Law Abiding Citizen Movie Blurb by Shale October 16, 2009 First, a little personal background. In 1974 I was getting into Eastern Philosophy, particularly Buddhism and the practice of Ahimsa. I was a gentle soul who literally would not harm a big New Orleans cockroach. Then I went to a Charles Bronson movie, Death Wish. My non-violent values were severely challenged as I sat there quietly rooting "RIGHT ON!" when our on-screen vigilante would off some low-life miscreant. Of course I wasn't alone. That unique movie, the first to show a vigilante wreaking justice in the crime plagued big cities of the '70s was not critically acclaimed but was a big hit with audiences, some of which applauded when the bad guys got theirs. So, after 35 years I have given up on being a monk, holy man or whatever and have settled into the reality of the injustice in the world and the desire to see justice by whatever means. Naturally, I would go see this movie. Similar to Bronson's character in Death Wish, Clyde Shelton's (Gerard Butler) wife and daughter are brutally murdered. He was stabbed, tied up and forced to watch the whole horror. The men were caught but due to legal technicalities the case was not a shoe-in for prosecutor Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) who had a 95% conviction reputation to protect. So, he cut a deal, allowing the actual killer to rat out his accomplice and get off with a few years. This did not sit well with Clyde. Prosecuter and Murdering Sociopath Cut a Deal OK, you know this movie is playing to our baser emotions. When you dig down into your inner dungeon and think, what would you do if you had the means and nothing else to lose - you come up cheering for Clyde when he goes on the attack against those who hurt him. Oh, turns out that Clyde is an ex military operative who figured out ways to off people that no one could reach. If he wants you dead - you're dead. First he manages to get back at the two who killed his family - giving himself (and us) immense satisfaction in their gruesome deaths. Then he goes after the "criminal justice system" (I love the double meaning of that phrase) that allowed his family's killer to walk free after three years. It doesn't take long to figure out who dismembered the killer so Clyde is promptly arrested. This, it turns out is his plan and he waits naked for the cops so SWAT can't claim any reason for blowing him away. They put pants on him after the arrest. While the prosecutor is his main target he manages to disrupt the world of lawyers and politicians who wear clean suits and hide in their clean offices - removed from the dirty tragedy of law-abiding citizens by legal ploys and personal aspirations. (OK, my bias shows - so what) While Clyde is in prison, explosions, mayhem and death happens all around Nick. There is no way to pin it on Clyde and his accomplice on the outside eludes them. Dead People in a Cemetery Philly is being terrorized; the suits are terrified at their vulnerability and even tho they know it is Clyde they have no evidence to prosecute him. Point made. Prosecutor Getting Pissed This movie was not favored by the critics, but I suppose it will be a hit with audiences who will get a visceral satisfaction of seeing justice come to the criminal system, even if only in a movie. I liked it and will probably get the DVD to put with my classic Death Wish.
I want to see this movie this weekend, by the way thanks for your review and for the pictures. Ay Dios!
