This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
05/11/2017 12:01 AMRated PG-13
The new film The Circle from director James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now and Smashed) is based on the 2013 novel by Dave Eggers. It stars Emma Watson and Tom Hanks as its two lead actors, but it is unable to put that star power to any good use. The Circle is a lackluster film that offers little to viewers in entertainment or in an original message.
Mae Holland (Emma Watson of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Beauty and the Beast) is working at a dead-end job answering customer complaints at a utility company when she gets an opportunity that she views as a once-in-a-lifetime one. Mae’s friend Annie (Karen Gillan of Guardians of the Galaxy and Oculus) is an employee at the fastest growing technology and social media company in the world called the Circle. Annie secures Mae an interview for an entry level position with the company. Mae manages to nail the unconventional interview and get hired, making her feel that her dreams have come true.
Not long after Mae begins at the Circle, she begins a quick ascent within the company. She excels at her role responding to customer inquiries and is isn’t long before she catches the attention of the Circle’s founder, Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks of Inferno and Sully). Soon, Mae is sitting in on meetings with Bailey and the chief operating officer, Tom Stenton (Patton Oswalt of Keeping Up with the Joneses and Young Adult), offering her ideas and her services in whatever way they are needed.
Only months after she begins her new job, Mae agrees to live her life nearly completely “transparent” as it is called at the Circle. Every minute of her life is broadcast in a livestream to her millions of followers online (minus a few minutes here and there for bathroom breaks). Mae pulls her parents into her fully transparent lifestyle, too, equipping them with constant camera coverage in exchange for getting her mom and dad on the Circle’s health care plan.
While her parents agree to get drawn into her lifestyle, her old neighborhood friend Mercer (Ellar Coltrane of Boyhood and Fast Food Nation), to whom Mae inadvertently calls much negative attention, gets drawn in, too, although in his case, it is completely against his wishes. Mercer attempts to make Mae aware of the negative aspects of living her life in the public eye, but Mae refuses to see anything from his point of view. She also ignores the warnings that come from a mysterious coworker named Ty (John Boyega of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and My Murder) who ridiculously lurks in and out of the shadows, attempting to make her question the Circle’s intentions.
The Circle has what appear to be lofty goals. It is insistent on revealing the unseen perils behind too much disclosure from anyone on social media, but instead of any big revelations, all The Circle manages to do is bore viewers as it harps on the same idea over and over again for nearly two hours. It is not only a tedious film to watch, but it is also painfully easy to predict, too, making the whole viewing process a markedly unenjoyable one.
Talent like Watson and Hanks deserve better roles than what they are given to work with in The Circle. Theirs are the main characters in the film, but they are so underdeveloped in favor of simply pushing along the plot and warning against the loss of personal privacy, that it is hard to care about their circumstances. While each is, of course, an incredibly well known and well liked actor, even they can’t do anything to change just how disappointing The Circle is to watch.
Wanted: Your Opinion (In 10 Words or Fewer)
We’re always looking for the community’s input—and now we’re offering you a chance to share your opinion of the latest blockbusters, foreign films, indies, and romantic comedies to hit the big screen with your neighbors! Each week, we’ll print the best reader-submitted reviews in the Living section and online at www.zip06.com. Send your 10-word movie review to Living Editor Pem McNerney at p.mcnerney@shorepublishing.com along with your name and hometown and join the conversation!