Writer: James Ponsoldt, Dave Eggers (Screenplay) Dave Eggers (Novel)
Starring: Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Bill Paxton, Karen Gillan, Ellar Coltrane, Glenne Headly
Plot: A woman lands a dream job at a powerful tech company called the Circle, only to uncover an agenda that will affect the lives of all of humanity.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Interesting Technology Warning
Story: The Circle starts as Mae (Watson) a bright young woman gets a dream opportunity to work for a tech company named The Circle thanks to her friend Annie (Gillan), the company has been creating technology that could give the world a one-use password for everything in their lives, with full security. Bailey (Hanks) runs the company is about to unleash the latest technology that analyze anything in filmed on a camera.
Mae learns that she is required to attended social events as the employees are meant to create their own circles depending on their interest through a social media account which they are meant to share through their employment. When Ty (Boyega) the original creator of the technology shows Mae the truth behind the technology and the threat it could hold to the human race comes through the battle between privacy or lack there off.
Thoughts on The Circle
Characters – Mae is a smart young woman that gets an opportunity of a lifetime to work for the biggest technology company in the world, at first she doesn’t fit in but soon she becomes the star new employee, even if she does step on the people who don’t want to be part of a social media world, we see how she was made for this world but also learns what the bigger picture could be. Bailey is the face of the Circle, he keeps everything feeling fresh when it comes to offering up new ideas to the technology world, he is open to an idea and discussion about improving to the next level. Ty is the creator of the technology that has been off the grid since it went too far for his own design, but he watches over it. Annie is the best friend that gets Mae the job but soon sees her potential and the danger the job has created. We do have the rest of the cast which work well as we have a blend of the people who do and don’t want to be involved in the technology side of the world around them.
Performance – Emma Watson is good in the leading role but I do feel she doesn’t have the emotional range for certain roles including this one, this does frustrate because she has the look of a leading lady.
Tom Hanks is good as the Steve Jobs like character whose ambitious will drive his own greed but can give a speech we want to see unfold.
John Boyega is good in the supporting role but I do wish we had seen more from his character.
The rest of the cast is good throughout the film with each person giving their character the justice required throughout the film.
Story – The story focuses on the ever growing idea of technology in the world, the Circle company is about trying to break boundaries even if the ideas are illegal and against the privacy laws. Most of the story focuses on Mae needing to question the moral reasoning behind technology because one side could be considered good while the other side could be considered wrong but the disappointment from the story comes the fact it doesn’t hit extremes it needs too.
Sci-Fi/Thriller – The sci-fi element of the film comes from the new technology being unlocked which does come off looking fantastic but we are never on edge wondering what could happen next.
Settings – The settings show us the Circle would all be within one facility but opens the doors to anybody in the world. Nothing comes off that great in the end though.
Special Effects – Seeing how the technology is shown is where the effects come into play as they are used well because we can’t see how workings of the technology in places.
Scene of the Movie – The Search for Mercer because it is the turning point in the story.
I always get annoyed by one thing in a movie, this is that moment – Emma Watson lacking the emotional range needed for this role.
Final Thoughts – This is a warning movie about social networking and even going into the next level of surveillance. The idea is great but it doesn’t reach the potential or the darkness it should reach too.
Overall: Lacks the final conviction to hit home.
Rating