Cellular

If I overlook the fact that it's a bit of an ad for Nokia, I have to say that I quite enjoyed myself for almost a hundred minutes. The big plus is that neither the director, nor the screenwriter, and often not even the actors take it too seriously. The screenplay was passable, of course, the film didn't avoid several convoluted scenes and worn-out clichés, but there was nothing unbearable. The pace was very solid and you never get bored. (26/07/2005)

Only exceptionally can you find such a textbook example of product placement in the film industry as this little film. However, I must admit that I didn't get bored at all by this excessive advertisement for NOKIA. The advantage of the film is its fast pace and reasonable duration. Although I am sensitive to a derivative screenplay and inconsistencies in the plot, in this case I did not mind these types of flaws. Basinger as the main star attracts attention about as much as my grandmother in her nightgown, but even that is not a hindrance. If you don't have high expectations, the film gives a decent chance for entertainment and represents a light genre above average. Overall impression 65%. (17/05/2007)

At first, I was quite scared about what Morgan, the debutant, had prepared for me in the script, because the main abduction happens before I even get a chance to settle down, and right from the beginning it presents an unbearably (and almost unwatchable) hysterical Kim Basinger and Chris Evans, who is trying to win back his ex-girlfriend. In the end, it turns out to be a mixture that alternates excellently built tension with logical lapses and adds a moderately high pile of clichés on top of it all. Fortunately, a likable character gradually emerges from the mess, so I had someone to cheer for, and thanks to Evans in particular, I have the impression of a better-than-average movie in Cellular. (06/06/2006)

In some places Cellular was unexpectedly surprising, but most of the movie is more or less one big cliché. But undemanding entertainment for a Friday evening. Evans is really very cool here while Statham is in a rather untraditional negative role. Also a small role for Jessica Biel was a nice surprise. How extraordinary that these three met a year later in the drama London. (18/05/2007)

But yeah, this movie has the right drive, it won't let you catch your breath, and that's exactly what it wanted to do. It lets you ride the wave of adrenaline. In the end, I wouldn't expect anything else from Ellis. He managed to make a properly claustrophobic and fast-paced film. Evans fits the role quite well, occasionally he even manages some humor, Kim Basinger is excellent for her part. Although she doesn't have much screen time, it seems like she gives it her all. William H. Macy is perfectly cast in terms of casting and he even gets some action scenes, which I also wouldn't expect from him. It's not the film of the year 2004, but as a popcorn entertainment, it's maybe better than drawn-out blockbusters. (15/02/2014)