In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

"The Phone Call" is a 2013 live action short film that runs for roughly 20 minutes and won the Academy Award that year, a great success for director and writer Mat Kirkby and co-writer James Lucas. The probably biggest reason for this success may have been the very good performances by Academy Award nominee Sally Hawkins and Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent who is only to hear, not to see. A woman works at a call center that helps people who have some kind of problem and this day, she gets a really severe and heartbreaking case. I have to say the script was good too, but it was nowhere near as good as what the two lead actors made of it. All in all, I recommend this short film. It is definitely a pretty good watch, but it's also very depressing from start to finish, even if they tried to make it somewhat uplifting at the very end, so do not give it a go if you are in the mood for something positive. I guess the drama and tragedy are also what resonated most with the Academy Award voters. Recommended.

Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK)Rating: 4.7/5 stars"The Phone Call" is set at a crisis hotline center. Heather (Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins, ) begins her shift by receiving a phone call from an an obviously distressed man named Stan (Oscar winner Jim Broadbent) who has taken an overdose of antidepressants. She spends most of the film trying to connect with the guy and determine where he is so that she can send help. Ultimately, it has an depressing yet uplifting end, and clearly isn't a film for everyone.While "The Phone Call" is definitely not a feel-good film, it has some excellent acting by Sally Hawkins ("Blue Jasmine", "Paddington") - her ability to emote and make the most of scenes where she is essentially acting alone are terrific. You never see Jim Broadbent ("Isis") in the film, but his voice is quite recognizable, as he has a ton of terrific films to his credit. His voice alone is more than enough to convey the entire gamut of emotions that a suicidal man with nothing more to live for might experience as he's about to take that final drastic step.When Heather tells Stan it's better to talk things out, he says it's too late for that, ominously adding, "It's already done." She asks if he's taken any pills; he admits he's consumed "more than enough" antidepressants. The camera cuts to his home, signaled by the live sound of the caller's voice. The camera closes in on the mantel, followed by a ticking clock.Watching and listening to Hawkins and Broadbent's 20 minute exchange is almost unbearably painful – and as good as acting gets. Achingly sad yet ultimately hopeful, "The Phone Call" is a showcase for both actors at their most affecting - ultimately being a touching story about a love that endured and a love that has potential.

"The Phone Call" is set at a crisis hotline center. Heather begins her shift by receiving a phone call from a man who is depressed and has taken an overdose of antidepressants. She spends most of the film trying to connect with the guy and determine where he is so that she can send help. Ultimately, it has a super-depressing ending and is not a film most folks would enjoy. While the film is definitely NOT a feel-good film, it has some excellent acting by Sally Hawkins as Heather--and her ability to emote and make the most of scenes where she is essentially acting alone are terrific. Plus, it's interesting to note that the very talented actor, Jim Broadbent, plays the suicidal man. You never see him in the film, but his voice is quite recognizable, as he has a ton of terrific films to his credit.UPDATE: I was a bit surprised by this, but "The Phone Call" won the Oscar. Congratulations.

This incredible film just stays with you. I found myself thinking about the story, the characters for weeks after seeing it. For a film to stay in ones thoughts for as long as The Phone Call did is remarkable in today's era of throw away entertainment, but the fact that this was achieved in a short film format is utterly astounding. Heartfelt acting, a smart script, beautiful simplicity in the cinematography all come together perfectly. Only using Jim Broadbents voice and not showing him on screen was a masterful and audacious stroke. I hope the guys who made this have more that in store, the world could certainly use it....