Review: Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Law Abiding Citizen is a tense, gripping thriller that explores the complex themes of justice, revenge, and morality. Directed by F. Gary Gray, this film keeps you on the edge of your seat with its unpredictable twists and morally ambiguous characters. While it may not break new ground in terms of its narrative, it delivers a potent mix of action, suspense, and philosophical inquiry that makes it stand out in the genre.

The film follows Clyde Shelton (played by Gerard Butler), a man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When one of the killers, a young and dangerous man named Darby (Christian Stolte), is given a plea deal by the legal system, Clyde is left outraged by the failure of justice. Seeking to take matters into his own hands, he begins to systematically exact vengeance on those responsible—not only the criminals involved but also the very legal system he once trusted.

Gerard Butler delivers an intense, captivating performance as Clyde Shelton. While he is often ᴀssociated with action roles, Butler’s portrayal of a grieving father turned cold-blooded vigilante is layered with emotion. His character’s journey from victim to relentless avenger is both tragic and fascinating, raising uncomfortable questions about justice and revenge. Clyde is not a simple hero or villain; he is a man who blurs the lines between right and wrong, forcing the audience to question the nature of punishment.

Jamie Foxx plays Nick Rice, a prosecutor caught in the moral quagmire of Clyde’s campaign for justice. Foxx’s performance is strong, portraying a man torn between the legal system’s constraints and his desire to protect his family and colleagues. His relationship with Clyde forms the core dynamic of the film, with both characters constantly pushing and pulling against each other as the stakes grow higher. The back-and-forth between Butler and Foxx provides a riveting, emotional tug-of-war that drives much of the film’s tension.

The pacing of Law Abiding Citizen is relentless. From the moment Clyde begins his one-man crusade, the tension never lets up. The film keeps the audience on its toes, mixing shocking twists, violent confrontations, and philosophical debates about the true meaning of justice. While it’s easy to dismiss Clyde’s methods as extreme, the film does an excellent job of showing how the legal system’s failures can push an ordinary man to the edge, making his increasingly violent actions feel somewhat justified—if only in the context of his grief and rage.

The action scenes are brutal and visceral, and the film doesn’t shy away from showing the true cost of Clyde’s revenge. The violence, while graphic, is always purposeful and drives home the stakes of the story. The film’s direction ensures that each set-piece is not only exciting but also emotionally charged, with every death or confrontation carrying significant weight.

The film’s biggest strength, however, lies in its exploration of the limits of justice. It raises important questions about how far someone should go to achieve retribution, especially when the systems designed to protect the innocent seem to fail them. The philosophical undertones are woven throughout the narrative, making it more than just a revenge thriller. It’s a commentary on the flaws within the legal system, the corruptibility of those in power, and the fine line between justice and vengeance.

While Law Abiding Citizen excels in creating suspense and action, there are moments when its plot becomes a bit far-fetched, particularly in the latter half of the film. Some of Clyde’s plans seem overly elaborate and improbable, even for a man who’s as meticulous and resourceful as he is. Additionally, while the film explores the idea of justice in great depth, some of the characters and their motivations remain underdeveloped, which detracts slightly from the emotional payoff.

In conclusion, Law Abiding Citizen is a thrilling, high-octane film that will keep you questioning right and wrong until the very end. Gerard Butler’s powerhouse performance and the morally complex storyline make it an engaging experience that explores the darker side of justice. While it’s not without its flaws, this film is a gripping ride that will resonate with anyone who’s ever wondered about the limits of the law and the consequences of taking justice into your own hands.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.