Opening credits are always telling for me of the production values of a film. The opening titles here are puzzle pieces which begin joining together--a good visual metaphor of the film we are to see.
The film begins with the murder of an old woman who is threatened by someone in her apartment in the middle of the night. We learn later she is pushed or thrown down a flight of stairs in her modern condo. There are only two
apartments on the top floor of the condo building at Columbus Circle in New
York City. When Detective Frank Giardello (Giovanni Ribisi) tries to speak to the woman who lives
across the hall in the only other apartment on that floor, he meets Abigail
(Selma Blair), a reclusive heiress who has lived there since she was a teen. Abigail’s
only contacts with the outside world are Ray her doctor (Beau Bridges) and the building’s
concierge, Klandermann (Kevin Pollak).
The old lady’s apartment is quickly sold
to a couple, Charles Stratford (Jason Lee) and Lillian Hart (Amy Smart). When Stratford
beats up Lillian in a drunken rage, one night, Abigail takes her in and becomes
involved with their lives.
Through flashback glimpses we learn about Abigail and
Lillian’s pasts. Both women have taken on new lives from abusive fathers.
Director George Gallo also co-wrote the script with Kevin Pollak. They have created several twists to the interesting plot, which
involve abuse, trying to steal identities and hidden fortunes. No one may be
quite who they appear to be.
The film has good production values, although at
times it feels like a made-for-television film. It does, however, provide a couple of hour’s
entertainment.
Selma Blair’s early scenes feel very stilted but she and Amy
Smart are able to give their characters some depth. Jason Lee has a pretty good
turn at a non-comic role.
One of the basic themes seems to be that when you try to
scam other people, there is always pay-back.
Columbus Circle (2012) ****
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