WHO’S IN IT?
Halle Berry (Monster’s Ball), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), Morris Chestnut (Identity Thief), Michael Eklund (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus), Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), David Otunga (film debut), Evie Thompson (2 Guns)
WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?
Brad Anderson (The Machinist), director; Richard D’Ovidio (Exit Wounds), writer; Bradley Gallo (Magic Rock), Jeffrey Graup (Catch That Kid), Michael A. Hellfant (The Associate), Michael Luisi (Dead Man Down) and Robert Stein (film debut), producers; John Debney (Passion of the Christ), composer; Tom Yatsko (Otis), cinematographer; Avi Youabian (Step Up 4: Miami Heat), editor
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Emotionally scarred after a judgement call that ended badly, skilled 911 operator Jordan Turner (Berry) is reluctant to continue her career. However, when she receives a call while at work from teenager Casey Welson (Breslin) who claims she has been abducted, Jordan uses all her skills and experience to not only rescue Casey but also get a shot at redemption by getting the man responsible…
WHY SHOULD YOU BE EXCITED?
Of all the studios in Hollywood, would you honestly believe that the World Wresting Entertainment has one of its very own? Then again, it’s not so hard to come by since all their wrestlers are actors, anyway.
But WWE Studios is real, having turned out products that usually advertise their most popular wrestlers – John Cena in The Marine, and early-career Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in films like The Scorpion King and Walking Tall – while also taking on other solo products like thriller Dead Man Down and this month’s No One Lives. However, their biggest success to date at the box office – even though it’s made $60 million worldwide, it’s still big numbers for the small company – is their new thriller The Call.
Described as a high-concept story from writer Richard D’Ovidio and director Brad Anderson, The Call also serves as a star vehicle for Halle Berry. And those who have been following her decidedly lesser career since her Oscar win in 2002 will be thankful that she is getting decent enough roles again, here as a 911 operative haunted by a misjudged turn of events in her line of duty we see early on. A far cry from the likes of Catwoman, then. Also on board is Abigail Breslin, growing before our eyes much faster than anticipated as is her range of role choices. In addition to The Call, she also appears this year in sci-fi Ender’s Game and ensemble drama August: Osage Country, which all aim to be even more milestones in her blossoming career which prove her Oscar nomination for Little Miss Sunshine was no fluke.
The Call has already gathered a following in the States despite its mixed reviews and decent box office numbers (still, to be reminded, the highest-grossing film in WWE Studios’ back catalogue), with some enjoying its tenser moments and thrilling plot developments. After all, this is effectively a kidnap thriller with Berry taking on the Liam Neeson role in getting her back through any means possible, and those are rarely short in cinematic excitement.
While it most likely won’t win any awards or appear on any end-of-year best lists, there will most definitely be some people who will cite The Call as one of the year’s most enjoyable, thrilling and exciting little films about 911 operatives, and a major step forward for WWE Studios’ quest to possibly becoming something other than just glorifying muscle-clad men fighting other muscle-clad men. Emphasis on “possibly”…
