Mojave Phone Booth (2006)

Overrated and overhyped

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Categorized as drama, Mojave Phone Booth is the most tragically comic film I've ever seen. A showing at the Boise International Film Festival was punctuated with loud laughter as audience members connected with the painfully funny moments of space-alien paranoia, a botched suicide, an out-of-work administrative assistant sucked in to a lucrative menage a trois, and a desperate man who breaks into his girlfriend's car and steals her stereo system (four times) in an attempt to convince her that she'll be safer living with him. It's not that people in Boise, Idaho, are weird enough to have shared similar experiences. Instead, these impossibly strange scenarios perfectly illustrate the common American phenomenon in which we long for intimacy while resisting commitment. The phone booth in the desert -- a kind of secular confessional -- gives many of these characters their only meaningful (and vulnerable) human connection. Of course, the woman on the other end -- an older, English-accented lady with a fondness for Canada -- is no better off than those she counsels. She started calling the phone booth seven years earlier, seeking to connect with someone, anyone. Instead, she discovers her calling in listening to the problems of those on the other end.

I'll leave it to others to discuss the plot, acting and photography other than to say that many of the shots in this movie could be printed and hung on your wall as art. The cinematography by Keith Duggan is spectacular. Well, I'll also say that the characters come across as real people- people that you feel you might actually have among your friends.I saw this picture at the Sedona Film Festival. "What a great picture," I thought. After the showing, Jerry Rapp, the co-writer and co-producer came up to answer some questions. Then I was completely blown away. Some facts about the movie: 1) Shooting time? 18 days! 2) Number in crew? No more than 8 at a time, and that includes director/writers/ producers! Many of them did double duty. 3) Everyone drove themselves to and from the set or location. And, speaking of cars, the cars you see the actors driving in the movie are their own cars! 4) There was no up-front pay. However, gas money was provided along with food. All crew and talent are share holders in 50% of the film's grosses after the initial production budget is recouped. That is, after the budget is payed back, 50% of whatever the movie makes is split evenly between everyone involved. (I don't know who gets the other 50%. But, whoever it is, deserves it.) Shows what a dedicated group of professionals can accomplish if they work together.The only other comment I'll make is to relieve the consternation someone else might have. The background music during the first episode was hauntingly familiar. During the Q&A I asked Jerry if it was original or came from another source. It was original but inspired by the 1974 Gene Hackman film, The Conversation. If you've seen that film, you'll know why it was haunting.Keep your eye out for this picture and when it comes around, see it!P.S., If you want to know what Jerry Rapp looks like, he's the flower delivery boy in the movie. I told you everybody did double duty in this movie.

I saw this movie at the Palm Springs International Film Festival a few days ago and really enjoyed the experience. The film offered everything I hoped to enjoy during my first film fest experience. It was creative, well thought out, featured phenomenal acting and complicated characters, and it tied together the multiple stories in a very natural way. Thanks to the producer, director, and cast for a memorable experience and for taking the time to speak with the audience in more depth about their vision and the process! (Thanks also to Christine Elise McCarthy for graciously taking a picture!)

The film tells the stories of four people who are all connected through the Mojave phone booth. The stories are fictional, but the Mojave phone booth was actually in service in the Mojave National Preserve until 2000, when the National Parks Service removed it. After the phone number appeared on a website in the late 90's, people from all over the world would call the number and visit the phone booth, and it became a cult icon. In the film, the same person always calls the phone booth and provides informal therapy sessions for each of the four main characters. The film is excellent, with richly drawn characters and captivating stories. Great acting by all the cast, but especially Annabeth Gish and Christine Elise. This is one of those movies you want to go see again to catch all the details and connections between the stories that may have slipped by on the first viewing.