O Telefonema

CALL ME (1988) 7 of 10 stars ⭐

BASIC PLOT: Anna (Patricia Charbonneau) is discontented and unsatisfied in her current romantic relationship. Her boyfriend, Alex (Sam Freed) is never interested in her life, and as of late, isn't even interested in sex. So, when Anna receives a salacious phone call, she thinks it's Alex, trying to reignite their relationship. The caller instructs her to wear something titillating, go to a certain bar, and leave her panties at home. Her excitement is palpable, but when she arrives at the bar, Alex isn't there. Instead, there's a well dressed man, (Stephen McHattie) exuding sensual danger. His interest in Anna overwhelms her, and she runs in the opposite direction. Anna realizes, too late, Alex did not send her to this bar. Her fantasy has caged her. If she leaves, who will follow? Trying to clear her head, she goes to the ladies room. But instead of offering a refuge, she hears a bizarre and violent altercation. Someone in the next stall is being brutally assaulted, it's over stolen money, and the perpetrator is a cop (John Seitz). Anna's life is now in free fall. She can't go to the cops, she's being followed, and the phone calls keep coming. Can she decipher where the danger is coming from, in time to free herself from it's clutches?

WHAT WORKS: *Stephen McHattie and Steve Buscemi, give standout performances, as Jellybean and Switchblade. Stephen McHattie, never says much, he doesn't have to. You feel his character, and that takes real talent.

*THE ANCILLARY CHARACTERS ARE ALL FIRST RATE Patti D'Arbanville, as Cori, Anna's best friend, adds a layer to Anna's character, and depth to the story. All of the side characters work, and they are portrayed by first rate actors. David Strathairn plays Anna's boss, and his motives blur between sleezy and professional. Sam Freed, gives a stellar performance as Alex, Anna's boyfriend. The character is despicable, and he plays it well.

*THERE ARE PLENTY OF SUSPECTS Unlike many movies in the neo-noir/erotic thriller genre, this movie gives you plenty of suspects. It could be Sam (David Strathairn), Anna's boss, or maybe it's the gorgeous, yet dangerous man at the restaurant (Stephen McHattie). There's also Fred (George Gerdes), Cori's beau, Bill (Boyd Gaines), a friend, or even the mysterious stranger, who's paying too close attention to Anna, while she's out shopping. I didn't know till the very end, which made this a refreshing change from the norm.

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *WHY MUST WE BETRAY WOMEN WITH FALSE MESSAGES ABOUT THEIR SEXUALITY?

Anna (Patricia Charbonneau) becomes enraged when she discovers her obscene phone caller is someone she knows. Why? She's totally into it, until it's out in the light. Why does she feel this way, because "good girls" never feel sexual? She's totally bored with Alex (Sam Freed), her boyfriend, because he's not sexual enough. When she thinks he's the caller, she drops her panties (literally), and runs right for it. So, why would she be mad at something that turns her on? Why does women's sexuality scare everyone so much? (I found myself wanting to scream the Meredith Johnson (Demi Moore)monologue, from the movie, tt010963. "It is the same damn thing since the beginning of time. Veil it, hide it, lock it up and throw away the key. We expect a woman to do a man's job, make a man's money, and then walk around with a parasol and lie down for a man to ____ her, like it was still a hundred years ago? Well, no thank you!")

*THE LAST SCENE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT OFF This goes to the previous point about women's sexuality. Anna's very attracted to Jellybean (Stephen McHattie) throughout the movie; this is why she's so into the phone calls (she thinks they're from him). So, why have her wipe his number off her hand? Why not leave it ambiguous, for the audience to decide? Because "good girls" don't like dangerous men? That's a laugh! This is a small point, but an important one. It's another negative message to women about their sexual wants and needs.

TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: *I would definitely recommend this movie to fans of neo-noir, erotic thrillers, Stephen McHattie, or Steve Buscemi. This is an awesome little movie, and I'm so glad I found it.

CLOSING NOTES: *WARNING: ANIMAL CRUELTY This is a personal thing, but the character Anna, kills a BUNCH of fish, simply because she's mad at their owner. I find this not only distasteful, but also cruel, and it lowered the character in my eyes. I always try to warn viewers if there is animal cruelty in a movie, so heads up everybody.

*I HAVE NO CONNECTION TO THE FILM, or production in ANY way. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews. Hope I helped you out.

One day the measured everyday life of a girl working as a journalist in one of the publishing houses is interrupted by a strange call. For some obscure reason, she, without any ulterior motive, takes the stranger for her friend, with whom she has a rather contradictory relationship. Starting from this, at first glance, insignificant detail, the further cycle of events begins. At the insistence of the caller she arrives at a nearby bar and becomes a witness to a spontaneous murder. Then there is a generally typical set for any simple thriller - a corrupt policeman, dark streets of an average city somewhere in the USA, a friend who will always give a couple of useful (and not so useful) pieces of advice, indifferent colleagues, as well as a couple of moderately colorful criminal elements. In essence could have finished here, but some components of this picture taken separately allow it to stand out a little against the background of numerous, often completely faceless, brothers in the genre, which especially gained popularity in the second half of the eighties and the following nineties of the twentieth century.

Probably everyone knows the combination of good cop - bad cop. Here is a more unusual layout using the example of the «other side of the barricades». The first figure is the melancholic, taciturn and thoughtful Stephen McHattie, who dyed his hair a slightly acid-blond color. The second is an unbalanced psychopath in a leather jacket, occasionally (and without) waving a switchblade and wearing slicked-back hair, aka Steve Buscemi in one of his early roles, several years before Tarantino's creation, which made him famous to a certain extent. This explosive combination of incompatible opposites needs to find the wayward person at all costs, not without difficulty maneuvering in the discrepancies between plans and approaches to solving this, as it turns out later, not the easiest task.

In addition, as the action progresses, the three main characters mentioned will continue to be accompanied by a mysterious lover of frank conversations, the final alignment with whom will be revealed from an unusual side only closer to the end, as well as, acting as a kind of separate actor, the brick gateways of New York.

As a result it can be noted that watching the twists and turns of all the mentioned elements turns out to be quite interesting, therefore a positive review and a rating relevant to the genre specifics of category "B" thrillers.

Awkward dialogue and uneven acting at times. Film appears to be based on "Lady Beware," which fares better in every way. This film's only saving grace is seeing a pre-Disneyfied NYC. Great views of Downtown Manhattan. Can only recommend as a guilty pleasure/late-night cable viewing.

A film you really don't enjoy. The premise is very odd, mostly about a series of obscene phone calls a woman has been receiving, she also finds herself being hunted by thugs after getting mixed up in a murder, though throughout the movie the thugs are utterly useless, it's almost laughable how inept they are. The main character also makes so many bad choices in the movie it's so frustrating, it also doesn't help you're so far ahead of her. The characters are very tiresome and the pacing drags a lot too. The film has a weary toughness to it, and makes some good use of its gritty urban locations but I can't recommend this film.

Diverting and fun, with a few thrills thrown in. Mixes two plot lines cleverly, if with a little too much coincidence! Very atmospheric with hidden corners of New York City, especially at night. A really cool, nicely executed look - sort of film noir in color. Good work by the DP and production & costume designers. (look at all the oranges & blues)

Fun cast - young Steve Buscemi, David Strathairn, Boyd Gaines (double Tony winner on B'way!), Patti D'Arbanville. Patricia Charbonneau is attractive in the lead, and Stephen McHattie is coolly creepy as the chief baddie.

Not great, but a solid B movie - a guilty pleasure. (It's even a little erotic - but watch out for strong language, if you're squeamish about 'bad' sex words.)