Now In Theaters - Law Abiding Citizen

I'm going to get right to the point on this one... if 'Star Trek' was the movie of this summer, this is most definitely my pick for movie of the fall. (lol, if there is such a thing.) This movie boasts two very big stars in Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler. But we also have a nice name behind the scenes in director F. Gary Gray. You may remember him from such classics as 'Friday', 'Be Cool', 'A Man Apart' and 'The Italian Job'. (and looking over that resume, it really shows a lot of versatility on his part!) I love seeing movies with a lot of star power like this, but I also always fear them not living up to the hype of the talent involved. Well I am happy to report that this lived up to every bit of hype it had.

Butler plays the part of Clyde Shelton, a man who's wife and daughter are brutally taken away from him in front of his eyes. Foxx gives us the role of the prosecuting attorney Nick Rice who is responsible for putting away the two individuals responsible for the crime. When Rice does not handle the case in the way that Shelton approves of... our story begins. The more we delve into this film, the more and more we learn about Shelton.

The story line in this one is VERY well put together. It is very believable and easy for the typical movie watcher to identify with both Shelton and Rice. Foxx does a wonderful job of portraying an aspiring attorney who is caught in between trying to do the right thing and trying to maintain a successful career. Gray did a very good job taking us inside the mind of the legal system and showing us the flaws in the system. But it is my opinion that Butler really steals the show in this one. On a personal level, I absolutely love watching an actor who I will always remember for a certain role shows me another side of themselves. I was impressed when "Maximus" was 'The Insider'. I loved watching "John McClane" play a psychiatrist to a trouble kid. And I was just as impressed watching "King Leonidas" portray a regular guy who has lost his family.

The supporting cast did a wonderful job of keeping the storyline very precise and believable as well. There was one pretty sketchy part of the plot that was a bit hard to believe {once you have seen the film you will know what I mean. The whole "tunneling" thing, lol}, but outside of that I find it hard to spot a flaw in this one. Great acting + great story + great director = Success. I'm going to rate this one a 9 out of 10. Very, very well put together. I suggest you go check this one out. you won't be disappointed.