Do you think you will behave better or worse when you are being watched?
I have been anticipating the arrival of movie version of The Circle. I loved the book by Dave Eggers, it’s about tech and the unlimited power of the internet. I don’t think we are living in the world that Dave Eggers is imagining in his book, but we are definitely moving towards it.
Plot: A young tech worker (Emma Watson) takes a job at a powerful Internet corporation (think Facebook/Apple/Google) , quickly rises up the company’s ranks, and soon finds herself in a perilous situation concerning privacy, surveillance and freedom. She comes to learn that her decisions and actions will determine the future of humanity.
Tom Hanks plays Eamon Bailey, a heavily Steve Jobs inspired leader of the Circle. Emma Watson plays Mae Holland, a young tech worker overjoyed to be offered a job at the Circle. Until she figures out that they might take the whole sharing is caring thing a step too far.
The film might not get the best reviews but if you liked the book you should see it. And if you like Black Mirror you should definitely watch it too. It might make you think twice before you are about to give away another little piece of privacy.
Newsweek has a very interesting article about the Circle, the internet and the whole privacy discussion attached to it. WE’RE SURROUNDED: IN ‘THE CIRCLE’ WITH TOM HANKS, EMMA WATSON AND THE REST OF HUMANITY. It’s worth a read if you are interested in this subject matter. Which really – you should be.
I really liked the film for its subject, and besides that, there aren’t many films with Tom Hanks that I don’t like. And the book version by Dave Eggers is definitely worth a read too.
Ratings
- IMDB: 5.3
- Metascore: 43
The Circle trailer
Read more about The Circle on IMDB ยป
Knowing is good,
but knowing everything is better.