Writer: Ezwan Mehzas

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Watch this if you liked: “Boy A” and "Intermission".

Martin Rose (played by Eric Bana) and Claudia Simmons-Howe (played by Rebecca Hall) have been selected by the Attorney General to represent Farroukh Erdogan, a man suspected to be the mastermind of a terrorist attack. But as they gather information for the defence, they find out something that puts them in danger as well.

Plot wise, the ending is not something you can just predict in the first few minutes of the film as there are twists and turns in the story. At the same time, it can be quite predictable because whenever something happens that may indicate to which direction the story is heading, it seemed really obvious.

It felt like the director intended for the story to be more obvious, with awkward lines from suspicious characters or have the main characters point things out. Not only did it dispel the mystery of the film, it also felt like this film builds its story on the poor choices the characters made and uses complications to expand on it.

Despite how obvious some parts might get, it still holds onto the thriller elements like suspense, tension and excitement. It will really make you wonder what will happen next. Will there be justice or will justice be subverted? Will there be death, and if so, who? Your mind would wonder throughout the film, but only to be disappointed by anti-climactic developments.

As for the acting, the cast played their role well, making their characters believable and realistic. Although Eric Bana's accent did feel kind of forced, it is not that noticeable.

The film does not have too many characters and it is not hard to tell them apart either. They feel distinct and have their own uniqueness. The characters also feel authentic and not out of place.

If you were expecting action, you'll be disappointed. There is very little of it in this film. If you were also expecting a lot of courtroom drama, you would also be disappointed as well. But what does keep your eyes glued to the screen is the suspense that the story brings. Unfortunately, as you anticipate what's to come, the story isn't as dramatic as you expect it to.

As a whole, "Closed Circuit" has a lot of wasted potential. The concept, which is so much more relevant today as it relates to the issue of anti-terrorism, government surveillance and security, could have been made more exciting and dramatic. However, the low tone perhaps made this story more realistic. While it plays with our sense of anticipation, it keeps its realistic approach.

While it is not good enough for an adrenaline rush, it is still an interesting film worth watching as it will keep your eyes glued to the screen.


Cinema Online, 12 September 2013