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"The Entire Film
Can Be Encapsulated by
This Photo..." |
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Directed by Simon West -
Written by Steve Feke &
Jake Wade Wall
Starring Camilla Belle,
Camilla Belle, Katie
Cassidy & Camilla Belle
Distributed by Screen
Gems -
2006 - 87m - Rated PG13 |
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TC Candler's Review
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C- |
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Let it go to voicemail... |
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Camilla Belle's face =
A+
Camilla Belle's acting = B+
Camilla Belle's cinematography = C+
Camilla Belle's dialogue = D+
Camilla Belle's plot = F
This movie would more appropriately be titled, "When Someone Calls
Camilla Belle". I am not sure that I have ever seen, in over 3000
films, a camera more focused on one person from credits to credits.
First, we see Camilla Belle running laps for her high-school track
team (foreshadowing). Then we see Camilla Belle arguing with her
boyfriend. Then we see Camilla Belle (I now have her name copied and
pasted so I don't have to type it anymore) jealous at her best friend.
Camilla Belle get grounded by dad. Camilla Belle is dropped off at a
$15 million house on the lake for babysitting duty. Camilla Belle gets
spooked by a cat... then a housekeeper. Camilla Belle is concerned by
prank calls. Camilla Belle wanders the house. Camilla Belle's face is
in shadow, in light, behind glass, reflected on a window, peering
around corners. Camilla Belle, Camilla Belle, Camilla Belle, Camilla
Belle, Camilla Belle.
Now don't get me wrong... Camilla Belle's face may just be one of the
most magnificent of all time. Her eyebrows are on eBay for a starting
bid of $20 million. But this movie has an almost perverted obsession
with it. I do not think I would exaggerating if I said that close-ups
of her face make up more than 60% of the shots. And 39% of the
remaining 40% are just shots of her but from further away.
The first ten minutes of the film, you may just develop a crush on
her. The second ten minutes of the film make you feel like you are
having a relationship with her. The third ten minutes make you feel a
little bored with your blossoming relationship. The fourth ten minutes
have you wanting to break up with her. And then you are almost
half-way through the film.
I feel like this is coming across as Camilla Belle bashing. It
shouldn't. The girl is gorgeous and clearly talented. She is probably
a new star and I wish her all the best of luck and success.
However, this film lacks so much actual substance to its minimal plot
that the director apparently thought the running length could be
filled with moody build-up and a escalating facial concern from a cute
19-year old. Frankly, that is not nearly enough to constitute a
quality film.
Remember that scene at the beginning of "Scream" with Drew Barrymore.
I thought that was a terrifying 10-minute sequence. Well, take that
ten minutes and stretch it out for an hour and a half. Imagine how
diluted it would seem. That, in a nutshell, is how "When a Stranger
Calls" comes across to the audience... diluted. It is devoid of any
real terror.
There are some quality elements to the production. The setting is
quite spectacular and the cinematography is expertly handled to create
a sense of foreboding. The acting is also quite good. In all
sincerity, I am only talking about Camilla Belle in this regard
because the rest of the cast's screen time adds up to about three
minutes. However, Camilla Belle is clearly capable of conveying
emotional turmoil of varying levels. She does a good job with the
limited material here.
The thing that really lets the film down is the one cardinal sin of
fright-flicks... It fails to generate enough scares. Even the big
finale seemed tame.
I can suggest watching this film if you are a huge Camilla Belle
fan... Virtually everything else in this film falls far short of
recommendable. This is a horror movie for young teen girls. Everyone
else will be drumming their fingers with utter boredom. |
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© Written by TC Candler -
Email Me! |
Richard
Propes' Comment
I'm still
trying to figure out what makes TC think that
Camilla Bell can act? Has he seen her in another
film? It's surely not her performance here,
which truly is more devoted to close-ups of her
admittedly gorgeous face. The plot is familiar,
the dialogue sub-moronic and Belle's performance
inadequate. The supporting cast is irrelevant to
the film. What are you left with? Camilla
Belle's face.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
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