Today’s quick review: Law Abiding Citizen. Clyde Shelton’s (Gerard Butler) life is shattered when his wife and daughter are murdered in a home invasion, only for one of the killers to escape justice by cutting a deal with prosecutor Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx). Ten years later, Clyde enacts his revenge on the killers and sets out to dismantle the justice system that failed him. Now Nick must decipher the clues and stop Clyde’s plan before it’s too late.
Law Abiding Citizen is a crime thriller about a grieving father who comes up with a sadistic plan for revenge. Clyde Shelton, a brilliant tactician with nothing left to lose, squares off against Nick Rice, a prosecutor whose principles are shaken by Clyde’s challenges. Law Abiding Citizen is a battle of wits between the two men as Nick races to keep Clyde from killing again. A compelling plot and strong execution make the movie a worthwhile pick.
Law Abiding Citizen embraces its premise wholeheartedly. Clyde is not just a man with a grudge, but a mastermind who has considered every possibility. Seeing his plan unfold is the highlight of the movie. Clyde comes up with clever ways to kill his victims while keeping his hands clean, and Nick’s attempts to outsmart him give the movie plenty of back-and-forth. The result is an elaborate plot that’s gripping from start to finish.
Still, Law Abiding Citizen doesn’t have the fine touch needed to properly answer the moral questions it raises. The movie is set up as a debate over the priorities of law enforcement: to punish the guilty or to protect their civil rights. Clyde tries to push Nick to the edge, forcing him to repudiate his own principles to put an end to the killing. However, Law Abiding Citizen muddies the waters too much for it to reach any meaningful conclusion.
Law Abiding Citizen is a gripping thriller with a strong premise and plenty of good twists. Although the movie doesn’t quite reach the level of moral conundrum it seems to be aiming for, it has solid fundamentals and does a great job of keeping the audience hooked. Those who don’t mind something tense and on the darker side should give it a shot. Those who dislike thrillers with dire consequences may want to look elsewhere.
For an even darker thriller about a serial killer taking justice into his own hands, try Se7en or The Bone Collector. For another cat-and-mouse thriller starring Jamie Foxx, try Collateral. For a thriller with a lighter tone and a similarly elaborate plot, try Inside Man.
7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for an impressive plot.