The crime dramatic thriller Law-abiding Citizen (the actors and characters were instantly appreciated by critics) evokes rather mixed feelings after watching. Having shot a film about an individual who went one against the system to punish offenders, director F. Gary Gray did not explicitly discover America. However, the film was shot professionally, the competent construction of the plot action is amazing, the characters are carefully worked out, the casting is brilliant, so you hardly notice the annoying “hackneyed” ideas of revenge.
Do you remember how it all began
The main actor is a law-abiding citizen, he is also a producer, Gerard Butler was going to make a film about prison with director Frank Darabonte at first. Moreover, in the original version, the main character was terribly similar to the hero of Tim Robbinson (who was smarter than everyone, even being locked in a prison cell) from the picture “Escape from the Shawshank”, which the eminent Darabonton presented to the audience in 1994. The fact is that Frank literally specialized in “prison” topics, except for “The Shawshank” he took off the Green Mile masterpiece, but for some reason they didn’t succeed with Butler and Darabont quickly left the project. And already F. Gary Gray had to diversify the banal story of revenge with a deep philosophical meaning and psychological burden in the style of the above paintings. And the film “Law-abiding Citizen”, whose actors were inspired by the director’s idea, turned out to be a dynamic thriller with frightening, exquisite murders and decent moral subtext.
Acting duet
The casting of the project was unstable. Initially, the creators saw in the role of Rice Gerard Butler, but Jamie Foxx was supposed to be the main violin (it is not known whether she would benefit from this or lose the film “Law-abiding Citizen”). The actor, whose photo is replete with in all the popular media devoted to cinema - the same Butler, was also the producer of the film, and everyone knows: “Who pays, he orders the music.” Therefore, when he wanted to play the "villain", the roles and actors were reversed. However, one should not assume that Gerard Butler, using his special status in terms of acting, "pulled the entire blanket over himself." The star Catherine Zeta-Jones was invited to work on a film project, but they failed to finally persuade the actress, and nevertheless, the strongest link in the film "Law-abiding Citizen" is the actors and roles. The cast cannot but rejoice, everyone has become so accustomed to their images, they have lived the lives of their characters that they not only believe them, but also empathize with them. The unique transformation of Gerard Butler from a decent family man into a cruel and cunning combinator-criminal causes genuine surprise and delight. His Clyde Shelton is extremely charismatic and very mysterious, and the look of the protagonist can be compared with the look of "the villain of the first magnitude" - Hannibal Lector. It’s also worth mentioning that Jamie Foxx turned into the “bad-good” prosecutor Nick Rice, his gait is especially memorable - courageous, confident, it just blows from his inner strength. There is not a single claim to this acting duet.
Minor but significant
While watching the film, the viewer will definitely remember another actor from the movie “Law Abiding Citizen” - Bruce McGill, who gave his character Jonas Cantrelli such charm that you are simply amazed. Assistant Attorney Sarah Lowell (Leslie Bibb) also draws attention ; characters from Detective Dannigan (Colm Mini) and Rupert Ames (Josh Stewart) look decent. Thanks to the secondary characters, the action did not narrow down on the confrontation of the main characters, it was dynamic, diverse and exciting.
Famously twisted plot
Once in the house to the main character Clyde scumbags break in, kill his little daughter and beloved wife. Due to the imperfection of the judicial system, only one of the villains is justly punished, and the other is given only three years. For ten years, the unfortunate Clyde has been hatching a revenge plan for those who haven’t made an effort to punish criminals in all the strictness of the law, and the prosecutor Nick is among them. And Shelton begins to carry out his plan, without exchanging for trifles. The surviving villain will suffer a well-deserved punishment, after his murder, the main character will surrender to the police (after undressing naked). Once in prison, Clyde will launch an attack on the entire imperfect judicial system: to mock, negotiate, blackmail, intimidate. Shelton will accompany all his activities with requirements, and if they are not fulfilled, he will supply the prosecutor with new corpses - this is the plot of the film “Law-abiding Citizen” (the actors and creators did everything they could to increase tension).
The cognitive dissonance
Many film critics claim that the authors made a fatal mistake, turning the unfortunate and inconsolable Clyde into a cold-blooded killer. Indeed, at the beginning of the film, the viewer is unrealistic to remain indifferent to the hero, in front of whom a child and a beloved woman are killed. And then, when he begins to take revenge on the judicial system and offenders, you gradually perceive the previously positive character as a killer. And you understand with your mind - it must be stopped. And neither the central character, nor the main actor - the law-abiding citizen Gerard Butler already - does not cause sympathy. And the reverse transformation of the African-American prosecutor from the antagonist into a “good” character is somewhat confusing. Not everyone knows how to switch so briskly, which is why many viewers experience cognitive dissonance.
And the debate is flaring up
For almost five years now, the film “Law-abiding Citizen” has been marching across the screens of the whole world, the actors and heroes are with it, and disputes among film critics and ordinary viewers have not ceased. After all, you rarely see a film with such an extraordinary ending, with such depressive prisons and intellectual prisoners that are so helpful that even before arrest they strip naked. This film will not only brighten up the evening, but will also make you think about many philosophical and everyday ups and downs, probably leaving the aftertaste of a real thriller.