Closed Circuit
age 16+
Disappointing English thriller has some violence, drugs.
- Review Date: August 27, 2013
- Rated: R
- Genre: Thriller
- Release Year: 2013
- Running Time: 96 minutes
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What parents need to know
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Closed Circuit is an English crime thriller that focuses for a while on talking and discovering information and then has a big chase-and-escape sequence at the climax. There's some fighting and a little blood when a woman is attacked and fights back. There's also a lethal explosion that kills 120 people and a car crash. "F--k" is used a few times, but, overall, language is sparse. A flashback shows kissing, and there's some flirting. One minor character is said to be a heroin dealer; he's shown suffering from using the drug. Some characters smoke cigarettes. The movie's tone/structure -- which asks audiences to think heavily during the first two-thirds and then turn off their brains during the last act -- makes it seem unlikely to appeal to a broad audience.
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Kids say
What's the story?
With the death of a prominent English barrister, Martin Rose (Eric Bana) is asked to take over a huge case: A potential terrorist has been arrested in conjunction with a bombing that killed 120 people in London. According to the rules, Martin isn't allowed to speak to the special advisor on the case, Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall), and they both decide to hide the fact that they were once lovers. Claudia is given secret information that could jeopardize the security of the country and may only be discussed in a closed court session. And, in his investigation, Martin discovers a connection between the terrorist and MI5; he also realizes that this discovery is what got his predecessor killed. Can Martin survive long enough to expose the truth?
Is it any good?
QUALITY
CLOSED CIRCUIT has been advertised as being from the makers of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and, for a while, it seems as though it might be the same kind of intelligent moviemaking that builds drama through discreet conversations and the passing of crucial information. As written by Steven Knight and directed by John Crowley, the characters seem smart, and interactions between them reveal interesting ideas, as well as unspoken tensions.
But then you get the feeling that the filmmakers suddenly decided to switch their movie from a smart English thriller to a dumb American one. It happens in the third act, when the chase scenes begin, as well as the face-offs, attempted killings, and escapes. These are all handled with startling clumsiness and an extreme lack of logic. The bad guys are given too much power, and it never makes sense when they fail to use this power. The good guys simply luck out. The first two-thirds almost make Closed Circuit worth the trouble, but the final third is so dissatisfying that it can't be recommended.
Families can talk about...
- Families can talk about Closed Circuit's violence. Does the attacking, chasing, and attempted killing make sense in this story? Why or why not?
- Is this a pessimistic story? Do you believe that huge entities can become so corrupt that they'd kill to protect their secrets? Are they the equivalent of bullies? Can normal people stop such a thing?
- Are the main characters role models? Are they fighting for freedom or the truth? What's the difference?
- Is Claudia a positive role model for women?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | August 28, 2013 |
| DVD release date: | January 7, 2014 |
| Cast: | Ciaran Hinds, Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall |
| Director: | John Crowley |
| Studio: | Focus Features |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language and brief violence |
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Closed Circuit
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much swearing
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British spy thriller is teen-friendly, but bland and forgettable
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much swearing
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