The Telephone

In the offbeat 1988 film The Telephone, we are introduced to an eccentric character named Vashti Blue, portrayed with incredible energy and dynamism by Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg. This experimental comedic drama, directed by Rip Torn, is set almost completely within the confines of a single apartment. It revolves around Goldberg's character, Vashti, a down-on-her-luck actress in Los Angeles. The primary catalyst for the plot is an old-fashioned, rotary dial phone which, in the face of Vashti's unpredictable mind, takes center stage propelling the narrative forward.

Known for her roles in an array of classic and enduring films, Whoopi Goldberg demonstrates her immense talent once again by effectively carrying the movie on her shoulders. She spends much of the film solo, creating a one-woman show filled with high energy and wit. Her character, Vashti, is a complex and capricious woman whose fortunes decline rapidly, which she perceives to be due to her being blacklisted from Hollywood for having a different perspective. During the film's relatively short running time, she talks on her telephone, attempting to hold onto her fleeting grasp of reality while asserting a sense of agency in her interactions.

One of the primary factors for the unique appeal of The Telephone is the non-typical narrative structure it adopts. There's no conventionally organized plot, three act division, or comprehensive narrative arc. Instead, the focus is on the dialogue, monologues, and the emotional progression of the central character, providing a character study of Vashti Blue, a person trapped by her own mental obsessions and compulsions. The telephone becomes the conduit of plot progress, with each phone call guiding the trajectory of the film.

The ingenuity of this movie largely relies on how it takes an ordinary object—an old, landline telephone—and molds it into a device of dramatic interest, tension, and sometimes, comic relief. It is through the telephone that Vashti secures her contact with the external world, arguing with her estranged boyfriend (voiced by Severn Darden), flirting with a mysterious stranger, and confronting a dispassionate phone operator (played by Amy Wright).

Throughout the film, Goldberg flexes her acting prowess by embodying a character who is not only humorous and psychologically intriguing, but who is also able to invite empathy from the audience despite her often erratic behavior. She infuses Vashti with resonating humanity, whether she's engaging with figments of her imagination, ranting about her woes to whomever is on the other line, or practicing her acting skills by reciting a monologue from Shakespeare.

The director, Rip Torn, who is a prominent character actor himself, expertly crafts an environment that is almost claustrophobic in its intimacy. The claustrophobia accentuates the desperation and solitude of Vashti's condition and makes her constant chattering on the phone less of an eccentricity and more of a heartbreaking coping mechanism. The set design is flamboyantly discordant, acting as an external reflection of Vashti's complex inner world.

Moreover, while this film holds comedic elements, it also capably encompasses dark, poignant themes involving loneliness, alienation, and disillusionment. The exploration of these themes is further heightened through the astute use of dynamic camera work, with inventive angles and zooms that bolster the mood created by Goldberg’s captivating performance.

The Telephone strays from the realm of traditional plotlines and into the realm of psychological exploration, focusing on the mind of an individual in a situation that combines desperation with a darkly humorous perspective on life. It is a showcase for Whoopi Goldberg's impeccable capacity to envelope herself into a character and bring it to life, while also providing a fascinating portrayal of an individual’s mental complexity. With a unique plot and a fearless examination of numerous provocative themes, The Telephone offers an engagingly unorthodox cinematic experience.