video pop up on my feed. Locke was my biggest inspiration when writing it so if anyone is into Phone Booth, I beg you to go and check out Locke - you won't be disappointed (If you need an incentive: it's written and directed by Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders).
You deserve way more views dude. Keep it up, my guy, with love from England
Congratulations on getting your short film off the ground! In sure it'll kick multitudes of ass
I think Phone Booth is very underrated. Watched it a couple of months ago and still enjoyable.
It does so much with so little - it's hard not to admire the hell out of it
Great video essay on a pretty decent movie. Shoulve given Keifer some love, I feel his voice acting is this was superb
Great topic! Many a movie based on a stage play is also basically the equivalent of a bottle episode. Twelve Angry Men was a live tv drama and became one of the greatest movies ever made (IMHO). I'd also include Sleuth, the 1972 version, which has only three actors in it, but the finest. Brilliant movie.
I've always meant to see the original "Sleuth"! This takes it to the top of my list
@@inframeout yes, it's fantastic, you won't be disappointed I promise.
I've never seen this, but I do remember mocking the trailer.
"PHONEBOOTH!"
Childhood memories perfect analysis on this movie.
The only thing I've ever seen that could fit in this category is "Buried" with Ryan Reynolds. Fantastic from start to finish.
Every fucking time I watched a new video I always end up shocked at how incredibly underappreciated this channel is. I haven't seen film content this good since the good old days of "Every frame a painting".
That's incredibly kind of you. TH-cam constantly chokes the reach of our videos - so we never take it for granted when someone such as yourself reaches out with kindness :)
Haven't seen the movie in a long time. Need to rewatch it once again. Completely forgot it was Joel's film. #RIPJoelSchumacher
great as always
Many many thanks. Glad you liked it
Your channel is incredible
A true masterpiece of a movie, my favourite Schumacher's work, great performances by Farrell and Whitaker, great review man! Just have discovered your channel, and its really interesting, informative, definitely for subscription 🤩! As for one room/one place movies some of the better recommendations would be: 'The Sunset Limited 2011', 'Venus in Fur' - 2013, 'Locke' - 2013, 'Sleuth' - 1972, 'Moon' 2009...Cheers!
"Locke" is genuinely one of the most economical, elegant and incredibly well acted thrillers of the 2010s
The best TV bottle episode is Twilight Zone's "Five Characters In Search of an Exit".
That's in the top three TZ episodes for me
I like the Teddy Perkins episode of Atlanta where he's stuck at that house. It's trying to reckon with the entirety of someone like Michael Jackson rather than a single narrative of who that person was and what their cultural legacy is. It's strange and empathetic and pretty great.
I have both seasons of "Atlanta" I still desperately need to catch up on
An outstanding video essay! I love your channel! Here is a bit of deep cut and a nice bit of trivia for you: Phone booth's man-stuck-in-a-telephone-cabin premise was done neary 30 years earlier in the 1972 Spanish TV film "La Cabina" (translated at the time to The Telephone box), winning the 1973 International Emmy. Phone Booth borrows heavily on the social commentary and execution of "La Cabina" -some scenes are very similar in execution too-, however whereas the protagonist is held at gun point in Phone Booth, in "La Cabina" it is never explained why he gets stuck, taking a more surreal undertone and ending in a flat-out dystopian nightmare; which I won't spoil. It is available in TH-cam for those that are interested.
This sounds amazing!
@@inframeout here is the link: th-cam.com/video/1H1_p6B4Ugo/w-d-xo.html, I forgot to add the film has very little dialogue (so don't worry if you don't speak spanish) and a tour-de-force physical performance by Jose Luis Lopez Vazquez. It clocks in shy of 35 minutes and, again, the ending nightmareish ending alone is worth it.
One of my favorite movies
Wow, Coherence. My girlfriend and really enjoy that movie, but I don't know anyone else who has liked it. It's painfully low budget, and very obviously shot with a bullet points script, but I found it uniquely captivating.
Oh it's absolutely held together with spit and the power of prayer at some points - and there's next to nothing in the way of visual flair - but it's still conceptually compelling from start to end
I finally fell off the deep end watching it over the past couple months. I'm glad to see the shoutouts to it.
They had a few lines that needed to be said, but otherwise it was an improvised shoot with only character notes being given out before they shot that night for five days straight.
I'm attempting to make an episode about it, but, man, are there a lot of bad explainer videos for it.
@@inframeout I do enjoy the cinematography by Matthew Libatique. a stark look at early 2000's New York, not unlike his collaborations with Darren Aronofsky (specifically PI and Requiem for a Dream). for me, the DVR look compliments it very well, in a similar way to 28 Days Later and it's lo-fi aesthetic that enhances the horror tenfold.
I love bottle episodes and movies! And I completely agree that more people should watch Locke. Perfetti Sconosciuti (Perfect Strangers, 2016) would be my recommendation for a (lesser known) film with a single location.
Just looked "Perfect Strangers" up and it's soooo in my wheelhouse! Thanks for the recommendation
am i the only one who thinks SAW ripped off the villain from phone booth and just added traps.
There's absolutely an element of Jigsaw to him for sure
a time capsule of the early 2000s
If it had a Nu-Metal soundtrack and me wearing a bunch of skater gear - it would be the truest embodiment of the early 2000s
Yeah yeah yeah, shout outs to Cellular. It's so stupid, I love it.
for those born after 2000 a phone booth was a device us human dinosaurs used to make a
phone call. you'd put a dime or quarter into the slot and you can make a call. no sms sadly. ;]
This is a classic FX movie, watched it a bunch as a kid on TV, gonna have to rewatch it soon
Come for the tense claustrophobia, stay for Colin Farrell's terrible American accent
@@inframeout I don’t know why people didn’t just pull a Scrubs and make him intensely Irish
That Scrubs cameo trivia - he only did that appearance on the condition that the studio donate a six figure sum to a charity of his choice. Good dude Farrell
@@inframeout
Although he has improved over time, he's not great with accents.
A bit of Irish peeps out here and there throughout Tigerland and
The Recruit.
The strange thing is
he does actually have an accent coach.
Bug and Hard Candy.
Have you seen escape room? Also completely different genre, behind the mask: the story of Leslie Vernon is something you should see if you havent
I absolutely LOVE "Behind The Mask"
@@inframeout it's definitely a movie that I try to make all of my friends watch, most haven't liked it. I'm currently, right now, watching "inside" which is interesting. Liking it so far 😁
I like to think it's Jack Bauer behind that sniper rifle.
It occurs to me that Colin Farrell can actually act, given the right material and direction. I don't mind his wonk (er..you know what I mean).
Liminal space=bonus points and sub :)
You know what movie uses scale and size as its own truly successful and unique storytelling device (one of the only ones I've seen use that technique)?, Rouge one.
To an extent I'd certainly agree (I adore the geography and scope of the intercut ground and space battles in the final act) - but my main issue with how "Rogue One" communicates space is just how much of the first hour is bogged down in hopping from planet to planet to planet at nauseum.
@@inframeout Yep, that's why it is the only tool the movie has that works well, because all the other tools it uses have all sorts of problems, scale and distance is its only truly successful trick.
The guilty
the spanish original short film is so much better! search La Cabina in TH-cam!
I absolutely loved the movie but that ending kinda ruined it for me tbh
...favourite film or TV episode that takes place in a single room set or stage???_
easy!
this one
Buried is a belter.
That ending... biggest downer