It’s a good thing one man revenge stories are in these days (see amnesiac hitmans and Jigsaws for reference), because this schlocky, overwrought, sloppy, patronizing, unintelligent, non-factual, blood-soaked, wrong-sided bastardization of a film will (and already has) made a killing at the box office (pun only halfway intended).
All this critic wanted upon entering the theater Friday night, having paid my $8.75 to see F. Gary Gray’s latest, Law Abiding Citizen, a Blacklist screenplay from Kurt Wimmer, was something fun even if it was a little silly. After all, the film’s been brewing for a few years now, with talent the likes of Frank Darabount attached at one point or another.
Law Abiding Citizen is a preposterous and lucrative revenge story filled with nonstop cliches. There is nothing more than a generic story and pure cheesiness, and yet it still maintains it’s fun garbage tone. It does cross the point of genuine badness at times, but counters with moments of pure excitement. This isn’t a particularly good film and is even downright cringeworthy during certain moments, but even those moments are fun due to their ridiculousness.
Earlier today Collider spoke with director F. Gary Gray about his new film Law Abiding Citizen starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler that is set to hit theaters Oct. 16th. During the interview they asked Gray for an update on the sequel to his 2003 critically acclaimed and box-office smash The Italian Job. Gray stated the following:
Question: Do you think there is ever going to be a sequel to “The Italian Job”?
F. Gary Gray:Let’s hope so.
That’s a nice diplomatic answer. Cause there have been rumors for years that there would be a sequel. So do you think too much time has passed or is it a project that you’re like I did it and I’m going to do something else.
Gray: You know I’d love it if they were to come up with a concept that tops the first movie. That’s the goal, to make sure that whatever the sequel is that it’s as inventive, as creative as the original….if not better. That’s where all the energy is being spent, making sure you don’t do a sequel for the sake of doing a sequel. You want to make sure you top it.
So just to clarify, there is not really anything shaking on the project right now…it’s sort of a big maybe.
Gray: There’s little things happening here and there, but nothing I can get specific about.
So for now there isn’t going to be a sequel. I am a bit saddened by this since The Italian Job is not only one of my favorite remakes of all time but also just one of my favorite movies to watch at any given moment. I’ve been wanting a sequel since 2003 and I just hope Paramount find the time (and money) to deliver one.
Entertainment Tonight has released the trailer for F. Gary Gray’s latest film Law Abiding Citizen. The film stars Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler. It is “a thriller about a brilliant sociopath who orchestrates a series of high-profile murders that grip the city of Philadelphia – all from inside his jail cell – and the prosecutor assigned to his case who realizes he is the only one who can end the reign of terror.”
![[Review] Law Abiding Citizen](http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/themes/amnesiac-dev/amnesiac/thumb.php?src=http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/law_abiding_citizen_poster.jpg&h=57&w=100&zc=1&q=80)
