The Circle (2005)

Director:

Yuri Zeltser

Writer (WGA):

Yuri Zeltser (written by)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

One Shot Is All It Takes...

Plot:

A frantic young woman begs a stranger to help save her marked husband, not realizing that the stranger is the hit man hired to kill him. Experimental digital movie shot entirely in one take and in real time.

Plot Keywords:

Real Time | Hitman | Hotel Room | Strip Club | Motel Owner

Cast

Angela Bettis	...	Jay
Scott Cohen	...	Stan
Henry Czerny	...	Rick
David Proval	...	Dad
Jill Jacobson	...	Mom
Bokeem Woodbine	...	Cop
Kamala Lopez	...	Hilga (as Kamala Lopez-Dawson)
Joe Unger	...	Motel Owner
Yury Tsykun	...	Sing
Grace Cary Bickley	...	Infomercial Lady

Also Known As:

The Circle (International: English title) (literal title)
The Circle (France) [fr]
The Circle - Ein Schuss genügt schon (Germany) (DVD title) [de]

Runtime:

103 min | France:101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Singapore:PG | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bergman Lustig Productions

Quotes:

Stan: Taking a walk is different from walking.
Jay: How?
Stan: A purpose. A destination.
Jay: I don't understand.
Stan: When you're walking, you're trying to get somewhere, you end up in a different place. When you're taking a walk, you always end up where you started.

Movie Connections:

References Charade (1963)

Soundtrack:

Charade

Pure Genius

This movie -- absolutely fantastic! On the technical level it's pure genius -- a single uninterrupted take, almost a hundred minutes, is spellbinding. The director, Yuri Zeltser, has performed a miracle, plain and simple. Well, not too simple -- making this movie must have been a mammoth undertaking. Now, the story starts off as a thriller/mystery, but then dives deeper and deeper into human psychology and metaphysics. Mindbending, almost hallucinogenic stuff. The acting -- stunning, especially the brilliant Angela Bettis. Why aren't we seeing more of this amazing actress? One exception -- David Proval (from the Sopranos), who thinks he is Al Pacino and overacts a bit (to put it mildly). Overall -- grand entertainment. 10 stars out of ten.