Vicious Circle

“Bold visual motifs dominate "Vicious Circle," tyro helmer Paul Boyd's "Romeo and Juliet"-ish tale of star-crossed teens in Venice, Calif. Fantastic floating images of white horses, red roses and black chess pieces surround the young lovers while events rush past, fueled by tragic misunderstandings. Striking, occasionally overextended conceits, such as superimposing characters into flat, artificial, hand-drawn settings, sometimes threaten to overwhelm pic, but intense thesping by its leads brings foreground and background back into focus. Top award-winner at New York Latino Film Fest generates energy and conviction that could spark theatrical interest.”