Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas to join The Circle.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
A young woman takes a position with a tech juggernaut that appears to be a dream employer...but all is not as it seems at The Circle.
It was always fair to assume The Circle wouldn't be as smart as it thinks it is, but, from the trailers, it appeared it'd at least be a solid way to pass a couple hours. Sadly, appearances can be deceiving.
The Circle is a criminal waste of a really good cast, and it's important to note that the movie's failings are not on the actors. Tom Hanks and John Boyega are sadly underused, but Emma Watson does as well as can be expected carrying such sub-par material. Karen Gillan is also quite good, and, with limited screen time in what appears to be his final big-screen appearance, Bill Paxton turns in a nice performance. The Circle poses timely questions: How connected is too connected? How open is too open? In better hands, the movie might have been a chilling cautionary tale or an interesting take on personal freedom/privacy vs. the greater good. Instead, it's a plodding affair burdened with paper-doll characters, excruciating dialogue, and a "reveal" that's so ambiguous as to be pointless...a painful experience from start to finish.
The Circle clocks in at an interminable 110 minutes and is rated PG13 for "a sexual situation, brief strong language, and some thematic elements including drug use."
The Circle is a fitting closer for an underwhelming month at the movies, but, hey, at least we've got Guardians of the Galaxy next week! Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Circle gets two.
This blog is dedicated to my friend and fellow movie buff Melissa Bradley, who today lost a long and hard-fought battle with cancer. Rest well, Melissa.
Until next time...
