Closed Circuit (R)
14/03/14 21:11 Filed in: 2013
Starring: Eric Bana
August 2013
This review was originally tweeted in Real-time from the back row of a movie theater and appears @BackRoweReviews. Though efforts were made to tease rather than ruin this movie’s memorable lines and moments, some spoilers may exist in the following evaluation. The original tweets appear in black, while follow-up comments appear in red. For concerns over objectionable content, please first refer to one of the many parental movie guide websites. All ratings are based on a four star system. Happy reading!
Steven Knight.
Multi-camera opening reminds me of a Person of Interest episode.
“Fair and transparent.” Broadbent certainly isn’t referring to the US justice system.
Judge lays out the rules for the case...the relational ticking time bomb is set.
42191. The mystery deepens.
Cross-cutting between both sides of the investigation keeps the plot rolling along.
Broadbent warns Bana not to stray. A taut exchange.
The plot reveals its hand at this point though…Knight should’ve worked a little harder to shroud the purpose and function of this antagonist.
“Thou shalt not communicate” commandment is broken. Ramifications could be far-reaching.
Howe grills Witness X. Wow!
Hell hath no fury…and boy does she unleash it.
New plan...get him to the court on time.
They skip the whopper of a topper though.
Breakfast with Broadbent. “Let it go.”
Also Henry’s advice to his son in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
Final analysis: a decent spy yarn infused with the appropriate degree of paranoia.
Features fine performances all around and boasts deft direction.
By John Crowley.
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 4 stars. Non-thrilling Thriller sputters down the runway but never quite takes off.
The abilities of some truly fine actors were squandered here. The story isn’t very gripping from the outset and never really goes anywhere…well, nowhere exciting anyway. Cut from the same narrative cloth as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), this film is a slow boil political yarn that fails to deliver the major climax we anticipate. And how many times must Bana be told to back off the case before he gets it…or gets it? Long after the audience is bored to tears, I suspect.