Synopsis: A widower seeks revenge against the legal system that failed his family when they were murdered.
Release Date: October 16, 2009 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Thriller, Action
Film Review
Production
Games. Games. Games. Law Abiding Citizen is full of them. The main characters, Clyde (Gerard Butler) and Rick (Jamie Fox), are embroiled in a cat and mouse game throughout and you cannot help but shift from being on either side. By strongly focusing on the injustices and severe flaws of our justice system it makes the viewer question whether the bad guy is really bad. Perhaps just going a little too far in making his point? Maybe.
With his brilliant and imaginative mind, you will find yourself in awe of his capabilities. The film may not be full of suspense, or any real grand revelations or twists and turns but it does keep you in the moment. Mostly from the intense likability of Clyde. He may be killing people left and right but with his charm and intensity you grasp on and want more. If there is one great thing Law Abiding Citizen offers it is how your brain is constantly thinking and pondering what will happen next and how he is managing to do everything from prison. Law Abiding Citizen is ultimately intriguing and the final reveal that answers all of your questions further secures the belief that Clyde is brilliant and a decent film villain after all.
Action Sequences
There is not much action, per se, in this film. There are the few fight scenes, some cars blowing up, and other things of that sort but they play a very small role in the film. The story is not meant to have lots of physical action, it is more of a thinking piece over how this imprisoned man is capable of killing people from behind bars. You will be shocked at certain moments as there are plenty of surprises lingering throughout the film. It may not be in your face action, but it is enough to sustain you and keep you happy.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): F. Gary Gray
- Screenwriter: Kurt Wimmer
- Cast: Gerard Butler (Clyde Shelton), Leslie Bibb (Sarah Lowell), Jamie Foxx (Nick Rice), Viola Davis (Mayor of Philadelphia)
- Crew: Tariq Anwar, Jonathan Sela, Alex Hajdu, Jeffrey Kurland, Brian Tyler
- Country Of Origin: USA