Law Abiding Citizen: BD Review
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Page 1 of 3 Anchor Bay / 2009 / 109 Minutes / Rated R / Street Date: February 16, 2010
A garden-variety revenge picture, Law Abiding Citizen follows the exploits of Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler), who lived through the break-in of his home that claimed the lives of his wife and daughter. And that's pretty much the set-up to a T: Prosecutor Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) steps into the fold as the guy trying to address the murder case as 'legally' as possible, while Clyde interest lie more in a sheer vengeance category. No matter how, no matter when, anyone who had anything to do with those murders will pay.
In short, Law Abiding Citizen is the latest in a long string of “Revenge Movies”, of which there is no shortage both recently and historically (talk about a genre that has stood the test of time). The film tries to throw a few new twists into the genre - which is always nice - but results are mixed: Some worked (Shelton allowing himself to be caught so he could orchestrate his revenge from behind bars – very interesting), and some didn’t (basically the entire ending of the film).
 Sure, it is always convenient in films to say the justice system in this country is so messed up that murderers get to walk free while everyday Law Abiding Citizens (get it?) get the shaft - it makes sense that everyman Joe Blow (or in this case Gerard Butler, who tries very hard to look like Joe Blow and not like the intimidating King Leonidas he is) has to take matters into his own hands to get justice. And, not to give too much away, but it turns out Clyde Shelton isn’t your normal Joe Blow…cue explosions and blood and action galore.
Revenge movies are generally interesting to watch if done well - the subgenre has remained rewarding in movie culture for a reason. Law Abiding Citizen isn’t a bad movie - it did try to throw some wrenches into the typical plot of husband/father getting revenge for his dead wife/child. I was entertained as I was watching the movie, but immediately upon the credits rolling I said to myself, “Now that was pretty ridiculous."
Of course, then I promptly grabbed my Kill Bill: Vol. 1 DVD to watch some real revenge dished out the way I like it.
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