The Circle (2005)

Such a frustrating disappointment

As Good As It Gets

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I've noticed in the past that movie-watchers tend to be very loyal to their genres and that when a movie crosses genres, as this one does, it tends to provoke a hostile reaction from a certain segment of the viewing public. The problem is that this movie appears to be an action thriller, but it isn't one at all. Not to give too much away, but it's actually a supernatural drama. (And when the genre of your movie is a spoiler, that's a bit of a marketing nightmare!) Certain reviewers have criticized this movie for being a bad action thriller--which makes sense because it isn't an action thriller. Others have assumed that the movie simply lost its way, when it has been very carefully crafted from the very first second (looking into a mirror) to be exactly what it is. Much has been made of the no-cut technique as if it's a gimmick, when it is in fact integral to the story. A cut in a movie, more than anything else, implies a jump in time, but time is a metaphysical impossibility in this movie--hence the comments about being punished for what will happen later and the protagonist's frequent musings on whether she has met these characters before.Some have felt that the actors are too wooden or melodramatic--"one-note," I believe a reviewer said--without realizing that this is exactly what they are supposed to be. Again at the risk of giving too much away, I'll just point out that these characters are not what they once were. They have eroded. What remains of them is a kind of imprint--thus, for example, the cop can't remember exactly who his family is even though he instantly identifies himself as a father. Each character has preserved only a core of habits, unresolved emotions, and concerns, and it is from this core that the characters speak and act. Even the most trivial comments convey this.Another problem with this movie is that it doesn't mesh neatly with our preconceived ideas of metaphysical reality. So, for instance, we could all deal with Angel Heart because we could tell right away that Robert De Niro was the devil, but here, we can't seem to find the right archetypes to help us along. Another review suggests that Dad is the devil, but I doubt that very much; I think he would say he's just a sick old man who likes power, who has done a lot of horrible things, and who still mourns the loss of his daughter. And I think he's very close to being right.The mood of the movie is perfect. It conveys the impression that we have stayed up all night and have reached that vulnerable time shortly before dawn when all decent, normal people are in bed, or possibly are in a different reality altogether; when the world seems empty of all vitality or meaning; and when even the most familiar settings seem unfamiliar. The anonymous sets convey as well this idea that we have stepped into some sort of shadow world where all the late-night fast food places are locked up, all the gas stations are closed, and all the daytime rules no longer apply.Altogether, this movie perfectly tells the story it has to tell. Unfortunately, those who had hoped that story would be an action thriller will continue to be disappointed.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this film, so I just went into it hoping for an enjoyable thriller. The Circle actually gets off to a fairly intriguing start, as we are introduced to the main characters - Stan, a hit man and Jay; the wife of the man he was hired to kill. The first half of the film plays out pretty much like a straight thriller as we watch the pair interact and end up getting themselves into a tricky situation; but then it would seem that the writer started experimenting with some strange hallucinogenic drugs as the film descends into the surreal, and rather than being interesting; it's mostly ridiculous - even the end twist (which is fairly imaginative) isn't enough to save what should have been a straight thriller. The central focus of the plot is on Jay and how she tries to persuade the hit man to not kill her husband. Obviously even going to see him puts her in a compromising position; but strangely it does him also.The plot is fairly thin, and the focus is mainly on the characters. However, they're really not all that interesting; Scott Cohen is completely one-note as the hit man, while the usually solid Angela Bettis overacts to such an extend that I found myself feeling embarrassed for her at times. Whatever the director was trying to achieve with the characters really doesn't come off. There are a couple of interesting scenes; the best one being a lesbian(ish) sequence between Bettis and a stripper. The surreal elements of the film don't feel right considering the build up to them; I got the impression that the writer-director didn't really know where to take the film after the initial plot was set out, though maybe he always had the idea for where the film was going and the plot is the filler - either way, The Circle is one disjointed movie. Overall, I can't say that this film is without its merits - there are a few, but really I'd just call it a failed experiment.

Stan (Scott Cohen) is a hit man hired by the mobster Dad (David Provel) to kill Rick (Henry Czerny), the husband of Jay (Angela Bettis). While waiting for his final instructions from Dad in a low budget hotel, Stan is visited by Jay, who begs for the life of Rick. He breaks his own rules and explains that only Dad may break his contract, and Jay decides to visit Dad in his night-club to claim for Rick's life. After meeting Dad, Jay comes back home to Rick, when secrets are disclosed.I bought this DVD without any previous reference, just based on the name of one of my favorite actresses, the stunning Angela Bettis. "The Circle" is simply spectacular, an unique experience of pure independent cinema as art, disclosing an intriguing and disturbing story in an environment nightmare and shot in only one take in real time. The logistic of the script, planning routes and rehearsals necessary to make this film would be enough to give a ten to the writer, director, cast and crew. In 2003, Lars von Trier presented to the world the sensational and original "Dogville", a bitter play about a town with disgusting dwellers with an awesome story of human exploitation and pay back. Yuri Zeltser gives this unknown masterpiece of experimental cinema, with a great tale about sinners trapped in the purgatory (or maybe in hell - in this case, Dad certainly is the devil). Every character is actually dead: Stan and Jay committed suicide or died through lethal injection; the cop, Hilga and Rick were shot; Dad was ill; Mom probably had an OD and Sing probably was murdered by Dad. Angela Bettis deserves an Oscar for her performance, and the cast has magnificent interpretations. The camera is fantastic, following the characters uninterruptedly through the most difficult angles and situations. Last but not the least, this film is highly indicated for movie lovers that aim to see a refreshing and absolutely original edition of a film. My vote is ten.Title (Brazil): "O Círculo da Morte" ("The Circle of Death")

Obviously, I'm going to have to watch this inane waste of time again just to see what all the reviewers are raving about. From the opening shot when the hit man's phone rings and he looks at it like a caveman looking at the control panel of a Boeing 747, I knew I was in for a real piece of overacting. And I wasn't disappointed. Quick jerk of the neck, raised eyebrow, and a ponderous, "Hmmmm. What is this object on the nightstand that's emitting a ringing tone?" 43 seconds later, he figured it out and answered the damned thing... Everybody overacts. Even the "real" people. I think perhaps it was less an "amazing 90 minute one take" piece of directing and more of a "Hey! We've got a 90 minute tape in this camcorder--let's make a movie!" Don't waste your time.