MOVIE REVIEW ... LAW ABIDING CITIZEN

MOVIE REVIEW ...

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN

Although revenge based stories have always been around, its cinematic form can be traced back to the 1970's. Tapping into that decade's sense of mistrust, the Death Wish and Dirty Harry movies helped create a new breed of justice seeking vigilante.  Law Abiding Citizen mixes this template by morphing their seriousness with the current vogue of shattering action.  Despite moderately achieving this the end product may see some demanding justice from dodgy writing.

 
After his wife and daughter are killed during a brutal home invasion, Clyde Shelton's (Gerard Butler) world crumbles.  When the criminals are given a lenient sentence his sense of injustice increases.  Ten year later his twisted mind wreaks havoc on those who played their role in the case.  Among them is prosecutor Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) who, despite putting Clyde behind bars, still feels the affects of his vengeance as his fiendish plans terrorizes a city under siege.

 
Law Abiding Citizen is the type of film beginning well becoming increasingly ludicrous with each new revelation.  It's entertaining enough, although the good work of the first half becomes spoilt by some outlandish plotting.  Playing roles in opposite side of the law, Foxx and Butler bring some genuine integrity to the early scenes.  As fathers who have lost or wanting to protect their families, their ideals appear the same although the way they use the law to their advantage defines them.

 
This set-up is certainly captivating and allows the story to unfold in interesting directions.  Sadly the writers have taken a safer route towards the finale with explosions and guns replacing intelligent brinkmanship.  It's difficult to imagine 'Silence of the Lambs' being half as effective had it used this device, although Law Abiding Citizen has several similar qualities which could have made it equally enthralling.  But if you roll with the story you'll enjoy it, although one wonders whether its plot is the same one for which the actors signed on.

With an intriguing story eventually succumbing to creaky plotting, Law Abiding Citizen is less than it should be.  As diverting hokum it works, although its promise of more thought provoking fare should see it sued for false advertising.

Movie Review Rating out of 10:  6

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN released in Australia on Thursday 28th January 2010.

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