Columbus Circle (2012)

Director:

George Gallo

Writers (WGA):

George Gallo (written by) &
Kevin Pollak (written by)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

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.

Cast

Selma Blair	...	AbigailClayton
Amy Smart	...	Lillian Hart
Kevin Pollak	...	Klandermann
Jason Antoon	...	Detective Jerry Eaans
Robert Guillaume	...	Howard Miles
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Detective Frank Giardello
Beau Bridges	...	Dr. Ray Fontaine
Jason Lee	...	Charles Stanford
Samm Levine	...	Bank Manager
Jerry Penacoli	...	Jerry Penacoli
Bette Beatrice	...	Hilary Lonnigan
Mary McNeal	...	Eleanor Waters
Branden Williams	...	Real Estate Agent
Bubba Ganter	...	Doorman (as Leon Ganter)
Diane Sorrentino	...	TV Reporter
Lauren Gallagher	...	Bank Teller
Robert Della Cerra	...	Cab Driver
Aighleann McKiernan	...	Reporter #1
Robert Harvey	...	Reporter #2
Julie Lott	...	Reporter #3
Krisily Kennedy	...	Reporter #4
Tom Sherak	...	Benny The Bagel Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ginger Williams	...	TV Anchor Woman (as Branden Williams)
Ronn Burner	...	Detective (uncredited)
Miranda Christine	...	NY Pedestrian (uncredited)
Mark Casimir Dyniewicz	...	NY City Businessman (uncredited)
Gregory George Frank	...	NY Pedestrian (uncredited)
Minerva García	...	NY Business Woman (uncredited)
Frank Scozzari	...	Street Pedestrian (uncredited)
Troy Williams	...	Forensic Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
George Gallo

Writing credits (WGA)
George Gallo		(written by) &
Kevin Pollak		(written by)

Produced by
Gary Hellerstein	....	associate producer (as Gary M. hellerstein)
Jason Lee	....	executive producer
Christopher Mallick	....	producer
Kevin Pollak	....	co-executive producer
Giovanni Ribisi	....	executive producer
William Sherak	....	producer
Jason Shuman	....	producer
Shaliza Somani	....	co-executive producer
Brian Tyler	....	co-executive producer
Philip Waley	....	co-executive producer
Michael Weiss	....	co-executive producer (as Michael J. Weiss)
Andrew Zolot	....	line producer: New York City

Original Music by
Brian Tyler

Cinematography by
Anastas N. Michos		(director of photography) (as Anastas Michos)

Film Editing by
Malcolm Campbell

Casting by
Nancy Nayor

Production Design by
Martina Buckley

Art Direction by
Meghan C. Rogers
Dan Morski		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Cindy Coburn		(as Cindy Coburn-Roth)

Costume Design by
Rebecca Gregg		(as Rebecca Bentjen)

Makeup Department
David Abbott	....	makeup artist
Brian Steven Banks	....	hair stylist
Beatrice De Alba	....	department head hair stylist
Gloria Ponce	....	hair stylist
Deborah Rutherford	....	makeup department head (as Deborah Patino)
Don Rutherford	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Robert Hackl	....	post-production supervisor
Philip Waley	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Corrado	....	second assistant director
Matt Power	....	first assistant director
Mark Taylor	....	first assistant director
Anderson Vilien	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
David Aikman	....	clearances
Jason Alexander	....	set dresser
Theodore Alvarado	....	propmaker mill foreman
Dawn Ascher-Trevino	....	art coordinator
Beth Baye	....	art department assistant
Mike Childers	....	propmaker
Elizabeth Cummings	....	graphic designer
William J. Eisenberg	....	laborer foreman
Mark Fertonani	....	propmaker
Mark Haber	....	set designer
Doug Harlocker	....	property master
Samantha Humphreys	....	art department assistant
Gary B. Krakoff Jr.	....	general foreman
Gary A. Krakoff	....	construction coordinator
Sean Langdon	....	gang boss
Jack Laspada	....	propmaker foreman
Scott W. Leslie	....	set dresser
Kevin Mahoney	....	paint foreman
Melanie Mahoney	....	paint supervisor
Lyle Maves	....	lead plasterer foreman
Sam Mendoza	....	construction stage foreman
Paul Mugavero	....	set dresser
Maria Nay	....	assistant set decorator
Felice A. Pappas	....	assistant props
Felice A. Pappas	....	property assistant
Ronald Puga	....	standby painter
Caroline Quinn	....	set designer (as Caroline Quinn-Decker)
Eric Roemheld	....	set dresser
Josh Roth	....	assistant property master
Steven Seine	....	leadman
Paul Shoemaker	....	culinary advisor
Andre Sowards	....	on-set dresser
Debra R. Wilson-Duff	....	construction accountant

Sound Department
Rob Ainsley	....	dialogue editor
Mike Anderson	....	boom operator
Tom Bjelic	....	sound editor
John Elliot	....	foley artist
Keith Elliott	....	sound re-recording mixer
Allan Fung	....	supervising sound editor
Mark Gingras	....	supervising sound editor
Katie Halliday	....	sound editor
Robert Maxfield	....	sound utility
Lee Orloff	....	sound mixer
Peter Persaud	....	foley recordist
Brad Thornton	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Vincent Borgese	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Arnon Manor	....	visual effects supervisor
Roger Mocenigo	....	main title design
Roger Mocenigo	....	visual effects artist
Bradford Ralston	....	video assist
Chris Wallace	....	digital intermediate colourist

Stunts
Kristina Coker	....	utility stunts
Mike Gunther	....	action coordinator
Darbi Gwynn	....	utility stunts
Garrett Hammond	....	utility stunts
Kanin Howell	....	co-stunt coordinator
Kanin Howell	....	stunt double: Jason Antoon
Norman Howell	....	stunt coordinator
Paul Lacovara	....	stunt double: Jason Lee
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunt double: Giovanni Ribisi
Alexander Smith	....	utility stunts
Hawk Walts	....	utility stunts
Jason Brillantes	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Reed Altman	....	cinematographer: intro sequence
Kenneth J. Appel	....	electrician
James Babineaux	....	best boy rigging
Scott Baty	....	grip
Craig Bauer	....	second assistant camera
Huston Beaumont	....	rigging electric
Lucas Bielan	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Kyle Boorman	....	additional lighting console programmer
Bryan Booth	....	dimmer board operator
Branch M. Brunson	....	electrician
Marc Bussio	....	rigging electric
Steven Cardarelli	....	grip
Daniel Casey	....	second assistant camera: New York
R. Adam Chambers	....	rigging electric
Jim Chizmar	....	rigging grip
Jesse Crusing	....	additional electrician
Steven Cueva	....	first assistant camera
Matthew A. Del Ruth	....	first assistant camera: opening title sequence
Simon England	....	film loader
Jack English	....	gaffer
Steve Gage	....	rigging best boy
Wesley Gage	....	rigging grip
Robert Garcia	....	best boy grip
Scott Graves	....	rigging electric
Jerry Gregoricka	....	rigging electrician
Jason Griffiths	....	rigging grip
Amy Hoffecker	....	electrician
Steven Hubbell	....	rigging grip
Jeff Journey	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Dean M. King	....	key grip
Bud Kremp	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Bud Kremp	....	steadicam operator
Christopher Lyons	....	electrician
Jesse Mather	....	lighting technician
Jon McAdams	....	rigging grip
Roy Prophet	....	grip
Scott J. Prophet	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Mark Rappaport	....	rigging electric
Sergio Rendon	....	grip
Mark Sadler	....	electrician
Bill Sordal	....	rigging key grip
Joshua Stern	....	rigging gaffer
Stephen Thorp	....	best boy electric
Rico Torres	....	still photographer
Zoran Veselic	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Jozo Zovko	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Bennie Zura	....	electrician

Casting Department
Olivia Thomas	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karen Baird	....	costumer
Danielle Baker	....	costumer
James Barron	....	costume production assistant
Dezerri Black	....	costume production assistant
Eileen Gonzales	....	costume assistant
Amy Elise Roberts	....	set costumer
Robin Roberts	....	costume supervisor
Safi Shabaik	....	costume production assistant
Andrea Sweet	....	key costumer
Julie Thompson	....	set costumer
Jo Torngren	....	cutter/fitter

Editorial Department
Natalie Acosta	....	post-production assistant
Richard Byard	....	first assistant editor
Gilbert Carreras	....	color timer
Matthew Cassel	....	first assistant editor
Kevin Downer	....	digital intermediate editor
Lee Hughes	....	digital intermediate project manager
Tom Mayclim	....	digital intermediate scanner and recorder
Dave Muscat	....	digital intermediate editor
Trevor Pickard	....	digital intermediate scanner and recorder

Music Department
Tricia Holloway	....	music supervisor
Pakk Hui	....	additional arrangements
Gary Krause	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Gina August	....	production driver
Shawndra Blyle	....	van driver
Eric Compton	....	driver
Dana Cuccia	....	van driver
Mac Dirosario	....	transportation coordinator
Keven Kessler	....	driver
Harold C. Lacy Jr.	....	driver
George R. Matejka	....	driver
Kenny Moore	....	transportation captain
Alan Nassaney	....	set dec. driver
Ron Poniewaz	....	transportation captain
Raymond Ruotolo	....	set dec. driver
Allen Sutton	....	construction driver

Other crew
Christy Taylor Barnes	....	director of corporate affairs: oxymoron entertainment (as Christy Taylor)
William Batsel	....	set production assistant
Briana Burke	....	location manager
Sergio Celis	....	assistant chef
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Timothy Durham	....	production assistant
Marchesa Favara	....	assistant to Chris Mallick/Oxymoron Entertainment
Damiano Fusca	....	production assistant
Dean Galanis	....	set production assistant
Lauren Gallagher	....	production assistant for Chris Mallick & William Sherak
Charles Girgis	....	assistant: chris mallick / oxymoron entertainment
Brian Gottlieb	....	producer: behind-the-scenes
Daniel Hall	....	craft service
Gary Hellerstein	....	production supervisor
Mariah Breitel Hembree	....	post script services (as Mariah Breitel)
Steve Jacobson	....	production assistant
Pamela Jaeckle	....	production coordinator
Leslie N. Johnson	....	product placement
Zachary Junt	....	production assistant
Beverly Jusi	....	production accountant
Lindsey Kaiser	....	executive assistant: william sherak & jason shuman
Lesley Kamarad	....	internet marketing
Krisily Kennedy	....	assistant: chris mallick / columbus circle
Ken Kern	....	assistant production coordinator
Tony Kerum	....	caterer/owner
Ricardo S. Lira	....	craft service
Nakoma Litahní	....	set production assistant
Debra R. Lopez	....	construction accountant (as Debra R. Duff)
Jose E. Lozano	....	assistant chef
Melissa Maus	....	assistant accountant
Allison Meadows	....	set production assistant
Michael W. Miliotti	....	dog trainer
Ellen O'Brien	....	production assistant
Sandy O'Neill	....	unit publicist
Steven Oliveri	....	additional set production assistant
David Park	....	key assistant location manager
David Park	....	location scout
Patti Pelton	....	product placement
Brittany Petros	....	production secretary
Joshua Posner	....	assistant: Mr. Gallo
Stephanie Posteraro	....	assistant to Shaliza Somani
Laura Rios	....	assistant to Christy Taylor Barnes
Daniel Rosenthal	....	assistant: location manager
Ahmed Saker	....	set medic
Jeff Sargent	....	set production assistant
Jeffrey Sargent	....	production assistant
Jon Savola	....	craft service
Karen Shane	....	first assistant accountant
Wayne T. Silva	....	payroll accountant
Billy Sorrentino	....	business development
Billy Sorrentino	....	internet marketing
Gregg Spiegelman	....	set medic
Tim Stacker	....	location manager
Lon Strickland	....	production assistant
L. Dillon Thomas	....	production assistant
Aja Viafora	....	assistant to Chris Mallick/Oxymoron Entertainment
Elaine Yarish	....	script supervisor
Evan Wecksell	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
Jonathan Bell	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Oxymoron Entertainment
• Blue Star Entertainment
• G4 Pictures

Distributors

• Concorde Home Entertainment (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Home Video (2012) (Canada) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Doggicam Systems  BodyMount provided by
• DoggieCam Systems  BodyMount provided by
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, some language and thematic material

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #46120) | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | Ireland:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG13 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Oxymoron Entertainment

Trivia:

First non-comedic film for Jason Lee since The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005).

Goofs:

Factual errors: On the bank's edifice near the end we see the supposed Latin motto "Viras veritas obses." Viras is not a Latin word. The filmmakers may have intended "Vis veritas obses" which translates to "Truth (is) the hostage of force."

Quotes:

Klandermann:This is Columbus Circle, sir. Nothing seems strange around here.

Soundtrack:

Blues For Sancho

This film is a crime for which there hasn't yet been a law passed

The storyline sounded promising.

I don't recall where it happened exactly, but with dreadfully poor films starring otherwise decent actors, it doesn't slap you in the face right away. There is sometimes a moderately long period before you realize you are not watching a good film. Then, and sometimes this takes a little while too, you realize you are not watching a mediocre film either. Sadly, unless you are a former short-bus rider, you will finally be assaulted with the fact that you are now many many minutes into a horrible movie, and because of it's competent cast, you were deceived into watching the first act, and now are committed to seeing how the rest plays out. How foul is that? Normally, with most arse-gravy films, it's obvious and up-front. In your face. Bless them for their honesty! But films like Columbus Circle, in my opinion, are the worst types of films. By the time you realize the film has soiled-the-bed, it's too late, and you must suffer through laughably wooden acting, ham-fisted writing, and ridiculously implausible situations. A line like: "I'm getting too old for this sh!t" would have felt quite natural coming out of Giovanni Ribisi's characters mouth. The writing is legitimately that bad.

They took what sounded like a potentially new take on the cop and agoraphobic scenario, and instead used tired lines, tired clichés, and forced these very capable actors into reactions/motivations which were nearly at the level of a students film. An advanced student, to be fair. But studenty nonetheless.

If you thought Giovanni Ribisi's character, acting, and lines were laughable in Avatar, just wait. The banter between his and Selma Blair's characters on their first meeting is just pathetic, and then just gets worse. Who writes like that? Well, this buffoon does.

Guess what genius, your audience isn't entirely comprised of the overwhelmingly ignorant. But apparently you either thought they were, or, you just aren't bright enough and/or a good enough writer/director to know any better? Who knows. (Gosh, Bad Boys II was sure good though, wasn't it?) I never regarded Copycat as one of my favorite films. But by comparison, it's a masterpiece. The poorly-written, poorly-acted, poorly-directed characters in this film are just that, characters. Or rather, caricatures. To say they are not "multidimensional" would be a bowel-shakingly gross understatement. They are developed REALLY poorly as well, and you don't care much for any of them.

She, him, the neighbors...it all plays out like an experiment in being as un-subtle as you can without reaching the point at which the audience wants to throw filthy diapers at the screen. How anyone can write like this and have it actually produced, says quite a bit about how things sometimes work.

"I'm just sayin, nine years on the job and it just doesn't add up" Really? I can only suspect Giovanni was cringing while reading/delivering those lines.

And pay careful attention to Selma's Oscar-worthy acting the morning after her new neighbor is forced to spend the night there. Really??? I feel dreadful for her. But do you blame HER, or this inept and out-of-touch director/writer? It's truly a dreadful film on nearly every level. Every actor, including Bridges and Pollak, seemingly did their best to give it that "phoned-in" level of craftsmanship. And I like both of them. Not in this film though. It feels like they realized how bad it was long after they were obligated, and turned in a poor performance to spite the director/writer.

This is more then a bad film, it's a statement. It's a worst-case scenario. It shows what can happen through the sheer will and tenacity of untalented people who are operating on skill alone.

They started this horrid little ball rolling, and yet no one upstairs had the common sense to stop it? Nope.

As far as bad films go, this one is a perfect storm. If it were just another honest (and transparently) horrid film, that would actually make it seem less perverse an abomination. And if it were better, then you wouldn't be reading any of this. But it's the porridge that Goldilocks chose in terms of a film that thoroughly insults the intelligence of those who are unfortunate enough to have made it through to the end.

And the feebly executed twist was a welcome sight, since it meant the suffering was almost over.

Students, learn from this. Mindless entertainment is fine. But when it pretends to be more then what it is, or is ignorant enough not to know, it crosses the line and turns into little more then a bad lie.

As my title says, this film is a crime for which there hasn't yet been a law passed. Which is a shame.