Accusations that this film is merely torture porn are misleading. Because, Nick explains, the case isn't airtight without the testimony, and if they lose, both men walk free. Hi. However, Darby tortured Clyde, raped his wife and kills her, and kills (possibly sexually assaults) their daughter. *SPOILER* If i remember correctly Foxx gets an email from him after she is dead regarding the land he has bought over some goverment deal or something like that. A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. Strong performances from both the main stars and lots of good lines, but the plot does them no *ahem* justice.". I was rooting for Clyde I think because even though he ends up being the crazy villain Jaimie Foxxs character is sort of a dick for most of the movie so I wanted him to get his just desserts for letting the murderer off at the beginning of the movie. The man who got away with murder is found . Law Abiding Citizen is a preposterous and lucrative revenge story filled with nonstop cliches. Gerard Butler played engineer Clyde Shelton, whose wife and daughter are murdered in front of him. I was just wondering where the hell he got all those bear traps. Thats the way its written into our charter, he said. Full Name Cronin did a great job, Loved this movie too. This entry was posted Scenes of stabbing, shooting, beatings, and bombs going off -- both large incendiary devices and small, hand-held deathtraps. I saw Law Abiding Citizen at a preview screening, followed by a Q and A with F. Gary Gray, who is awesome. There's also plenty of strong language, some sexual content (including partial nudity), drinking, and drug use. The review is on target. No genitals seen. The best part is when all these slick dudes like Forest Whitaker and Jake Gylenhaal get out of a limo in slow-mo all Hype Williams-like, and then Ron Howard gets out with his thousand-yard stare on. I think the reason Jamie Foxxs performance was lacking compared to his other work might be because originally he was supposed to play the Clyde role and Gerard Butler was going to play Rice. The more I think about it, though, the more I like that idea, that Chester is actually Clyde himself. Lousy liberals. #EnoughIsEnough . John Aguilar joined The Denver Post in 2014 to cover the action in the Denver suburbs. Common Sense Media Reviewer Its about the cat-and-mouse game between two very smart guys, and its perfectly happy to be as dumb as it wants. Director F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job, The Negotiator) has the flash and enthusiasm to make this kind of film and the other diversions that have made up his career, but watching him flail for deeper meaning and social commentary is a bit of a strain. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice, a hotshot Philadelphia prosecutor offers one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. To add insult to injury his attorney Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx, STEALTH) makes a deal for one killer to testify against the other and just get one of them executed rather than risk going to trial just based on Clydes eye witness testimony. amzn_assoc_asins = "B01KGR17U8,B0872Y6XV4,B07PYQBV7J,B000M2DLJ8,B008ULRY78,B0041SI7AC,B01EIW5B3Q,B00BNAE1IS,B06XXR7HWB,B002UXCLXO,B0030A6ID0,B00C7E3EIM,B01CIXVXSO,B07PZX91ZP,B002U6CJCE,B00A0HT94G,B00508W3OS"; She called the source "Chester," but wouldn't tell who it was. At the end the exposition part just struck me as removed to shave time, like the main character scenes from Kingdom of Heaven or the entire setup from Dune. Though I'll be happy to spend some time checking some more, just to make sure, if anyone wants a little more thorough verification. Summaries. You cant help regretting that some of their characters will meet fiery or bloody ends. This flick stars Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, and is directed by Jonathan Demme. He NEEDS to be arrested to make his points. Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types of posts like fan-art and self-promotion, or message the moderators if you have any questions. Dan maybe theres some kind of bulk discount that frequent buyers get. The three mothers are probably notorious within the murder equipment and evil lair architecture and furnishing business communities. Nude male and female buttocks. After being turned down by many lawyers, Andy has no choice but to go to the initially homophobic Joe Miller (Washington). It was the same thing with UNTRACEABLE, a movie that clearly mimicked SAWs polished, artificially grimy look and elaborate torture-device gimmicks, yet starred Diane Lane of all people. Mr. Butler, playing a family man whose wife and daughter were murdered by thugs, feels he was let down by the system, which gave one of the thugs a light sentence in exchange for testimony against the other thug, who was sentenced to death. It's funny, because I didn't buy it at first either, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. I think some of you guys will get a kick out of it. In The Shawshank Redemption,twovery different men bond behind bars, trying to find redemption within themselves and within the system, among an environment that doesn't allow for much. ", she'd give you a blank stare. "Law Abiding Citizen" is one of those movies you like more at the time than in retrospect. Clyde unites a court in the judge to bring justice and retribution for the death of his wife and daughter. You dont tell a home-rule county how they organize.. His seventh directorial, 'Law Abiding Citizen,' is a thriller that offers more than thrills. Especially if you're stoned. Viewers don't see the actual slicing, but they do see the man's limbless, mutilated corpse, and some of the crueler acts are discussed at length. Law Abiding Citizen - Wikipedia Law Abiding Citizen Law Abiding Citizen is a 2009 American vigilante action thriller film [3] [4] [5] directed by F. Gary Gray, written by Kurt Wimmer, and starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler (who also co-produced). The law and justice subgenre may not be the biggest in Hollywood, but it's one that stood the test of time with these classics. We are the manufacturer of the robot used in the film. Mr. Foxx, the prosecutor who made that deal, thinks that the system, however imperfect, did its job. They learn that someone tampered with the machine. I'm just venting a little because I was on a bender with this movie all week and read a lot of reviews and interviews and press and watched and rewatched and rerewatched the movie anyway, it made all sorts of reviewers roll their eyes, but it made a kind of bizarre sense to me that he'd shuck it all off as the SWAT team moved in. Butler is pretty good (I like to imagine that his shifting accent is due to time spent working overseas). Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. The. Jareth: I heart Millennium. Theyve proven they can create new characters that could have, Talking about that insane Chucky TV series where Joe Pantoliani guest stars as himself, I just watched that episode and, Also, something that is under-appreciated about this film and absolutely should (have) been memed is the lovely Nicole Kidman chugging, Absolutely. Colorados redistricting process is almost complete. I'm confused about the above titles, tho. They also go lawn gnomes and fake wishing wells. He doesn't want to be shot. Families can talk about the movie's violence. Cat-and-mouse thriller about a determined prosecutor out to stop a genius sociopath who is meticulously orchestrating major serial murders from jail. Law Abiding Citizen, which was helmed by The Fate of the Furious and Set It Off director F. Gary Gray, originally came to theaters on October 16, 2009. Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide. Make sure no one gets seriously hurt.Escape being charged with the murders and only be charged with the attempted burglary (all failed). It was like a Liam Neeson movie with a DIE HARD ripoff embedded in the middle. WITH: Jamie Foxx (Nick Rice), Gerard Butler (Clyde Shelton), Leslie Bibb (Sarah Lowell), Bruce McGill (Jonas Cantrell), Colm Meaney (Detective Dunnigan), Viola Davis (Mayor April Henry), Michael Irby (Detective Sean Garza), Regina Hall (Kelly Rice) and Gregory Itzin (Warden Iger). My friends and I laughed all the way through it. I was correct! After Sarah's death, the email from Chester leads Nick to Clyde's warehouse where he gets into and out of prison to do his deeds. On the other hand, the actors were no doubt paid well for their suffering. Kind of makes the whole thing seem to come full circle. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Anatomy Of A Murderis certainly a timeless staple in the genre. The Accusedinfluenced the role of justice, sex, and gender when it comes to Hollywood legal dramas in more ways than one. IMO Gray actually directed the movie so deadpan that it turns around into a hilarious parody of these kinds of movies, each moment more absurd than the last. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. But lately, I find I am fond of getting high and watching movies I have no real investment in, and I had a feeling "Law Abiding Citizen" would be the perfect candidate for such an approach. She tells him its not time for him to know yet. She is wearing a thong and her butt is shown, but not in close-up. The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. What you willand won'tfind in this movie. Plus, Pacino's riveting performance certainly stands out. DEPARTMENT OF DID I MISS SOMETHING? Unless you didn't like them, in which case forget I said anything. He is seen shirtless shortly after too, in bright light. Shelton is left feeling betrayed. Starring Jamie Foxx Gerard Butler Viola Davis Leslie Bibb Regina Hall. He wants Nick to do the right thing and to do his job properly and get a jury to convict the murderer even if it's he himself who is the murderer. That's the prologue. But its okay not as dumb as you might expect, but not as smart is it probly thinks it is. Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!! RELATED:Tom Hanks' 10 Best 90s Movies (According to IMDb). Sarah's boyfriend, Chester, has the inside track about the properties Clyde has purchased. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Wow. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THE SHIT OUT OF VERN & OUTLAWVERN.COM. . All of this refers to Law Abiding Citizen. This, understandably, does not sit well withButler's character. Although I never reviewed it, the original French movie SLEEPLESS NIGHT is pretty good. Ames Fucking hilarious. Yeah, I hope someone sues them, because thats not OK, he said. Jamie Foxs performance left a lot to be desired and Butler delivered his justification and the pain his character felt much more convincingly, even though his grand symphony of a revenge was a little all-encompassing. By the time I saw Law Abiding Citizen, I had already seen the trailer four or five times. Which is more upsetting, and why? At the time of the attack Clyde was working on a circuit board, so we know hes some kind of technological wizard or sorcerer, which explains why ten years later he can exact an ingenious master plan of super revenge with strong overtones of cultural critique. The county also provides an online mapping toolso residents can create their own maps for consideration. He dispatches the thugs, willingly goes to prison and starts doing dinner theater Hannibal Lecter for Mr. Foxxs benefit. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; For our larger clients, we like to cultivate a personal relationship with the owner. It was just the, I have fond memories of seeing this in the theater as it came out the day after the 2003 NY, I dont mind them making Evil Dead films without Ash. The only real flaw is that the ending seemed like it didnt go far enough. For huge fans of this genre, it's time to celebrate the best. But that doesn't stop him! But this film does exist, I assure you! If anything, it's very tame considering its subject matter. Please dont put the objections on the guys especially since we could have stepped in anytime and let the production crew borrow one of ours for several weeks. I dont need EVIL DEAD to have wacky humour or Ash Williams to enjoy it. A follow-up to the $130M-plus grossing movie Law Abiding Citizen is happening with producer Lucas Foster and screenwriter Kurt Wimmer returning, as well as Gerard Butler and his G-Base partner Alan It does cross the point of genuine badness at times, but counters with moments of pure excitement. He needs to be put into solitary confinement because. But still. 15 Overlooked (But Binge-Worthy) Crime Dramas Streaming On Netflix, Tom Hanks' 10 Best 90s Movies (According to IMDb), 5 Crime Dramas From The 80s That Deserve A Reboot (& 5 That Dont), 5 Crime Movies From The 1990s That Are Underrated (& 5 That Are Overrated), 10 Creepy Fan Theories That Will Change The Way You View These Movies, Star Wars Has Introduced A Superweapon OLDER Than The Sith, Kryptonian Wonder Woman Rumor Confirmed By Zack Snyder After 9 Years, New Zeus Origin Revealed. I don't really think Chester had anything to do with Clyde. Jamie Foxx has got a few more Hollywood pictures left before hes back on television or relegated to the DTV market. The main plot was so inconceivable to the point of being totally ludicrous. Did you know you can flag iffy content? A young woman, Sarah Tobias, suffers a terrible gang rape and Deputy District AttorneyKathryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis) must bring all those involved to justice despite how stacked the cards seem to be. Gerard Butler, center, and Jamie Foxx in a scene from Law Abiding Citizen, directed by F. Gary Gray and set in Philadelphia. Its the old this guys from the Department of Defense, their top guy, you dont want to piss him off, etc. The William Stranix or Travis Dane approach. He's mentioned in a few places that are very attention grabbing, and it's clear that it's supposed to be some sort of clue or something like that, but then it just melts away without any explanation. Then, during the climactic confrontation, Clyde asks Did you catch my accomplice? and Rice says, Yeah. Was this just awkwardly delivered sarcasm, because now he knows there wasnt an accomplice, or did I miss the reveal of an accomplice? Why all these preachy meticulous-preparation bad guys? Alias A big issue in the film and part of the reason why it's hard to take seriously is that the ""villain"" (more of an ""anti-villain"") relies on a masterplan that has way too many potential points of failure And if it does fail, it's game over-no flexibility and virtually no room for error. The plot focuses on a man who, ten years after his wife and daughter are brutally murdered, returns to exact justice from the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case against their killers. His movies just do not perform. Which is right after another one of those Chester references, too (Nick asking Sarah when he's going to meet Chester, and Sarah replying that "he's not ready" or some such).So like maybe there's something to this. So remarkable, in fact, that they fly in the face of common sense. (NOTE: My ten year contract has passed on the Titan books, so I don't get residuals on them like I do WORM ON A HOOK and NIKETOWN, but I would love for you to read them because I'm proud of them). From the Hansard archive That is a worrying situation for any law-abiding citizen. The twist with the tunnel into the prison was stretching credibility pretty damn thin though(so did he tunnel to every single cell or just have a vision of the future that told him exactly which solitary cell hed be put in if he shanked his cell mate?). Lawyers fight to find justice and protect their clients, especially after he pleads "not guilty". I bet if you went up to Viola Davis and asked, "Remember 'Law Abiding Citizen'? Discussions of sex acts in vulgar language. LAW ABIDING CITIZEN is the story of a guy named Clyde (Gerard Butler, 300) whose family is killed in a home invasion in the opening scene. Just dirty and mean and ugly and pockmarked with tons of logical leaps that only forwarded its mean-spirited agenda. An armed homeowner shot and killed a charging bull moose in his yard in Terreton, Idaho, on Jan. 21, 2023, after the animal had been frequenting the area for more than a . Toss me a couple bucks a month, support the good shit, also get access to a bunch of exclusive writing. The ones responsible are caught. Sarah's boyfriend, Chester, has the inside track about the properties Clyde has purchased. Maybe that got left on the cutting room floor. From the amzn_assoc_title = "EXAMPLES OF GOOD SHIT TO ORDER:"; When Shelton learns of this, he is not happy. This flick is based on the classic novel by Harper Lee of the same name. Its the most audacious, no-messin-around, straight up enjoyable 90 minutes of action and stupidity Ive seen recently. When he first asked for it, his team said it couldnt be done, and his response was, You have to move this mountain for me. Leslie Bibb works well as Nick's prosecutorial partner, with Regina Hall as Nick's wife, Annie Corley as the judge who experiences some surprises in her courtroom, and the powerful Viola Davis as the city's mayor. A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. (you pay the same amount you were gonna pay anyway they cut me a little slice). Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. I mean, from the beginning Clyde *wants* Nick to be able to prove this. I just graduated university with Criminology & Psychology, but have a burning side passion for film! Ludicrous and over pumped, LAW ABIDING CITIZEN is an overdone thriller that also has some real shocks and a couple of nasty surprises. And when you find out the trick of how hes doing what hes doing its an enjoyably ludicrous explanation. Vern witnesses THE INVASION and lives to tell you about it! Phibes and Jigsaw at least had to put a little elbow grease into their work. Not in meaning that he directly and consciously cooperated with him but because Clyde did everything as reaction on Nick. I couldnt help but start wondering why this type of villain is so common now. However, because of improper procedure, the D.A., Nick Rice only has circumstantial evidence. Scan this QR code to download the app now. The plot's more philosophical points about the problems of the legal system are drowned out by its murders and gory violence. He probably got them from the same serial killer department store where Jigsaw gets his factory equipment and Keanu Reeves bought those hundreds and hundreds of candles from in THE WATCHER. How does the impact of the violence here compare to that of "torture porn" horror movies like Saw? The League is looking into whether Weld County violated the new law and whether home-rule status is sufficient to shield it from state edicts. Counties in Colorado are generally responsible for providing law enforcement and social services, completing road and bridge work, conducting elections and operating a public health agency, among other duties. Instead of a former WWE Heavyweight Champion they have a previous best actor Oscar winner, instead of fun action sequences they have aspirations of making a grand statement about justice. I still cant figure out why mother Tenebrarum would need an underwater basement. He has the "Den of Thieves" sequel on the way, and I can't wait for that. Gray assembles the bits and pieces of Kurt Wimmer's script with competent mechanics, but he falters when he tries to connect the action set pieces with a plot that makes sense or doesn't kick against the limits of plausibility. Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; This would be fine if the film wasn't so serious about itself, but it is From the opening scenes right to the end. I am an avid reader, writer, and film-goer, and I love learning about movies, actors, directors, and sharing my passion and knowledge with others. There was no independent redistricting committee, no interactive mapping tool and no series of public meetings, as called for by HB 21-1047. Fatal Attraction Works As Entertainment, Fails as Social Commentary, Prime Videos Citadel Traps Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden in Played-Out Spy Game, New York Philharmonic and Steven Spielberg Celebrate the Music of John Williams, A Piece of His Fire: Harry Belafonte (1927-2023). You can watch easily on a full stomach. This movie burst onto the movie scene for being so powerful in its political context, acting roles, and mesmerizing tale about justice. Thank you! The killers are caught, and itshould be an open and shut case, but hot-shot prosecutorJamie Foxx ends up cutting a deal with one of the killers. Cookie Notice Nick arranges a plea bargain: One of the guilty men will be executed; the other, in return for his testimony, will get a murder conviction but not death. Powers / Skills But last but not least, I have a question about Chester. I just searched on internet but didint find a thing so I thought you guys could maybe help.