An especially tense moment from "Law Abiding Citizen" copyright 2009 LAC Films, LLC All Rights Reserved
Let me start out by saying-you need to see Overture Films Law Abiding Citizen! Why you say? Apart from the super talented cast-devilishly handsome Gerard Butler as a tormented father looking for somebody to do the right thing, Jamie Foxx as a jaded District Attorney more interested in numbers and reputation than following his heart, Satan incarnate played by Christian Stolte who makes Hannibal Lecter look like a cuddly teddy bear, and the always riveting Viola Davis acting as the unrelenting, tough as nails mayor of Philadelphia, a city brought to its knees by the most unlikeliest of characters-a man already behind bars with the brain of a genius and the determination and means to teach each and every person who has wronged him and his murdered family the lesson of their lives. Sound heavy? It absolutely is, but it is orchestrated so well under the dramatic, intense direction of F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job), you will be shocked at the twists and turns to say the very least. Imagine a piece of steak or a telephone used as a deadly weapon. Jamie Foxx proclaimed that with Law Abiding Citizen he had hopes that it would “kick society in the balls with a steal toe shoe.” In fact, composer of the film Brian Tyler (Final Destination, Eagle Eye, and the upcoming Red Dawn) had an interesting challenge on this job, mentioning to me that he had to “resuscitate the audience” with the score after particularly gripping scenes, in which this movie isn’t lacking.
The cast & crew of "Law Abiding Citizen" at the Los Angeles premiere
At the Grauman’s Chinese Theater premiere in Hollywood last night, I caught up with one of my favorite Red Carpet designers, David Meister, and his partner Alan Siegel who is a producer on the movie along with Butler (who maintains that the message is, “standing up for yourself instead of always playing by the rules”) and relayed to me that Butler’s “knowledge of script is unbelievable and he is one of the smartest men I know,” (side note-Gerard has a law degree from Glasgow University in Scotland).
Viola Davis in David Meister image: Dave Edwards
Dynamic David dressed star Viola Davis on the Red Carpet last night in one of his sexy hot pink numbers, saying, “her body rocks!” He and I both agreed the movie was jarring and that the “Oh F@#K!” moment was the telephone scene (can’t say anymore-sorry!) and he wickedly laughed, “I can’t wait for everyone to see that scene!” Vicious villain, Christian Stolte, shared with me that Gerard “took a beating with a baseball bat” during one of their violent encounters in the flick and that he was able to embody pure evil by “shedding the things that make us human. Nobody matters but me and my immediate needs.” Look for him next in the remake of Nightmare on Elm Street. I think that director F. Gary Gray (one of his favorite moments is the telephone scene too!) summed up the thriller best when he pointed out, “We worked hard to deliver a great chess game, something that keeps the audience guessing.” That it does for sure!
Law Abiding Citizen will be released nationwide on Friday, October 16th 2009 by Overture Films.
Red Carpet Roxy on the Red Carpet at the "Law Abiding Citizen" premiere
