Law Abiding Citizen can best be described as a clever little revenge thriller. As far as thrillers go, this one was pretty entertaining. I've said it before but I think that thrillers are the hardest films to make because the filmmaker has to keep the tension and/or action going basically throughout the entire movie. And a good thriller usually has some sort of twist or surprise that hopefully totally bakes the viewer's noodle. While this one doesn't totally bake your noodle, it does keep the tension going and has some really cool little action scenes.
What makes this movie good are the two performances by it's stars Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. Gerard Butler is a grieving father and husband, who decides to take the justice system into his own hands after the the District Attorney (Jamie Foxx) makes a deal with the man who killed his wife and child in front of his own eyes. Jamie Foxx plays an ambitious, successful District Attorney who believes in the justice system but also believes that a little is better than trying to get a lot and come away with nothing. This belief is the crux of the whole problem that drives the story. After Butler begins to take matters into his own hands so to speak, he allows himself to be arrested and imprisoned, however the people involved in the case involving his wife and child's murders continue to die. It becomes Foxx's job to keep people alive and figure out how these people keep dying. Does Butler have an accomplice? Is he that good to set things up before he goes to jail? Why does he do the things he does? These are all the problems that make this one a good, entertaining thrill ride.
The interesting thing about this movie is the flip flopping allegiances that the view feels throughout the film. During different parts of the movie you hate Foxx's character and totally empathize with Butler's, then you think Butler is the man and Foxx is a total prick, then you think Butler is a whack job and Foxx is the man. You never really feel like you know who the good guy is and who the bad guy is. Both are flawed characters, but that's what makes it so watchable.
My only criticism of the movie is that the ending is a little too easy, a little too clean. I liked how it ended but for such a smart film, I thought it kind of got dumbed down in the end.
I recommend this one to anyone who likes a good thriller. It's much different than the conventional mold of thriller. It's not mind blowing or heart attack inducing good, but you won't want your 2 hours back after its over. If I had to give it a grade, I'd probably give it a B-, if that even means anything to any of you.
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