Closed Circuit
Release Date: August 28 Oscar Prospects: Bad Closed Circuit is a rather topical film dealing with the trial of an international terrorist. Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall star as the legal duo, and ex-lovers, who are tasked with the unpopular duty of serving on the legal team for the accused terrorist. Being a drama/thriller, both Bana and Hall begin to find themselves in trouble and, guessing from the title, their woes likely have something to do with the fact that their every move is being monitored. The film is being directed by John Crowley, a name you may not recognize but his 2007 film, Boy A, did manage some good notices and currently maintains a high 7.7 rating on IMDb. When you pair this with the fact that the film's script was written by Oscar-nominated writer Steven Wright (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises), Closed Circuit definitely has some potential to be the rare overlooked late, late summer gem. I can safely say though the film will be receiving no Oscar attention. Even if the movie is good, the thriller genre is very rarely deemed high-brow enough to get serious notice from the Academy (just ask David Fincher), which obliterates any off-hand chance Closed Circuit would ever have at an Oscar nod. If Steven Soderbergh's superb suspense puzzler, Side Effects, one of the stronger thriller's in recent memory, can't get any recognition from awards bodies, I wouldn't hold my breath for Closed Circuit. Possible nominations: None