{"id":65142,"date":"2013-03-15T13:46:13","date_gmt":"2013-03-15T13:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2013\/03\/15\/the-call-film-review\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T09:29:49","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T09:29:49","slug":"the-call-film-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/the-call-film-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Call"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Call<\/strong>By Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s come a time when the media has to give Halle Berry a break, or rather, better scripts. Since she won the Oscar over a decade ago for Monster\u2019s Ball, and becoming the first African American to win the Best Actress award, the media has been looking for her to be a trailblazer for others to follow. Outside of the supporting roles she\u2019s had in blockbuster films such as the James Bond film, \u2018Die Another Day,\u2019 and the first installment X-Men film series, where she played Storm on three occasions, her leading roles haven\u2019t garnered much fanfare. One can have the pick of the liter from Gothika to Catwoman to the not-yet-released Frankie and Alice and the straight-to-DVD Dark Tide and say that neither film had enough pluses to warrant a favorable reaction.<\/p>\n

Now comes her latest vehicle, the violent thriller film, The Call; and what could have been an effective solid B film, ended up being ridiculous by the time we get to the third act.<\/p>\n

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Berry plays Jordan, a veteran Los Angeles Police Department’s 911 emergency call operator who\u2019s traumatized by the death of a teenage girl who called on her line. While mistakes are made on the job, Jordan takes this one to heart and resigns from taking calls to become an instructor at the job, known as The Hive (the center for dozens of operators). Months later, when teaching new employees how to handle distressed calls, she\u2019s put back on the spot when helping another co-worker leads to a call from a kidnapped victim.<\/p>\n

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When Casey (played by Abigail Breslin)\u2019s friend leaves her at the mall, and she\u2019s left to go home alone, she\u2019s kidnapped by some lunatic and thrown in the trunk of his car. Using her friend\u2019s disposable cell phone, which can\u2019t be traced, she calls in 911. With Jordan\u2019s boss (Roma Maffia) telling her to take a breathe before she experiences a panic attack, Jordan composes herself as she tries to get Casey to divulge any information that may lead her to safety. With the help of Jordan\u2019s cop boyfriend (played by Morris Chestnut) searching the city with his partner (David Otunga), it\u2019s a race against time as Casey\u2019s tormentor starts unraveling as he realizes Casey has been busy being in the back of his car.<\/p>\n

Directed by Brad Anderson (known for TV work on The Killing, The Wire, Fringe and Boardwalk Empire), he brings in a good beginning with the tension and establishing some plausible scenarios. The audience is kept at bay from guessing where this film is headed as the film shifts back and forth from Jordan\u2019s Hive to Casey in the back of the car. Having Michael Imperioli interjected in the film at a crucial moment also adds to the intensity. But, as in other films where the writers fail to capitalize on how good things are going, the third act is like a house of cards and crumbles whatever amount of good effect the film had with audiences.<\/p>\n

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We\u2019ve seen plenty of one-person-can-do-it-all films, but considering Berry\u2019s character, it wasn\u2019t necessary here. While Berry and Breslin are effective in their roles, the culprit for the film\u2019s failure lies with the screenwriter, who couldn\u2019t finish a solid suspenseful thriller with chilling effects.<\/p>\n

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Clips<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Call \u2013 My Name Is Jordan REV (Berry, Breslin, Lamia)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Call clip \u2013 Re-Dial (Berry, Thompson)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Call \u2013 Michael Foster\u00b4s House (Berry, Chestnut, Otunga, Machado)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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