At this point the revenge genre in movies is getting quite stale. While starting out fresh in the early 70s with Charles Bronson’s “Death Wish” the concept of “family man turned vigilante” has gotten quite comical and predictable. Even Jodie Foster’s take at the genre in Neil Jordan’s “The Brave One” really didn’t give us anything we haven’t seen before except the lead being a heroine, and even that was pretty standard.
It now looks like the revenge genre is getting a much needed boost in the upcoming “Law Abiding Citizen” starring Gerard Butler (300) and Jaime Foxx (Ray). The movie tells the tale of family man Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) whose wife and daughter are killed in a home robbery. But when the case goes to trial hotshot lawyer Nick Rice (Jaime Foxx) makes a deal with one of the criminals in which he receives a shorter jail sentence in exchange for ratting out his partner. Ten years later the criminal that got the deal is found dead and Clyde openly admits to the crime. But when Nick confronts Clyde in prison Clyde says that unless he is freed all those involved with the case 10 years ago will be killed. Clyde certainly wasn’t kidding around when he said that as those involved with the case are somehow being picked off one by one by a man who is behind bars. There lies the predicament and intrigue that makes up “Law Abiding Citizen.”
The film seems to take a pretty simple premise and surprisingly makes it fresh due to the assassinations Clyde is doing which are almost reminiscent of what the Joker did in “The Dark Knight.” From the looks of things director F. Gary Gray (Friday, The Negotiator, The Italian Job) seems to have a nice mix of drama and action and a story, via Kurt Wimmer, that strikes a nice gray area as the viewer can understand where Clyde is coming from but still feel like he’s going too far in his quest for revenge. Hopefully the ending won’t be too cliché or too much of a copout though as I’m afraid they may take the easy route out.
Law Abiding Citizen will be out in North America this October.
Yes seems like and interesting film.
sweet, that movie looks pretty bad ass. Will be checking that out for sure.
A GORILLA GIVING AN EXPLODING HIGH-FIVE TO A SHARK!!! 
Thats pretty damn good,really on par to the Joker indeed.
hmmm i like the film i just don't know if i can see the dreamy gerrard butler as a bad guy.
Dude this movie looks amazing!
I know what you mean Micheal-Sean, he has been doing so many womanly movies that you can't see him doing a guy movie again lol.
Its actually weird looking at him without a beard lol.
Looks interesting with some good actors in it.