Rated R for strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language.
Directed by F. Gary Gray
Starring Gerald Butler and Jamie Foxx
Sometimes it’s ok to check your brain at the door and just enjoy a great ride… I know I did.
This high octane thriller is about a man (Gerald Butler) who witnesses the brutal murders of his wife and daughter. When the assistant district attorney (Jamie Foxx) makes a deal that sets one of the murderers free, he sets out to extract justice. His vengeance threatens to bring down the man who allowed convenience to supersede justice and the entire system.
Gerald Butler and Jamie Foxx are perfect together in this cat-n-mouse action film… and there is no shortage of action. From beginning to end there are some great edge-of-your-seat moments. But what I enjoyed even more were the classic “Gerald Butler lines.” Yeah I’m calling them “Gerald Butler lines.” From the courtroom outburst to his intense one-on-ones with Jamie Foxx, Butler makes this a great movie.
Sure there is a ton of action, but the true driving force of the film is the emotional storyline. I honestly believe that if you are not emotionally invested in the first five minutes, the payoff of this movie will completely escape you. Obviously I was there. From the very beginning, I believed Gerald as the father and found it easy to feel his pain.
There is one more thing you need to do to fully enjoy Law Abiding Citizen. You need to check your brain at the door. Is the film realistic? Not even close. Are there holes in the story? Big enough to drive a truck through. But I wasn’t expecting a true story.
Gray does a great job of keeping the film moving while carefully placing a few plot twists to keep you guessing. There were several times I was convinced I knew what was coming next and every time I was surprised… I love that.
The only real flaw was the hero story. I really don’t want to give too much away, but there are times when I knew I was rooting for the wrong guy… and it bothered me. If somehow the hero does the hero thing… this would have earned a “Worth Buying,” but I’ll go with “Theater Worthy” instead.
Maybe I’m crazy, but I loved Law Abiding Citizen.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Not a good one for the younger viewers. But with no nudity (except Butler’s butt) or sex, this one would be ok for those teens who have seen any of the Die Hard films.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
