Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

In between directing the heist flick The Italian Job (2003), the urban biopic Straight Outta Compton (2015) and the Vin Diesel/Dwayne Johnson blockbuster The Fate of the Furious (2017), F. Gary Gray whipped out the thriller Law Abiding Citizen (2009). This too was a box office hit even if it was a critical miss. But who cares about them when the movie stars Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler! The plot begins when an experienced engineer named Clyde Shelton (Butler) watches his family brutally murdered by two home invaders (Christian Stolte and Josh Stewart). Instead of finding retribution through Philadelphia’s judicial system, Shelton witnesses legal loopholes that set one killer free after a few years and sentences the other to death. Ten years later, something goes awry during the execution which causes the condemned to endure extra pain. Assistant DA Nick Rice (Foxx) immediately suspects a vengeance-seeking Shelton is behind this, and the chase is on. Will Nick receive help from his wife Kelly (Regina Hall), his assistant Sarah Lowell (Leslie Bibb), or Incumbent Mayor April Henry (Viola Davis)? You’ll have to watch this gritty crime drama to know. Of course, the more skinificant question is: Does the movie provide any male nudity? While there’s not a lot of opportunities for sexy scenes, Mr. Butler bares his manly chest 31 minutes into the flick. Better yet, he strips down and drops to his knees, revealing his rump in the process. Obviously, Mr. Man’s sex pistol will be held against Gerard in his dreams!