MOVIE REVIEW - Closed Circuit

In this summer of animation, cartoons, 3-D, IMAX, computer generated monsters, superheroes and guilty pleasure, raunchy comedies, I almost didn't recognize Closed Circuit.  A political thriller where there's an involved story, and real actors.

All kidding aside, CC is a good movie and a nice pathway into the post Labor Day movies to come that will be very different than the Pre-Holiday fare.  CC is a thinking man's movie that may struggle to find a huge audience here in August, but is solid nonetheless.

CC is a fictional story of a terrorist attack in Central London, an explosion in a market where 120 people are killed.  A suspect is arrested and is being bound over for trial.  Because national security in Britain is at stake, he is assigned two defense legal representatives.  One for the trial, and one for the closed portion of the trial where no one can hear the evidence because of its sensitivity.   But who actually is this suspect? And why the secrecy?

As we move on, turns out the the British government is not only spying on its citizens, but they are spying on the legal team that is representing our suspect.   They are trying to make sure the real truth doesn't get out, and that this all goes away with minimal political damage.  And they will go to any length to protect the secrets they want to.

Closed Circuit stars Eric Bana as on of our lawyers and Rebecca Hall as the other.   They are fresh faces on the screen and that is part of what really makes this work. The actual star of this movie is the script, and the fact that we don't have huge stars getting in the way is a big part of its appeal. Bana and Hall are really terrific together and have a nice chemistry that is palpable.  I have always been a big fan of Hall. We don't see her a great deal, but when we do, she is always great. I loved her in The Town a few years ago, and Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona and the Will Farrel Indy flick, Everything Must Go.  She is one of the most underrated actors out there.

This is a great story, that is told very well and with a complicated plot, is presented in a very understandable fashion that doesn't leave anyone behind.  It's very tidy at 1 hour and 40 minutes and comes together nicely in every fashion.  Fair statement, this is a movie goers movie.  If you like going to movies outside of the huge box office smash hits, this is your movie.

Closed Circuit.  It's thrilling, exciting and does keep you guessing. Very good, and refreshing after a long summer at the movies.