Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

So, I just finished watching that movie. Honestly, I don't think the ending could have been any more symbolic or fitting.

It seems like a lot of people are upset about how it wrapped up. They were probably expecting something else, like Clyde breaking out of prison, or Nick being killed off or landing behind bars instead.)

But let's be real—did everyone forget why Clyde was doing this in the first place? He did it because the justice system has become way too political. It's gotten soft on criminals, with people making backroom deals, and the law is being applied far too rigidly (which we saw clearly during Clyde's scene in the penitentiary) when dealing with judges who simply lack common sense. As he so perfectly put it: everybody must be held accountable for their actions
. .There was absolutely no intention for him to walk out of that prison a free man...

If you enjoyed this, I highly recommend The Life of David Gall (2003)

Honestly, I think this movie is incredible—easily one of the best things I've seen all year. The way the whole plot is structured is just brilliant, and the character Butler plays is so well-developed. As for the ending... yeah, part of me wishes it had gone down a different way, but I’m actually okay with how it played out. It felt earned, and I wouldn't change a thing because it was pretty much what you'd expect (SPOILER) that anyone who tries to take justice into their own hands—even if that justice is harsh or feels right in the moment—is ultimately going to end up dead or behind bars.

Just your run-of-the-mill Hollywood thriller designed for an audience that really doesn't want to strain a single brain cell.
For anyone looking for actual substance, the movie totally screws you over by pretending to have an original theme right up until the end,
at which point you get served the usual, predictable helping of American "social justice" pandering.

5/10—or basically, "fine if you've got nothing better to do."

The movie is actually pretty solid. I’d give it a 7/10, though honestly, there was enough potential there to aim even higher... I see everyone debating how the inmate was killed in prison... turns out it wasn't a bone fragment at all 😁

Man, I’m just sitting here venting because I’m honestly so annoyed... Why on earth did I even bother watching this movie? Every single bad thing I heard about the ending turned out to be spot on. I mean, Foxx is easily one of the most irritating actors out there, at least in this particular role. It's probably a good thing I haven't seen more of his stuff, because his acting here was pretty subpar... It’s such a shame, really. This could have been an absolute masterpiece, but no, we had to sit through that ending where Foxx is just standing there looking at his little daughter at some damn concert, looking all proud and righteous... Honestly, I've got nothing but contempt for him and the way this whole film was directed 🤣. Another huge downside for me was that the annoying mayor didn't get what was coming to her in a fiery blaze 🤮
. All in all, I'd give it a 5/10, though it definitely could have been three grades higher if they hadn't botched it 🙄

Terry Rodriguez41 said:Man, I’m just sitting here venting because I’m honestly so annoyed... Why on earth did I even bother watching this movie? Every single bad thing I heard about the ending turned out to be spot on. I mean, Foxx is easily one of the most irritating actors out there, at least in this particular role. It's probably a good thing I haven't seen more of his stuff, because his acting here was pretty subpar... It’s such a shame, really. This could have been an absolute masterpiece, but no, we had to sit through that ending where Foxx is just standing there looking at his little daughter at some damn concert, looking all proud and righteous... Honestly, I've got nothing but contempt for him and the way this whole film was directed 🤣. Another huge downside for me was that the annoying mayor didn't get what was coming to her in a fiery blaze 🤮
. All in all, I'd give it a 5/10, though it definitely could have been three grades higher if they hadn't botched it 🙄

That guy really got under my skin too. 😁 I actually found myself rooting for the villain. 😁 They could have done more with the actual plot, because the story itself isn't bad. But the movie just didn't click for me, and I wasn't left feeling like it was a good film. It's probably just Foxx; I just can't stand his character.😁

This movie just falls apart towards the end. It gets more unbelievable and ridiculous by the minute, and honestly, once you hit that finale, you don't know whether to cry or just laugh at how bad it is. The ending is stupid on an epic scale. Because of that, I’m giving this film a solid 1/10.

If this Butler guy actually intended to get his revenge—and let's be honest, the man clearly has the technical chops to build those kinds of contraptions—he should have operated out of some high-end hotel suite instead of letting himself get hauled off to a cell just to pull it all off from behind bars 😵.

I mean, how do you even manage to dig a tunnel through a solitary confinement unit? Between the structural foundations and the sheer amount of noise those machines would make, there is zero way you could ever dig a tunnel like that by hand 😲.

A federal prosecutor goes and burns an inmate and half the prison along with him 🤷.

Man, this movie really got under my skin because it actually started out strong and had all the ingredients to be a total masterpiece!

northernmoose26 said:If this Butler guy actually intended to get his revenge—and let's be honest, the man clearly has the technical chops to build those kinds of contraptions—he should have operated out of some high-end hotel suite instead of letting himself get hauled off to a cell just to pull it all off from behind bars 😵.

I mean, how do you even manage to dig a tunnel through a solitary confinement unit? Between the structural foundations and the sheer amount of noise those machines would make, there is zero way you could ever dig a tunnel like that by hand 😲.

A federal prosecutor goes and burns an inmate and half the prison along with him 🤷.

Man, this movie really got under my skin because it actually started out strong and had all the ingredients to be a total masterpiece!

He wouldn't be just some common terrorist. His goal wasn't to tear down the entire system; he just wanted to expose the cracks within it. When an inmate in solitary confinement starts mocking you and taking out his rage on the guards, you know something has to change. It’s a clear sign that action is overdue.

How is it even possible to dig a tunnel through solid bedrock? Between the foundation work and the constant roar of the heavy machinery, I can't imagine trying to do that kind of digging by hand. 😲.

He certainly had years upon years to devote himself to that pursuit.

A federal prosecutor just set a prisoner and half the jail on fire. 🤷 .

It might be a bit tougher to prove he actually did it. He could easily just claim Clyde took his own life out of pure guilt or something along those lines.

David Price5 said:He wouldn't be just some common terrorist. His goal wasn't to tear down the entire system; he just wanted to expose the cracks within it. When an inmate in solitary confinement starts mocking you and taking out his rage on the guards, you know something has to change. It’s a clear sign that action is overdue.

How is it even possible to dig a tunnel through solid bedrock? Between the foundation work and the constant roar of the heavy machinery, I can't imagine trying to do that kind of digging by hand. 😲.

He certainly had years upon years to devote himself to that pursuit.

A federal prosecutor just set a prisoner and half the jail on fire. 🤷 .

It might be a bit tougher to prove he actually did it. He could easily just claim Clyde took his own life out of pure guilt or something along those lines.

I mean, what kind of prison is it if there isn't even a surveillance camera?

goldenhound32 said:I mean, what kind of prison is it if there isn't even a surveillance camera?

It wasn't actually a high-security prison. It was more like a pretrial detention facility since the trial hadn't even started yet. Given how outdated that facility looked, having cameras in the solitary wing would have been a luxury. I don't think anyone expected him to upgrade the isolation cells like that.

And check IMDb

He'd be in jail, held for trial. Jails do have solitary cells, special divided cells for special suspects who are either famous or for various reasons should be separated from the rest of the inmate population. Paris Hilton, Robert Blake and O.J. Simpson were in cells like that.

"Prison" is where convicts are sent who have sentences of more than one year. There are state prisons and federal prisons. "Jail" is where suspects are held for trial and sentences of less than one year are served. They are a form of lower security incarceration than prisons. Jail is usually a county lockup, sometimes very large and holding thousands of inmates. Also, local police stations and constabularies (like sheriff's stations and marshall's headquarters) are likely to have one or more holding cells, usually for very temporary use (most likely less than 24hour periods) till the suspect or inmate can be transferred to the county lockup.

I honestly cannot believe someone is actually out here trying to defend this movie...🙄

killer movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duaiUPK195k

northernmoose26 said:I honestly cannot believe someone is actually out here trying to defend this movie...🙄

And yet, I’m sitting here stunned that there are people out there absolutely trashing it—especially those calling it "boring." It isn't boring. Not for a single second. It’s a tense, gripping thriller with an actual plot. Sure, maybe there's a bit of naivety in some parts, if you want to call it that, but hey... when you're dealing with a fractured mind after a trauma like that, anything is possible. As for the ending? People are gonna have their opinions, I guess. I personally wish it had gone a different way because I was rooting for Butler the entire time, while Foxx was just incredibly irritating to watch...

The movie is alright, though I guess it gets a bit overly bloody at times. There are some really intense scenes that might make you feel a little nauseous, like that part where he's cutting up that guy.😱I also felt like the ending was your typical Hollywood trope, where good eventually triumphs over evil.

I don't know, I can't shake the feeling that the ending isn't really about good winning out. It feels more like a grim warning—like a heads-up that you shouldn't even bother trying to take on the American legal system, because if you do, they’ll just tear you to pieces.
To me, it feels less like a classic Good vs. Evil showdown and more like this guy is just straight-up intimidating everyone.

rowdyhawk18 said:The movie is alright, though I guess it gets a bit overly bloody at times. There are some really intense scenes that might make you feel a little nauseous, like that part where he's cutting up that guy.😱I also felt like the ending was your typical Hollywood trope, where good eventually triumphs over evil.

Would you please enlighten me as to who exactly was standing on the side of good and who was on the side of evil here... 🤷
The American legal system is certainly not on the side of good... (even if there are a few decent individuals scattered within it).
☕

No legal system is ever purely on the side of what’s right, because we all know the old saying that justice is blind...

Arthur Kim74 said:No legal system is ever purely on the side of what’s right, because we all know the old saying that justice is blind...

That is precisely my point...
I wouldn't go so far as to label this a classic good versus evil story. Rather, I see it as a study of human helplessness when faced with the crushing weight of the American legal system, regardless of how much intelligence or influence an individual might actually possess...

lonelynx44 said:Honestly, I dug this movie—really liked it overall. The story hits, and the characters actually make sense—you get why they’re doing what they’re doing. My only real gripe? It lacked that psychological tension toward the end that it really needed... such a missed opportunity. But all in all, definitely worth a watch, maybe even twice. 😉 7.8/10

I second that!