COLUMBUS CIRCLE

US, 2012, 82 minutes, Colour.
Selma Blair, Amy Smart, Jason Lee, Giovanni Ribisi, Kevin Pollak, Beau Bridges, Robert Guillaume.
Directed by George Gallo.

Columbus Circle is a brief thriller. It is farfetched in an American kind of way and after establishing the characters and their situations, moves ultra-rapidly towards its conclusion.

An old lady is murdered in an apartment in Columbus Circle. Her neighbour, a reclusive young woman, is questioned by the police. Not wanting to leave her apartment, she becomes involved in saving a neighbour from physical abuse by her husband. Then the reality is revealed – her doctor who has sponsored her since her 18th birthday, is in fact a villain. The neighbours are in a conspiracy to rob her of her inheritance. The police eventually track down the doctor as a criminal. However, there is a climax in which the heroine not only goes out of her apartment, but outwits the criminals.

The film has a strong cast with Selma Blair as the recluse, Amy Smart and Jason Lee as the criminals, Beau Bridges as the doctor and Giovanni Ribisi as the detective.

The film was co-written by director George Gallo and Kevin Pollak. Gallo has written many films including Midnight Run and directed a few films including Trapped in Paradise.

The film has glossy production values – and is a time-passing thriller.

1. The title? New York’s Columbus Circle? The credits and the jigsaw pieces coming together to form Columbus Circle? The centre of New York?

2. The interiors, the apartments? The foyer? Outside – the doctor’s home? The bank? The finale and the streets? The musical score?

3. The opening with the murder of the old lady, sinister, the presence in the room, her reactions, her death? Being found by Klandermann? Her puzzle? Frank Giardello and his associate, the questioning?

4. Abigail, her story, heiress, her abusive father, the death of her mother, the help of Raymond? Getting the apartment, never going out? Communication by letters with KIandermann and his doing her shopping and laundry etc for her? The credibility of her situation?

5. Charles and Lillian, wanting the old lady’s apartment? Abigail writing to request it to preserve her privacy? Lillian and Charlie, their talking, his drinking, abusive, his hitting Lillian, her being helped by Abigail? Her return, the night, Lillian and her seeming innocence? Helping Abigail to come out of the room, walk down the corridor, Charlie and his pretending to drink, his accosting Abigail? Going into the room?

6. The revelation of the plot, to get to the computer, to get Abigail’s password, to get her money? Lillian and her double-dealing? Her going into the room with Charlie, the gun, the blood? Abigail and her being upset, wanting to rescue Lillian, stabbing Charlie to death? Discovering the truth about the fake blood?

7. Raymond, the family friend, having the apartment for the old lady? For Abigail? At her beck and call? His plan with Lillian and Charlie? Coming to the house, the confrontation, Charlie killing him? Burying him in the garden – and the mobile phone?

8. Klandermann, his role as concierge, recognising Charlie, discovering the truth, helping Abigail, but wanting some part of Charlie’s scheme? Charlie’s attempt to kill him – and Klandermann being run over by the bus?

9. Frank Giardello, his investigations, the crest on Abigail’s cutlery and crockery? The help from the expert? The discovery of the truth – Lillian talking to him on the phone, getting him to come to the apartment? His arrival, Abigail’s bewilderment?

10. Abigail, her shrewdness, going to the computer? Lillian going to the bank, disguised as Abigail? Getting the money – and discovering the small amount left? Abigail and her ringing the press, their coming to see Lillian as the heiress? Her arrest?

11. Abigail, her confronting Lillian, her getting the taxi, with all her inheritance, going somewhere else – and saying her name was Lillian?

12. Entertaining despite the plot holes and the hurried pace of the climax?