Law Abiding Citizen (Overture Pictures)
A Movie You Shouldnt Like, But You Will
Law Abiding Citizen at first glance appears to be another version of Charles Bronsons Death Wish, but once you get into the story you realize it is more, much more. The violence and the craziness go to the extreme but the core plot is a fascinating one. This is the kind of movie you may not want to enjoy but odds are you will.
Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) is a law abiding citizen until his home is invaded and his wife and child are murdered. Then he becomes a man who craves justice. But justice, in his eyes, is denied when plea bargains are accepted by some of those responsible for the heinous acts. Clyde begs Assistant District Attorney Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) to go all out in the prosecution but the deals are made.
This is when Clyde begins his journey to teach Nick a lesson, and he does it violently and graphically. He is not out for vengeance, per se; he is out to prove you cant bargain with murderers. He becomes an executioner of sorts to prove his point.
At first all your sympathy is with Clyde but that begins to change when he becomes a sadistic killer. Still he always holds a little bit of good will in reserve as you remember what he endured. Nick on the other hand never totally gets the audience on his side and that is a weakness of the film.
Butler is believable as the man with a plan. This role is much more like the one he played in 300 then the guy he played in The Ugly Truth. These tough guy dramatic roles are where he excels. Foxx struggles to find a sympathetic core to Nick, while Leslie Bibb makes a warm impression as Nicks assistant.
The supporting cast is strong with Colm Meaney playing a determined police detective, Gregory Itzin (24) playing a frustrated warden; Bruce McGill playing Nicks supportive boss; and Regina Hall playing his neglected wife; and Viola Davis as a ticked off Mayor. Annie Corley is a standout as a smug judge who has a thing about cell phones.
The film is rated R for profanity, violence and nudity.
Law Abiding Citizen has a lot of food for thought concerning our judicial system, and the points it makes will stay with you long after the movie ends. Audiences will probably respond to the violence and the basic decency of Butlers character before he goes too far. It should make even more money on DVD. I know I will be awaiting its release.
You may not want to admit you liked this movie but odds are you will find yourself riveted to the screen. It has some flaws in the plot but overall it is above average in film entertainment.
I scored Law Abiding Citizen a judicial 6 out of 10.
