The Circle

When a young woman (Emma Watson) lands an entry-level position at the world’s greatest computer company (think Apple raised to the power of 100 and multiplied by Google-cubed), she thinks she’s waltzed into her dream job. At first she’s bemused by the company’s omnipresent eyes and ears, but after a meeting with the affable CEO (Tom Hanks), she volunteers to be monitored online every waking moment—to the mounting dismay of her parents (Glenne Headly, Bill Paxton) and best friends (Karen Gillan, Ellar Coltrane). The script by director James Ponsoldt and Dave Eggers (from Eggers’ novel) seems to be missing key scenes; certainly a subplot involving the company’s reclusive co-founder (John Boyega) seems truncated. Watson doesn’t quite manage her character’s seesaw changes, but she’s as appealing as ever. J.L.