Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler (300′s King Leonidis) are in tonight’s Law Abiding Citizen. Clyde Shelton (Butler) has his wife and daughter killed during a home invasion by two men. They are caught and are in the justice system when Nick Rice (Foxx) cuts them a deal. One of the two guys agrees to cooperate and testify against the other one in exchange for just a prison sentence. The guy who cooperates was actually the one doing the killing. (But, because of the felony murder rule, the other guy was just as guilty as if he had killed them). Shelton is upset that they were not prosecuted and that DNA was tossed on technicalities, etc. So, he quietly waits his time and begins setting up his plan for revenge. He finds and catches the guy who did the actual murder in a very slick way – and proceeds to do a real number on him – they tell you what, but you don’t see much of it, if any. Soon, he’s arrested for the murder and while in prison more people associated with his wife’s death are killed. Who’s doing it? Why? Will Clyde Shelton be found guilty?
This movie asks a lot of interesting questions of you. About justice and whether our justice system is not functioning well. It makes you think about vigilantism, and what really is right. Is it just what meets the letter of the law, is it what lets you sleep at night. It does expose a lot of what is wrong with the justice system and legal field, but how is it that we are to change it to make it better?
This movie was rather good. It kept my interest the entire time very well. And up until nearly the end did it become apparent what was going on. I can’t say that it was entirely satisfying as a film, but good and entertaining. Worth the evening. If you like drama/thrillers, you should enjoy this.
Rated R. 108 minutes (1 hour 48 minutes). Language and violence.
