Closed Circuit (2013)
Cast includes: Eric Bana (Munich), Rebecca Hall (The Town), Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge!), Julia Stiles (The Bourne Ultimatum), Riz Ahmed (The Reluctant Fundamentalist), Ciarán Hinds (There Will Be Blood)
Writer: Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things)
Director: John Crowley (Is Anybody There)
Genre: Suspense Thriller | Legal Drama (96 minutes)
London is one of the most monitored cities in the world. For example, Borough Market… CCTV cameras capture every nook and cranny from multiple angles. C19: shoppers; C20: friends meeting; C25: traffic… C23: “Hey Mate! You can’t park here!” The explosion takes out several cameras. Others show flying debris. We see the smoke and hear the sirens. 120 people die that day. Clues lead to the capture of Farroukh Erdogan. A trial in open court could violate national security, but others are calling for a fair and open trial. Six months later Martin Rose is rowing on the Thames when his cell phone rings. Barrister Simon Fellowes has just committed suicide, and the Attorney General wants Martin to step into the role of Erdogan defense counsel. Who would have guessed that Simon would have “topped himself?” There’s another problem that needs to be managed before Martin can become defense barrister… they may need to replace the special advocate, who was named by the previous defense barrister.
Apparently special advocate Claudia Simmons-Howe and Martin Rose had a brief romantic relationship, which is now over. Would that constitute a legal impediment in this case? “No, my lord. I know of no impediment.” They lie. According to British law, “the defense barrister should not have any contact with the special advocate once classified documents have been revealed.” Their affair is in the past, so it’s probably not an issue. Martin digs in. Simon’s office is exactly as he left it… mountains of documents. But he soon gets the feeling that he’s being watched. In the meantime, Claudia meets with Nazrul Sharma, who briefs her on security of the classified documents. “There are people who really want a conviction here. If you ever feel threatened, you can give me a call.” Claudia isn’t sure whether to trust Nazrul or fear him. “And what will you do?” “I’ll do whatever needs to be done.” Another reason she doesn’t trust him. As Martin works his side of the case, he’s getting an uneasy feeling that Farroukh Erdogan is just someone’s pawn. Reporter Joanna Reece has been trying to meet with Martin since she Simon’s funeral, but he’s been avoiding her. So when she does meet him, there’s no time for small talk... “Are you sure Simon Fellowes’s death was suicide?”
Closed Circuit is very much in the tradition of a John Le Carré suspense thriller. It’s cerebral and complex. At many points, the plot fragments seem impossible to follow, but don’t worry… they have a way of coming together at key points so we can follow the narrative. Suspense thriller enthusiasts look for two things above all in the genre… an interesting and complex dilemma and a satisfying conclusion. Closed Circuit is definitely stronger on the dilemma than the conclusion… mostly because the nature of the dilemma closes off many… but not all… options for a satisfying resolution. Martin is warned to stay on the straight and narrow. “If we accept [what you’re suggesting]… then we have to accept all sorts of things we don’t want to accept.” Going off the straight and narrow isn’t easy when “they” are able to watch every move you make.
3 popped kernels
Defending a high-profile terrorist is a dangerous job when clues point to a bigger network closer to home
Popcorn Profile
Rated: R (Violence)
Audience: Grown-ups
Distribution: Mainstream wide release
Mood: Neutral
Tempo: Zips right along
Visual Style: High-end production
Primary Driver: Plot development
Language: True to life
