The Film
Occasionally movies with big-name actors escape the public eye. However, how does a movie like Columbus Circle, which stars Selma Blair, Amy Smart, Kevin Pollack, Robert Guillaume, Giovanni Ribisi, Beau Bridges, and Jason Lee, go unnoticed? Well, it's just not very good.
Written by Pollack and director George Gallo (Middle Men), Columbus Circle is The Love Boat of thrillers. It's filled with a cast of recognizable people, it's pretty cheesy, and it would play a lot better in the Saturday night 9:00 p.m. timeslot. Instead, it's a direct-to-DVD release and there's no Charo.
It's the story of Abigail Clayton (Blair), a wealthy hottie with a hermit-like existence. Her world, however, gets a little more populated when her elderly neighbor turns up dead. That's not half as weird as the fact that Abigail almost has a panic attack while speaking to Detective Frank Giardello (Ribisi), but has no problem pulling new neighbor Lillian (Smart) in after a fight with abusive boyfriend Charles (Lee).
Performances are fine, but slightly on the hammy side. Frankly, it's hard to blame anyone in this film for not putting in too much effort. After all, who is going to remember -- or even see Columbus Circle, for that matter?
The Picture
Columbus Circle is a dark film in more ways than one. The film has a style that lends itself to a more muted palette. Unfortunately, between the grain and the crushing blacks, it's not as impressive as it could be. That's not to say that the 2.40:1 transfer is bad, though. The other colors are fine, but also on the darker side. In fact, Amy Smart provides the biggest splash of color throughout the whole film. The rest is pretty dim, but believable.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio track is serviceable, but isn't anything you're going to remember -- much like the movie. Zing! There are a few ambient noises here and there, and the film's score pops into the surrounds now and then. The main focus here, however, is the dialogue, which is clear throughout.
The Extras
Thankfully, there's nothing to see here. Universal didn't even bother with the trailer. Frankly, haven't you wasted enough of your time already?
Final Thoughts
Despite a very well known cast, Columbus Circle is a fairly unknown movie. It should probably stay that way. The audio, video and non-existent extras aren't exactly helping matters. Unless you are a fan made-for-TV movies, you may want steer clear of this one -- or at least rent it first.
Product Details
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