Parents' Guide to

Closed Circuit

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Disappointing English thriller has some violence, drugs.

Movie R 2013 96 minutes
Closed Circuit Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

kipwalker44
kipwalker44 Adult
November 7, 2014
age 15+

British spy thriller is teen-friendly, but bland and forgettable

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

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?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

The first two-thirds of the movie almost make it worth the trouble, but the final third is so dissatisfying that it can't be recommended. 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.

Talk to Your Kids 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

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