Director: John Crowley.
Starring: Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Jim Broadbent, Riz Ahmed, Anne-Marie Duff, Julia Stiles, Ciaran Hinds.
Running Time: 96 minutes.
Certificate: 15.
Synopsis: A high-profile terrorism case unexpectedly binds together two ex-lovers on the defence team, testing the limits of their loyalties and placing their lives in jeopardy.
A terrorist attack on London’s Borough Market opens this British crime drama and what follows is the story of the trial being prepared and held at the Old Bailey. When the defence lawyer mysteriously dies, Martin Rose (Eric Bana) is brought in to work on the case instead. His work is hindered, however, by the existence of game-changing classified evidence. No-one is allowed to see this evidence, as it might breach National Security, so Special Advocate Claudia (Rebecca Hall), a government approved lawyer, has to be brought in to review the evidence. She’s then allowed to fight for the evidence to become mainstream, but she can’t communicate the evidence to anyone in the meantime. Confused yet?
The shots leading up to the terrorist attack on London’s Borough Market at the beginning of the film are the standout pieces of the movie. Suspense is cleverly built and the style and cinematography is slick and energetic with a real feel for London’s tone. Unfortunately this is not a continued theme throughout the movie and the same level of suspense is not reached during any of the pivotal scenes despite car chases through London and back street escapes.
With a running time of just 96 minutes, CLOSED CIRCUIT should have flown by at a dynamic and lightning pace leaving the audience breathless. Unfortunately what it lacks is bang for its buck; its convoluted storyline about secret evidence never gaining enough pace to thrill.
Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall are solid as the two leads but never really bring their characters to extraordinary heights – perhaps the fault of the writing and plot rather than the actors themselves. Brit Riz Ahmed is a highlight of the cast as an MI5 agent sent to watch Claudia and more deeply involved in the dodgy dealings than initially suggested. Ahmed broke out in Christopher Morris’ crime comedy FOUR LIONS and he continues to shine on-screen in a more serious role. Unfortunately, he and the rest of the cast cannot save CLOSED CIRCUIT from being a safe, disappointing and ultimately anti-climatic entry in the British crime drama genre.
CLOSED CIRCUIT is released in UK cinemas on Friday 25th October.
