Movie Review: Closed Circuit

Closed Circuit is a competent, yet bland political thriller that feels more like a BBC television drama than a theatrical film. Despite some fine acting from leads Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall, the film lacks the compelling characters or an engaging storyline to keep even the most lackadaisical of thriller aficionados interested.

Several months after an apparent terrorist attack in London, the accused mastermind of the attack is on trial for the crime. Defending this alleged enemy of the state are two lawyers, Martin Rose (Eric Bana) and Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall), who also happen to be former lovers. While those in power suggest to Martin and Claudia that everyone involved would be best served by a swift conviction, the pair continues to harbor doubts of their client’s guilt, which leads them to an investigation that tests their loyalty to one another and places them in mortal danger until the trial is over.

While this may all sound like the beginnings of an effective and engaging crime drama, it never really materializes into one. Although the performances from Bana and Hall are strong (as are those of supporting players Ciaran Hinds and the underused Julia Stiles), there is very little tension or really drama in the rather stale storyline and none of the characters ever have a chance to develop into anyone compelling.

Martin and Claudia were assigned the case after the previous attorney kills himself, and everything looks to be moving towards a solid courtroom drama. But things then get even more complicated as it becomes apparent that the trial has more sinister machinations behind it than the run-of-the-mill miscarriage of justice. Instead of exposing this plot, the solution Martin and Claudia arrive at is to simply give up in an attempt to stay alive. Of course, this fails and there is even more manufactured drama. While this may be more “real world” than most films, it falls flat here. Ultimately, there is little or no emotional connection with these characters and there’s subsequently no reason to care what happens to any of them.

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Furthermore, the title of the film suggests that the plot will be concerned, at least to some extent, with the technology of the closed circuit camera. Apart from the opening scene and one or two scenes late in the movie, that just isn’t the case and that’s an unforgivable wasted opportunity. Instead, the story mostly concerns itself with Martin asking a plethora of questions and making one bad decision after another until he finally endanger not only himself but Rebecca as well.

Despite all of this, Closed Circuit isn’t really a boring or an awful film; it just exists. The lack of a compelling story hinders the appeal of the characters and that leaves the film to languish as the cinematic equivalent of plain tasteless oatmeal.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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