The Phone Call

This is a really quite poignant glimpse at just how tough it can be when you are on the end of a phone trying to help someone in the depths of despair. Sally Hawkins is "Heather" who comes to volunteer one evening at a crisis helpline and receives a call from "Stan". The immediately recognisable sound of Jim Broadbent's emotional voice now tells her of his predicament, and pretty swiftly she is not only trying to console and comfort him, but also to try to glean some information about his identity so she can perhaps offer more practical help. She thinks she remembers a call he made before, you see - but he denies that. Hawkins offers a masterly understated performance here, gently feeling her way through a traumatic conversation that she - and we - sense might not end well. It's gently scored and effectively illustrates just how profoundly a sense of loneliness and pointlessness can affect even the most robust of people. It's well worth a watch this.

This incredible film just stays with you. I found myself thinking about the story, the characters for weeks after seeing it. For a film to stay in ones thoughts for as long as The Phone Call did is remarkable in today's era of throw away entertainment, but the fact that this was achieved in a short film format is utterly astounding.

Heartfelt acting, a smart script, beautiful simplicity in the cinematography all come together perfectly. Only using Jim Broadbents voice and not showing him on screen was a masterful and audacious stroke.

I hope the guys who made this have more that in store, the world could certainly use it....

The wonderful and marvelous Sally Hawkins has accomplished another extraordinary performance, and with the help of an arresting verbal performance by Jim Broadbent. Great directing and writing. A most wonderfully done story by gifted people. So glad I saw this, and its time to track down more Sally Hawkins films.

A dramatic short on life's challenges and meaning where human interaction is what matters the most. In an atmosphere of quiet sadness a help center worker receives a call that would bring out her humanity and make her appreciate life more. Slow going and stereotypical the film nevertheless is worth the view and may leave a lingering impression that'll make one ruminate and brood on life itself.

"The Phone Call" is set at a crisis hotline center. Heather begins her shift by receiving a phone call from a man who is depressed and has taken an overdose of antidepressants. She spends most of the film trying to connect with the guy and determine where he is so that she can send help. Ultimately, it has a super-depressing ending and is not a film most folks would enjoy. While the film is definitely NOT a feel-good film, it has some excellent acting by Sally Hawkins as Heather--and her ability to emote and make the most of scenes where she is essentially acting alone are terrific. Plus, it's interesting to note that the very talented actor, Jim Broadbent, plays the suicidal man. You never see him in the film, but his voice is quite recognizable, as he has a ton of terrific films to his credit.

UPDATE: I was a bit surprised by this, but "The Phone Call" won the Oscar. Congratulations.