CLOSED CIRCUIT DVD (2013)

SYNOPSIS: A high profile terrorism case unexpectedly brings two exceptional lawyers with a romantic past together on the defense team. They soon realize they've stepped into a dangerous web of cover-ups and lies and their knowledge of the government's top=secret classified evidence has put their reputations and lives at stake. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

A bomb went off in a crowded market in central London killing 120 innocent people and a Turkish by the name of Farroukh Erdogan is subsequently caught and detained by the authorities. Lawyers Martin Rose (Eric Bana) and Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall) are selected by the Attorney General (Jim Broadbent) to represent Erdogan in court with Rose replacing the previous defense barrister who committed suicide. As Rose dig deeper into the case, he realized his daily actions are heavily monitored and there’s more to a mere bombing case by terrorists.

Closed Circuit in short is yet another conspiracy thriller that plays on the after effects of 9/11, this time from the British filmmakers. Arabic looking man as terrorist suspect. Checked. Politics and cover up. Checked. Government agents that went on secret killing rampages. Checked. The two heroes involved in the case happen to have a romantic past. Checked. The script by Steve Knight (Redemption, Eastern Promises) evolves into nothing exceptional thrilling and the plot unravels predictably in the most mundane way making all that promised mumbo-jumbo about surveillance technology redundant in the end.  

The sole impressive trait about the movie happens to be the cast. Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall are excellent as two smart lawyers caught in a silly wild goose chase. At least we believed the duo has done their job well. Veteran Jim Broadbent snarls, growls and threatens in the most gentleman way ever but we still know he is up to no good. The same goes for Cairan Hinds who plays a close friend of Rose. Instead of generating a real sense of tension, perhaps the fault lies again in Knight’s screenplay, which makes the guessing game much too easy. Not forgetting American Julia Stiles is also in the picture playing a journalist caught up in the conspiracy theories. It’s as if she never left The Bourne movies.

Despite serviceable directing effort from John Crowley (Boy A), Closed Circuit fails to breathe life to a compelling subject. It’s too much of the same old to generate much interest. Watchable only for the terrific cast. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

NIL

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack boasts a clear listening experience and visually showcases the intended cold, washed out palette.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee