An heiress who's been shut inside her apartment building for nearly two decades is forced to confront her fears after one of her neighbors is killed and a detective arrives to begin the inve... Read allAn heiress who's been shut inside her apartment building for nearly two decades is forced to confront her fears after one of her neighbors is killed and a detective arrives to begin the investigation.An heiress who's been shut inside her apartment building for nearly two decades is forced to confront her fears after one of her neighbors is killed and a detective arrives to begin the investigation.
Bubba Ganter
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I'm not quite with the person who described this film as a crime (although he writes a good review); but this film certainly didn't deliver what it promised in the opening act.
I'm a big fan of Selma Blair, and she does her best with the material given. Unfortunately, what starts out as an atmospheric thriller soon degenerates into an implausible hook (oddly enough, less interesting than if they'd just continued the original storyline), with a horribly pat ending, complete with cops discovering a cellphone ringing at a grave, that has "10 minutes to wrap" written all over it.
All of which is a great pity, because it had a good cast, and there was some decent acting on display before it all goes west.
So: not a crime, but certainly not all it could have been. For a much better movie with a similar theme, see 'Copycat'.
6/10
I'm a big fan of Selma Blair, and she does her best with the material given. Unfortunately, what starts out as an atmospheric thriller soon degenerates into an implausible hook (oddly enough, less interesting than if they'd just continued the original storyline), with a horribly pat ending, complete with cops discovering a cellphone ringing at a grave, that has "10 minutes to wrap" written all over it.
All of which is a great pity, because it had a good cast, and there was some decent acting on display before it all goes west.
So: not a crime, but certainly not all it could have been. For a much better movie with a similar theme, see 'Copycat'.
6/10
This interesting suspense movie deals with a young woman named Abigail Clayton (Selma Blair) who lives deeply alone . She is a heiress who's been shut inside her apartment building for nearly two decades is forced to confront her fears after one of her neighbors is killed . The famous daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Abigail disappeared from the prying eyes of the press and the intrusiveness of her family on her 18th birthday, the day she received her massive inheritance. During years of self-imposed isolation, Abigail has had contact with only two people-her building's Concierge, Klandermann, with whom she communicates via notes-and Dr. Raymond Fontaine (Beau Bridges) , a longtime family friend . When there happens the death of her elderly neighbor , Police arrives to begin the investigation and prompts NYPD Homicide Detective Frank Giardello (also producer Giovanni Ribisi was previously in George Gallo's earlier movie Middle Men) and Detective Jerry Eaans (Jason Antoon) to launch an investigation, the Abigail is distressed to find him outside her door, asking to question her. Having tried to acquire the dead woman's now vacant apartment to ensure her privacy, Abigail is further upset when her requests go unanswered, and new tenants Lillian and Charlie move in. Abigail anxiously monitors her new neighbors from the safety of her front door's peephole, but her well-ordered world begins to unravel when she finally encounters Lillian (Amy Smart) and Charlie (First non-comedic film for Jason Lee since The Ballad of Jack and Rose) face-to-face-and her sheltered existence becomes threatened in unexpected and terrifying ways.
This is a nail-biting and exciting thriller well directed by George Gallo . The film contains suspense , thrills , twits and turns . From start to final the intrigue and thrilling scenes are continuous . This is a picture made among friends , as most of them either play , write or produce such as Giovanni Ribisi , Jason Lee and Kevin Polack . Good performance from Selma Blair as the attractive agoraphobic heiress who has not left her Manhattan loft apartment for almost two decades. All-star-support-cast formed by known actors as Jason Lee , Kevin Pollack , Robert Guillaume and the veteran Beau Bridges as a Doctor and her sole confidant for most of her life . Suspenseful and moving musical score by Brian Tyler . Colorful though sometimes dark cinematography by Anastas Michos . The flick was compellingly written and realized by George Gallo . He is a prestigious writer such as ¨Bad boys I and II ¨ and ¨Midnight run¨ ; being an expert filmmaker on comedy genre as proved in ¨My mom's new boyfriend¨ , Double take¨ , and ¨Trapped in Paradise¨ . His greatest success is ¨The middle man¨ and ¨Colombus Circle¨ results to be his only thriller .
This is a nail-biting and exciting thriller well directed by George Gallo . The film contains suspense , thrills , twits and turns . From start to final the intrigue and thrilling scenes are continuous . This is a picture made among friends , as most of them either play , write or produce such as Giovanni Ribisi , Jason Lee and Kevin Polack . Good performance from Selma Blair as the attractive agoraphobic heiress who has not left her Manhattan loft apartment for almost two decades. All-star-support-cast formed by known actors as Jason Lee , Kevin Pollack , Robert Guillaume and the veteran Beau Bridges as a Doctor and her sole confidant for most of her life . Suspenseful and moving musical score by Brian Tyler . Colorful though sometimes dark cinematography by Anastas Michos . The flick was compellingly written and realized by George Gallo . He is a prestigious writer such as ¨Bad boys I and II ¨ and ¨Midnight run¨ ; being an expert filmmaker on comedy genre as proved in ¨My mom's new boyfriend¨ , Double take¨ , and ¨Trapped in Paradise¨ . His greatest success is ¨The middle man¨ and ¨Colombus Circle¨ results to be his only thriller .
The story might be so predictable that it could actually hurt you, but the movie is still really entertaining. Maybe you have to have a little love (in you) for those kinds of thrillers, but the actors are giving their best with the material they have. Jason Lee might actually be the weak link here, but it's the character that doesn't seem to suit him. He tried something different, but I'm pretty sure most people will find him not convincing enough.
You could read a bit of social critic in this I guess, if you wanted to, but I saw it more as an entertaining thriller than anything else. The ending might not be to everyone's taste (morally or otherwise), but I thought it was a nice fit.
You could read a bit of social critic in this I guess, if you wanted to, but I saw it more as an entertaining thriller than anything else. The ending might not be to everyone's taste (morally or otherwise), but I thought it was a nice fit.
I agree with another reviewer who compared this to a Good Hitchcock Movie; found it to be suspenseful enough to keep me interested in wanting to know more.
Maybe I'm not as sophisticated as some movie critics, but to me even mediocre actors can carry a Story, and hold my attention; IMO all the Actors did their 'job' and got the Story told.
The 90 or so minutes helps also; so if you can sit through movies on TV or Cable, then you will not be disappointed sitting through this one.
Would I pay to see this, or watch it again? No, but I would recommend it to anybody who watches TV drams.
Want to add that I use IMDb for every Movie I am interested in, and think the service provided by IMDb is extremely helpful.
Maybe I'm not as sophisticated as some movie critics, but to me even mediocre actors can carry a Story, and hold my attention; IMO all the Actors did their 'job' and got the Story told.
The 90 or so minutes helps also; so if you can sit through movies on TV or Cable, then you will not be disappointed sitting through this one.
Would I pay to see this, or watch it again? No, but I would recommend it to anybody who watches TV drams.
Want to add that I use IMDb for every Movie I am interested in, and think the service provided by IMDb is extremely helpful.
this is one of those stories we want to see with never ending unexpected surprise twist and turns in the plot. this movie is not that!! BUT as an entertaining film it cooks on all four burners!
the story is predictable and at one point even silly (doctors house in garden) --- but so what. even if you can guess what will happen next what will keep you watching is to see how they will achieve it. the acting is good and there are a few truly suspenseful scenes. the setting is lavish and a treat for the eyes. you can even find yourself becoming emotionally involved with the recluse.
so if you want a story without too much to have to watch and remember so you will understand what exactly is happening in the story - this is your flick.
the story is predictable and at one point even silly (doctors house in garden) --- but so what. even if you can guess what will happen next what will keep you watching is to see how they will achieve it. the acting is good and there are a few truly suspenseful scenes. the setting is lavish and a treat for the eyes. you can even find yourself becoming emotionally involved with the recluse.
so if you want a story without too much to have to watch and remember so you will understand what exactly is happening in the story - this is your flick.
Did you know
- TriviaIn the scene where Helen's doctor told the detectives she had cancer, he should not have said that. He was correct in asking for a subpoena to release the records. The Hippocratic Oath dictates that, even after a patient has died, their medical history is protected. Doctors can confirm that someone is a patient, but he still wouldn't have been allowed to tell the detectives she had cancer unless forced by a judge.
Source: pre-med and student reading of "ethical guidelines for medical professionals".
- Goofs(at around 14 mins) When "Abigail" is speaking with the bank manager about closing her account he asks her what her passcode is. For security purposes no bank employee would never ask someone to tell them what their passcode is (even if they are closing the account) since they could then use it themselves. They would ask them to enter it on a keypad with it showing up hidden on the screen.
- SoundtracksBlues For Sancho
written by Ken Stange & Bob Hackl
performed by George Gallo and Ken Stange
- How long is Columbus Circle?Powered by Alexa
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- Budget
- $10,000,000 (estimated)
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