Law Abiding Citizen is a 2009 American vigilante action thriller film directed by F. Gary Gray, written by Kurt Wimmer, and starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler. The film takes place in Philadelphia, and tells the story of Clyde Shelton (Butler), a man who seeks revenge on the legal system after his wife and daughter are murdered and their killers are given light sentences. Shelton targets not only the killers themselves, but also those who he believes are responsible for the corruption of the criminal justice system.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $127 million worldwide against a budget of $50 million. It was praised for its action sequences, its performances (particularly Butler’s), and its thought-provoking exploration of the themes of justice and revenge.
Plot summary
Clyde Shelton is a successful engineer and family man whose life is turned upside down when his wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. The killers are caught, but due to a plea bargain, one of them, Clarence Darby, is given a light sentence. The other killer, Joey Cass, escapes justice when he is killed by the police while trying to escape.
Shelton is devastated by the outcome of the trial, and he vows to take justice into his own hands. He spends the next ten years meticulously planning his revenge against the people he believes are responsible for the deaths of his family and the corruption of the criminal justice system.
Shelton begins his revenge by targeting Darby, who he kills in a spectacularly gruesome fashion. He then turns his attention to the people who he believes are responsible for Darby’s light sentence, including Nick Rice (Foxx), the prosecutor who offered Darby the plea bargain, and Jonas Cantrell (McGill), the district attorney who was in charge of the case.
Shelton is always one step ahead of the authorities, and he is able to carry out his revenge with impunity. He is eventually caught, but not before he has exposed the corruption of the criminal justice system and sparked a national debate about the nature of justice.
Themes
Law Abiding Citizen is a complex and thought-provoking film that explores the themes of justice, revenge, and corruption. The film raises questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and the role of the individual in seeking justice.
The film also explores the dark side of human nature and the potential for violence when people are pushed to their limits. Shelton is a sympathetic character, but his actions are also disturbing. He is a vigilante who is willing to kill to achieve justice.
Law Abiding Citizen is a powerful and challenging film that stays with you long after the credits have rolled. It is a film that will make you think about the nature of justice and the consequences of revenge.
Critical reception
Law Abiding Citizen received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the film for its action sequences, its performances, and its thought-provoking exploration of the themes of justice and revenge. Others criticized the film for its violence and its unrealistic portrayal of the criminal justice system.
Despite the mixed reviews, Law Abiding Citizen was a commercial success, grossing over $127 million worldwide against a budget of $50 million. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 23, 2010.
Conclusion
Law Abiding Citizen is a well-made and thought-provoking film that explores the themes of justice, revenge, and corruption. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
