Closed Circuit (2013)

Directed by: John Crowley
Country: UK / USA

Movie Review: “Closed Circuit” is a minor thriller directed by John Crowley (“Boy A”) and written by Steven Knight (“Redemption”, “Dirty Pretty Things”, “Eastern Promises”). When a Turkish man is arrested and accused of having blown up the Borough Market in London, two lawyers are promptly selected by the British Attorney General to defend him. Martin Rose (Eric Bana) and Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall) accept the case but share the secret of having been ex-lovers, lying about it before the law and breaking the rules of communication. The conspiracy gains intensity when the lawyers find out that the MI5 may be involved in the case, and that the defendant’s son is the key to the truth. Regardless the threatening music that constantly gives a sense of danger, the story never took that direction, lacking boldness and clarity in its vision. Crowley’s bland approach might have contributed to the poor outcome, but it was the plot the most adverse factor, since it seemed a collage of preexisting ideas from other films with the aggravation of never add anything new or surprising. A relentless perception of falsity could be felt when the two lawyers meet and change information with each other as if nothing had happened, even compromising their jobs. For all this reasons and some more, “Closed Circuit” is an unchallenging film, which conveys a sort of dishonesty that leads to discouragement.