Review: Closed Circuit (2013)

Cast: Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Jim Broadbent
Director: John Crowley
Country: UK | USA
Genre: Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller
Official Website: Here

Editor’s Notes: Closed Circuit opens theatrically today, August 30th.

With director John Crowley (Boy A, Intermission), writer Steven Knight (Eastern Promises, Dirty Pretty Things) and a terrific ensemble cast, its safe to say that even though Closed Circuit snuck up on us near the end of the season, it had the potential to be a summer gem. Dreadfully misusing the talent on-camera and off-camera, Crowley has instead given us a lifeless and uninteresting film.

…though Closed Circuit snuck up on us near the end of the season, it had the potential to be a summer gem. Dreadfully misusing the talent on-camera and off-camera, Crowley has instead given us a lifeless and uninteresting film.

Martin Rose (Eric Bana) is the newly assigned defense lawyer for Farroukh Erdogan (Denis Moschitto), after his previous lawyer unexpectedly committed suicide in the midst of the trial. Farroukh - being charged with mass-murder/terrorism – is clearly hiding something about the case, and it’s up to Martin and his special advocate Claudia (Rebecca Hall) to figure out what it is.

Sadly the only sequence in the entire film that has any depth is its opening one. A really tense and explosive beginning sets an interesting tone, a tone that the film never comes back to. After that we have scene-after-scene of bland dialogue and lazy exposition that tries to pass off as sophisticated. There are scenes –plural – with characters telling each other things they both already know, solely for the sake of audience. That’s something most are taught to avoid in Scripts 101.

Even worse the movie holds no surprises. It likes to pretend its intelligent by dropping hints that it can refer back to, but the hints are so blatantly obvious that it instead of appearing smart it appears more like that friend at the movies that nudges you in the ribs every so often to yell in your ear “Get it?!”. The themes Closed Circuit tries to explore (i.e. security, paranoia) are quickly glossed over and forgotten. In an attempt to say many things they ended up saying nothing.

Sadly the only sequence in the entire film that has any depth is its opening one. A really tense and explosive beginning sets an interesting tone, a tone that the film never comes back to.

The only thing that gives this film a chance of survival is the cast. Despite Bana being stuck in bland-mode (someone needs to give the guy an image changing role) to the point where this could have been a less eventful sequel to Munich, the rest of cast elevates this movie beyond that of its absurd writing.

Closed Circuit is a cynical analysis of security-state anxiety that ultimately accomplishes nothing. Its anti-climactic third act is mind-numbing, and any chance of surprise is ruined in the TV spots. Even if you go into this movie blind, its sluggish exposition and monotone style make this a waste of 96 minutes.

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Josh Lewis

Staff Film Critic

Josh is an independent Canadian filmmaker studying out of the Toronto Film School. In his spare times he combines his passion for writing with his passion for film, and contributes his voice to whoever is looking to listen.

Latest posts by Josh Lewis (see all)

• Review: Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) - September 14, 2013
• Rewind Review: Insidious (2011) - September 12, 2013
• Review: Closed Circuit (2013) - August 30, 2013