Review - Closed Circuit

Don’t Close the Door On This Conspiracy

It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long since the explosions in Boston and the ensuing manhunt that led to one captured suspect. Now a film goes into a fictitious explosion in another country and the

Closed Circuit, Opens 8/28/13

ongoing legal journey to bring the culprit to justice.

An explosion rocks Britain in a market and the bomber is in custody. Now it’s off to the legal systems and the complex weavings of what is ok, and not ok to make public.

In this film, we get a look behind the scenes at the British justice system. When matters of national security may be compromised by the revelation of secret information, two different lawyers work for the defendant. For this case one, Martin Rose (Eric Bana) is new on the case after an unfortunate accident befalls his predecessor. His job is to defend his client to the best of his ability in open court. The Second lawyere Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall) is there to hear the secret testimony that the government has that it doesn’t want revealed in open court. If she sees fit, it is her job to make sure that information is argued to be public, although she cannot speak with the other counselor.

Yep – confusing to say the least.

Why would a system not let the two lawyers representing a defendant talk to each other?

But I digress…

As the two lawyers independently investigate the facts, they find some secrets that should best be kept secret and some conspiracies that might change the dynamic of the whole case.

Will the legal system work or are the secrets too deep for even these two ambitious lawyers to overcome?

Let me say – up front – I have this fun fascination with conspiracy theories. Even the wackiest ones have some foundation in truth and that’s what makes them fun. The conspiracy plot in the film is well crafted and had me chomping at the bit for more.

I don’t understand this legal system though. To me the legal system being portrayed seems antiquated and truly unsatisfactory. That part of the film bothered me as the idea of two lawyers, both with the same objective, not being able to talk to each other played out onscreen.

I wish they would have played more with the Jim Broadbent character – I really dug him. And I believe they could have gotten more legs out of the closed circuit footage of the bombing, the opening sequence was extremely fascinating to see unfold before our very eyes with a number of camera angles.

That said, this was a tight 90-minute film that will have even the most die hard conspiracy fans enjoying. All good conspiracies allow for the viewer to interpret information, and Closed Circuitdoes not disappoint on that level.

B

Closed Circuit

Director: John Crowley

Starring: Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Jim Broadbent, Julia Stiles

Rating: R for language and brief violence

Runtime: 1 hour 36 minutes

Review - The Town

A Town Like No Other

Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) has a checkered past. As a resident of Charlestown he is in the area with the most bank and armored car robberies in the United States. In this Boston neighborhood, robberies are a way of life for many residents, handed down through generations.

MacRay is following in his dad’s (Chris Cooper) footsteps. He is leading his own crew to intricately timed and precision executed robberies. His best friend James Coughlin (Jeremy Renner) stands by his side and has his back no matter the circumstance. When a job leaves some loose ends, Doug goes to solve the problem so Coughlin doesn’t endanger his own well being.

But things don’t always work out the way you might plan. FBI Agent Frawley (Jon Hamm) is on the gang’s trail, and will use all of his well placed sources to find them. Putting these bad guys away is his goal, and he will pull out all of the stops to succeed.

Will anyone survive this ride?

It has always been said; do what you know. There is no question Ben Affleck knows Boston and this film, along with Gone Baby Gone have proven that point. Affleck makes Boston an additional character in his film. It becomes a character with real faults and real problems. Affleck also knows how to surround himself with good actors and get every ounce of performance out of them.

Jeremy Renner has emerged as a solid working actor that you can count on to deliver. And deliver he does. He makes you love Coughlin gor his devotion to a friend, but makes you despise him for so many other reasons. And Jon Hamm emerges as a force to be reckoned with on the big screen as well as his current prowess on the small screen.

If not for a small clunky sequence for me, this would be a near perfect popular heist film. It’s got everything; action, romance, violence, nudity, innuendo, drugs and so much more. A throwback to films gone by, The Town is an impressive look inside a subculture in a classic American city. I’d love to be on the right side of this town.

B+

The Town
Warner Brothers Pictures

Director: Ben Affleck
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively

Rating: R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.
Runtime: 125 minutes.