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Giveaway – Win A Copy Of STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON Blu-ray/DVD

Follow the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. as they forge their anger and inner-city frustrations into the most potent weapon imaginable: their music. In Straight Outta Compton: Unrated Director’s Cut fans can follow N.W.A.’s electrifying lyrics and unique sound, which introduced a truth that no one had heard before and exposed life in the hood igniting a social revolution that still reverberates today.

The culturally relevant and explosively entertaining biopic is coming to Digital HD onJanuary 5, 2016 and Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand January 19, 2016 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray and Digital HD versions include the exclusive Unrated Director’s Cut that gives fans more of the N.W.A. story with 20 additional minutes of the film. Directed by F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job, Friday),Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of five young rebels from South Central Los Angeles who, armed with only their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent, stood up to the authorities attempting to keep them down.

With an 89% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and hailed by critics as, “an electrifying piece of hip-hop history that speaks urgently to right now,” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone), Straight Outta Compton bowed as the box office’s biggest R-rated August opening of all time and biggest musical biopic ever, grossing $60 million during its opening weekend and generating over $200 million worldwide to date.

WAMG is giving away copies of the film to celebrate the Blu-ray/DVD release.

ENTER YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW. WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF YOU ARE A WINNER.

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No purchase necessary.

Order here: http://www.amazon.com/Straight-Compton-Blu-ray-DIGITAL-Ultraviolet/dp/B013P0X16Q/ref=sr_1_2_twi_blu_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1452540757&sr=1-2&keywords=straight+outta+compton

Read WAMG’s review here.

Following the rise of the world’s most notorious group, Straight Outta Comptonfeatures breakout stars O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ice Cube), Corey Hawkins (Dr. Dre), Jason Mitchell (the late Eazy-E), Neil Brown, Jr. (DJ Yella) and Aldis Hodge (MC Ren) as members of N.W.A. and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Paul Giamatti (HBO’sJohn Adams) as the group’s manager.

As the essential companion piece to the home entertainment release, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) will release Straight Outta Compton: The Soundtrack. This new collection is the official soundtrack featuring key cuts from the film including “Quiet On Tha Set,” “Gangsta Gangsta,” “Express Yourself” and the explosive title track. In addition, Straight Outta Compton: Original Motion Picture Score will be released separately featuring music composed and conducted by Joseph Trapanese, and produced by Bryan Lawson and Joseph Trapanese. Both collections will release worldwide on all digital and CD formats on January 8, 2016, with Straight Outta Compton: The Soundtrack being pressed as a 2-LP vinyl set.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray:

DELETED SCENES
BECOMING N.W.A. – An in-depth look at how the producers and F. Gary Gray tackled the challenging task of casting these larger than life creators of gangster rap.
NEVER BEFORE SEEN PERFORMANCE

BLU-RAY and DVD BONUS FEATURES

N.W.A. THE ORIGINS – N.W.A. was a group that changed history. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, and many others talk about their start in the 80’s and where it all began.
IMPACT – An exploration of the impact N.W.A. and specifically their breakout album that changed everything.
DIRECTOR’S JOURNEY – Utilizing a large amount of stand up interviews, we follow F. Gary Gray through the streets of Comptonas he brings together the story of the founders of gangsta rap.
THE STREETS: FILMING IN COMPTON – Take a look through the lens of Director F. Gary Gray as he perfected the authentic feeling of what it was like to walk the streets of Compton.
N.W.A PERFORMS IN DETROIT – We go behind the scenes of what this performance meant to the original members of N.W.A. as they saw their lyrics spark controversy against the corruption of the police in Los Angeles, as well as the thoughts of the actors performing the song on stage for the movie.
FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/PRODUCER F. GARY GRAY

Website: http://uni.pictures/StraightOuttaCompton
Trailer: http://uni.pictures/SOCTrailer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StraightOuttaComptonMovie
Twitter: twitter.com/ComptonMovie
Instagram: https://instagram.com/OuttaComptonMovie
Hashtag: #StraightOuttaCompton

Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how five young cultural rebels – armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent – stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.

FILMMAKERS:
Cast: O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown, Jr., Aldis Hodge,Paul Giamatti
Directed By: F. Gary Gray
Screenplay By: Jonathan Herman, Andrea Berloff
Story By: S. Leigh Savidge, Alan Wenkus, Andrea Berloff
Produced By: Ice Cube, Tomica Woods-Wright, Matt Alvarez, F. Gary Gray, Scott Bernstein, Dr. Dre
Executive Produced By: Will Packer, Adam Merims, David Engel, Bill Straus, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni,
Director of Photography: Matthew Libatique, ASC
Production Designer: Shane Valentino
Edited By: Billy Fox, Michael Tronick
Music By: Joseph Trapanese

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY:
Street Date: January 19, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61165837 (US) / 61165862 (CDN)
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: R for language throughout, strong sexuality/nudity, violence, and drug use
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish DTS Surround 5.1, French DTS Surround 5.1
Run Time: 2 hours, 27 minutes (theatrical) / 2 hours, 47 minutes (unrated director’s cut)

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD
Street Date: January 19, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61165838 (US)/61165861 (CDN)
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.40:1
Rating: R for language throughout, strong sexuality/nudity, violence, and drug use
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1/Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Run Time: 2 hours, 27 minutes

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON Blu-ray/DVD Available On January 19, 2016

The culturally relevant and explosively entertaining biopic is coming to Digital HD on January 5, 2016 and Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand January 19, 2016 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray and Digital HD versions include the exclusive Unrated Director’s Cut that gives fans more of the N.W.A. story with 20 additional minutes of the film. Directed by F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job, Friday), Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of five young rebels from South Central Los Angeles who, armed with only their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent, stood up to the authorities attempting to keep them down.

Read WAMG’s review here.

Following the rise of the world’s most notorious group, Straight Outta Compton features breakout stars O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ice Cube), Corey Hawkins (Dr. Dre), Jason Mitchell (the late Eazy-E), Neil Brown, Jr. (DJ Yella) and Aldis Hodge (MC Ren) as members of N.W.A. and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Paul Giamatti (HBO’s John Adams) as the group’s manager.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray:

DELETED SCENES
BECOMING N.W.A. – An in-depth look at how the producers and F. Gary Gray tackled the challenging task of casting these larger than life creators of gangster rap.
NEVER BEFORE SEEN PERFORMANCE

BLU-RAY and DVD BONUS FEATURES

N.W.A. THE ORIGINS – N.W.A. was a group that changed history. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, and many others talk about their start in the 80’s and where it all began.
IMPACT – An exploration of the impact N.W.A. and specifically their breakout album that changed everything.
DIRECTOR’S JOURNEY – Utilizing a large amount of stand up interviews, we follow F. Gary Gray through the streets of Comptonas he brings together the story of the founders of gangsta rap.
THE STREETS: FILMING IN COMPTON – Take a look through the lens of Director F. Gary Gray as he perfected the authentic feeling of what it was like to walk the streets of Compton.
N.W.A PERFORMS IN DETROIT – We go behind the scenes of what this performance meant to the original members of N.W.A. as they saw their lyrics spark controversy against the corruption of the police in Los Angeles, as well as the thoughts of the actors performing the song on stage for the movie.
FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/PRODUCER F. GARY GRAY

FILMMAKERS:
Cast: O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown, Jr., Aldis Hodge, Paul Giamatti
Directed By: F. Gary Gray
Screenplay By: Jonathan Herman, Andrea Berloff
Story By: S. Leigh Savidge, Alan Wenkus, Andrea Berloff
Produced By: Ice Cube, Tomica Woods-Wright, Matt Alvarez, F. Gary Gray, Scott Bernstein, Dr. Dre
Executive Produced By: Will Packer, Adam Merims, David Engel, Bill Straus, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni,
Director of Photography: Matthew Libatique, ASC
Production Designer: Shane Valentino
Edited By: Billy Fox, Michael Tronick
Music By: Joseph Trapanese

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON – The Review

Simply put, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, director F. Gary Gray’s biopic of the rap group N.W.A., is nothing you thought it would be and everything you hoped it would be. And it’s been in the making for 27 years.

Based on the true story and rise to fame of members Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (taken from the name of the first and only album released by the 5 original members) is both a biopic and a coming of age story that keeps you riveted in your seat for two and half hours.

In 1987, Compton, CA was a hotbed of gangs, drugs, and a brutally corrupt LAPD. With no real voice to express their frustration and anger, drug dealer Eazy-E and local DJ Andre Young, (aka Dr. Dre) decided to start a group with neighborhood friends Ice Cube, DJ Yella, and MC Ren. What followed was a journey none of them could have predicted.

Having grown up in South Central LA, director F. Gary Gray (Friday, The Italian Job, The Negotiator) nails the whole look of the film perfectly. From the streets of Compton, to the recording studios and the sold out arenas, the film has an authenticity of that time period that is remarkable. One scene in particular, where the group is performing at local roller-skating rink immediately transports you to 1987 and characters everyone knew at some point or another in the late 80’s.

And speaking of characters, the casting is also somewhat of a stroke of genius. The three leads, O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ice Cube), Corey Hawkins (Dr. Dre) and Jason Mitchell (Eazy-E) don’t just portray these characters, they become them. You can see the camaraderie and authenticity every time they are on screen together, which is what director Gray was most insistent on getting right, having the young actors spend a huge amount of time getting to know each other and bond before a single camera rolled.

Although mostly unknown, (O’Shea Jackson Jr. is the real-life son of Ice Cube, playing his famous father) the young cast definitely did their research. And this is where the heart of the movie comes from, and it is most evident in the performance scenes (the most impressive of the film) where it absolutely just explodes. It is crystal clear in the concert scenes that these were not crowds of extras sent over by Central Casting. These were true fans that knew they were about to experience something special (not to mention a performance by the real Dr. Dre and Ice Cube at the end of filming those scenes). They brought audience participation to a whole other level. Giving the film a bit of real Hollywood “street cred” is multi-award winning actor Paul Giamatti as group manager and svengali Jerry Heller. Heller is pretty much the catalyst for everything good and bad that happens to the group, including their meteoric rise and ultimate breakup over money and egos, and Giamatti plays it with such finesse that it doesn’t come off as the cartoonish white guy. Also frighteningly present is infamous gangster and rap mogul Suge Knight (played so well by R. Marcus Taylor, you think it’s a good thing the real Knight is behind bars). Without spoiling anything, his scenes are wonderfully ironic.

What really comes across as the most moving though, is the real, honest friendship between the members of N.W.A. Obviously, some have become more successful than others (Beats by Dre, anyone?) and Ice Cube became a huge movie star along the way, but the journey is theirs and theirs alone to tell. The love, the pain, the fights, the dis tracks and the triumph – it’s all on full display and fans will lap it up. And not just fans of N.W.A. This film is for fans of hip-hop, rap music, and all of these larger than life characters that all came straight outta Compton.

5 out of 5 stars

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON opens Friday, August 14

O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, And F. Gary Gray At The STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON Press Conference

In one week from today, the extraordinary film, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, opens in theaters.

In 1987, five young men, five young men—Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren – using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music.

Taking us back to where it all began, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON tells the true story of how these cultural rebels—armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent—stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A.

And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today. (Trailer)

On Sunday, WAMG attended the press conference for STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, the new biopic from director F. Gary Gray (FRIDAY, THE ITALIAN JOB) about the rise and fall of rap group N.W.A.

Joining Gray were the film’s young cast Corey Hawkins (Dr. Dre), Jason Mitchell (Easy-E) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ice Cube), as well as original N.W.A members Ice Cube and DJ Yella.

The film so far has been well received by critics and fans at early screenings, and Sunday’s conversation with the filmmakers and cast provided a great look inside what it took to bring this story to the big screen.

From the perspective of the actors, these were intimidating “roles of a lifetime” and they spent a lot of time preparing for their performances. Said director Gray, “not only did I have these guys spend time getting to know each other and bonding, I also had them go into the studio and actually record the entire Straight Outta Compton album. I wanted the story and the music to become part of them – we needed that authenticity.”

As for how the young actors prepared, they each had their own methods. O’Shea Jackson Jr. is the real life son of Ice Cube, but grew up with the solo career of his famous father. “I didn’t grow up with the N.W.A. Ice Cube, so I really knew nothing about that part of his life. I did a lot if research and watched a lot of old N.W.A. videos and interviews to study his style and mannerisms back then.” In speaking to Dr. Dre, Corey Hawkins got the advice “don’t worry about looking like me or sounding like me. There are tons of guys who look and sound like me. Just play the role and feel it. Then you will look like me and sound like me.” The preparation was a bit different for Jason Mitchell. “Because Easy-E is no longer with us, I couldn’t get that direct feedback. I was constantly watching videos of him to get it right.” As it turned out, as soon as Mitchell stepped in front of the camera, he was so spot-on that many told him it was as if they were seeing a ghost – “for me, that was the highest compliment and it meant so much to me.”

In a brief conversation I had with director Gray, I was dying to ask him about the film’s obvious villain, Suge Knight and the irony of where he is now and where they are now. “We shot the movie over a year ago, and at that time, we had no idea how things were going to turn out.” (Suge Knight is currently facing a very long prison term for violent crimes he has committed and is completely bankrupt.)

While friendship, talent and ambition brought these five guys together, the greed that can so easily accompany fast money ultimately tore them apart.

The anniversary of the album ‘Straight Outta Compton’ is August 8th.

Almost 20 years later, the friendship among N.W.A has been repaired and is stronger than ever, which was more than evident throughout the filmmaking. The accomplishments and legacy of the group were celebrated daily, as Cube, Dre, Yella and Ren remembered their time together so many years ago with Eazy-E.

“The film looks back at the record and it’s a piece of art. It’s okay to love the movie and still have a problem with the group. We’ve been in the business and doing films for 20 years and to deliver this kind of movie shows a different creative level – it’s all about being real,” commented Ice-Cube.

Dr. Dre said, “N.W.A was a perfect starting point for all of us to meet and to be able to collaborate. It is the root of this incredible tree of life. For me, it’s all about inspiration. I was having a conversation with Cube recently about how this filmmaking process has inspired me to return to the studio. I want to get back to the core of what I love to do. Everything about me is music-based, even the headphones. In retrospect, I wouldn’t change anything, the bad or the good.”

See STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON in theaters August 14.

New Images And Clip From F. Gary Gray’s STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON; “Compton: A Soundtrack” Available August 7th

(Clockwise from top left) DJ YELLA, ICE CUBE, MC Ren, DR. DRE, COREY HAWKINS as Dr. Dre, ALDIS HODGE as MC Ren, JASON MITCHELL as Eazy-E, O’SHEA JACKSON, JR. as Ice Cube and NEIL BROWN, JR. as DJ Yella on the set of STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON.

Universal Pictures has released a new featurette, clip and photos for F. Gary Gray’s STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON.

Taking us back to where it all began, the film tells the true story of how these cultural rebels – armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent – stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A.

(IMDB)

Come back later this week for my look at Sunday’s Hollywood press conference and hear what O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Ice Cube and F. Gary Gray had to say about the film.

Enter the St. Louis screening contest HERE.

The STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON behind-the-scenes creative team is led by director of photography Matthew Libatique (Black Swan, Iron Man 2), production designer Shane Valentino (Beginners, HBO’s The Normal Heart), editor Billy Fox (Hustle & Flow, Four Brothers), and costume designer Kelli Jones (TV’s Sons of Anarchy, Homefront).

The score is from composer Joseph Trapanese (Oblivion, The Raid 2).

(L to R) Producer DR. DRE, director/producer F. GARY GRAY and producer ICE CUBE

As with any movie so deeply rooted in sound, the filmmakers were faced with weighing their options when attempting to accurately capture the music. For director Gray and the other producers, it was perhaps even more difficult when it came to winnowing down the selections and capturing the singular sound of the N.W.A catalogue.

Ultimately, they wanted to celebrate the radical music of N.W.A, and in doing so it was essential that they nail the original tracks as realistically as possible. Would the actors who best fit the roles creatively have the musical chops to sound like the group?

Would music supervisor Jojo Villanueva (American Reunion, Black or White), along with music producer Harvey Mason, Jr. (The Help, Dreamgirls) need to digitally enhance cast vocals, or would the actors be able to perform and record their own vocals and lay them over the original tracks?

N.W.A’s vocals are all unique, and of course none of the team wanted to diminish their essence.

Early on, Villanueva and Mason ascertained that most of the cast, with some vocal coaching, would be able to pull off the demands of re-creating the majority of the “Straight Outta Compton” album, as well as music from Eazy-E, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre’s solo recordings. In some instances cast vocals would be blended with the real vocals to create a balanced hybrid.

Compton: A Soundtrack will be released on August 7th only on iTunes and Apple Music.

Pre-order HERE.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON hits theaters on August 14

http://www.straightouttacompton.com/

Check Out The New TV Spot For F. Gary Gray’s STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

Universal Pictures has released a new TV spot for F. Gary Gray’s STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON.

One the most highly anticipated films of 2015, this movie is guaranteed to be huge with fans and at the box office.

Read The Hollywood Reporter’s in-depth article HERE. Of their fame, Dr. Dre says, “We were just trying to entertain our neighborhood, just us trying to be hood stars,” he says. “It just became something that was much, much bigger than we ever thought, than I ever imagined.”

Watch this behind the scenes look at the making of the film.

In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music.

Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels – armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent – stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON stars O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, and is directed by F. Gary Gray (Friday, Set It Off, The Italian Job).

The drama is produced by original N.W.A members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, who are joined by fellow producers Tomica Woods-Wright, Matt Alvarez, Gray and Scott Bernstein. Will Packer serves as executive producer of the film alongside Adam Merims, David Engel, Bill Straus, Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON hits theaters on August 14.

http://www.straightouttacompton.com/

Dr. Dre & Ice Cube Introduce STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON Red Band Trailer; New Poster

Watch the new STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON red band trailer with an introduction from Dr. Dre and Ice Cube.

Plus check out the new poster and photos.

In the mid-1980s, the streets of Compton, California, were some of the most dangerous in the country. When five young men translated their experiences growing up into brutally honest music that rebelled against abusive authority, they gave an explosive voice to a silenced generation.

Following the meteoric rise and fall of N.W.A., STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON tells the astonishing story of how these youngsters revolutionized music and pop culture forever the moment they told the world the truth about life in the hood and ignited a cultural war.

Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON is directed by F. Gary Gray (Friday, Set It Off, The Italian Job). The film also features Paul Giamatti as Jerry Heller who is best known for managing west coast rap super-group and gangster rap pioneers N.W.A and Eazy E. He, along with Eazy E., were co-Founders of Ruthless Records.

The drama is produced by original N.W.A. members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, who are joined by fellow producers Matt Alvarez and Tomica Woods-Wright. Will Packer serves as executive producer of the film alongside Gray.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON hits theaters August 14.

Visit the official site: www.straightouttacompton.com

https://twitter.com/ComptonMovie

https://www.facebook.com/StraightOuttaComptonMovie

http://instagram.com/outtacomptonmovie

http://straightouttacomptonmovie.tumblr.com/

First Look Photo From F. Gary Gray’s STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

Credit: Todd MacMillan/Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures has released this first look photo from STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON. Count on this to be the sleeper hit of next summer!

Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ice Cube’s son – thus the uncanny resemblance), Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON is directed by F. Gary Gray (Friday, Set It Off, The Italian Job).

Following the meteoric rise and fall of N.W.A., STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON tells the astonishing story of how these youngsters revolutionized music and pop culture forever the moment they told the world the truth about life in the hood and ignited a cultural war.

Universal Pictures will release STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON on Friday, August 14, 2015.

Pictured: (clockwise, from top left): producer ICE CUBE, director F. GARY GRAY, producer DR. DRE, COREY HAWKINS (Dr. Dre), JASON MITCHELL (Eazy-E) and O’SHEA JACKSON JR. (Ice Cube).

Review: LAW ABIDING CITIZEN

Have you ever felt slighted by the law? Felt like justice wasn’t served, or that the law was working more in their own favor than in yours? This is the underlying theme, the philosophical question at hand, which runs throughout LAW ABIDING CITIZEN. This is a movie whose title I felt was lacking, until I saw the film and it made more sense.

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN is a smart, tense thriller that keeps the audience at the edge of their seats and keeps us guessing. Not since FRACTURE, starring Anthony Hopkins, have I felt this engrossed by a legal cat-and-mouse thriller. The story makes it difficult to fully take one side or the other, painting the ambiguous nature of our imperfect legal system in endless shades of gray.

The movie was directed by F. Gary Gray (FRIDAY, A MAN APART, BE COOL) and opens with a teeth-clenching down note that inspires anger and sympathy towards the Clyde’s situation immediately. The main character, Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler), is spending an evening at home with his wife and daughter when unexpected company arrives and in a matter of moments, destroys everything Clyde had to live for.

With Clyde’s family dead, he relies on prosecutor Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) to make the justice system work and give him some tiny bit of closure in the matter, but what he finds instead is proof of just how corrupt the system is when Nick makes a deal with the man who killed his family, granting him a relatively easy 3-5 years in prison on a charge of third-degree murder in exchange for testifying against his partner.

Flash forward ten years, Nick Rice has moved on to a bigger, brighter career as a prosecutor with a 96% conviction rate, but when the man sent to death row for the murder of Clyde’s family receives his lethal injection, what is supposed to be a painless, human death sentence becomes a brutally vivid display of excruciating pain. This sparks an investigation of who could have sabotaged the system. What Nick Cave and everyone involved with Clyde’s case soon realize, is that they’ve just become pieces of an elaborate statement by Clyde Shelton, a lesson is ethics and morals and the lack thereof within the legal system.

What I’ve discovered is that Gerard Butler (300, ROCKNROLLA) is rapidly becoming a new favorite actor of mine. No, not because of his ridiculously intimidating abs, but because he always brings a depth to his roles that would otherwise feel shallow and superficial. Butler conveys the mixed emotions, troubled conscience and the passionate drive of Clyde to make his point powerfully evident and convincing. We understand why Clyde is doing what he does in the film, even empathize with him a bit, but we also realize that he’s crossing all kinds of lines in doing so, making him a character who straddles the line of good and evil, right and wrong, just and unjust.

Jamie Foxx (RAY, THE SOLOIST) once again delivers an acceptable performance, generally on par with his previous dramatic outings, but still fails to connect with me as a A-list thespian. Foxx certainly strives to deliver, that’s evident, but I have yet to see a performance from him that actually feels genuine rather than a actor trying too hard. The delicate art of making a performance look natural and believable still eludes Jamie Foxx, but he certainly deserves credit for the effort given.

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN is primarily a squaring off between Nick Cave and Clyde Shelton, both of whom are trying to prove the other wrong, steadfast in their beliefs and convictions while also struggling internally with their own decisions. This is a dog fight and the arena is the legal system. It’s a deadly game of chess whereas Clyde is the master of the game, toying with Nick Rice as he attempts to piece together the puzzle of how Clyde is able to accomplish his devastating agenda from behind bars.

A few familiar faces show up in the film’s supporting cast, including Colm Meaney (STAR TREK: DSN, LAYER CAKE) as Detective Dunnigan, Bruce McGill (CINDERELLA MAN, VANTAGE POINT) as District Attorney Jonas Cantrell and Viola Davis (DISTURBIA, DOUBT) as the Mayor of Philadelphia. LAW ABIDING CITIZEN was written by Kurt Wimmer, something of a veteran of the action-thriller genre, adding this to his list of screenplays including SPHERE, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, EQUILIBRIUM and THE RECRUIT.

Speaking of action, the film has it’s share but isn’t driven by it, instead focusing on the mental game. This well-written story culminates with a climactic ending that is refreshing and original, if not mostly unpredictable. The suspense, the tension and the mystery of revealing Clyde’s methods are what make LAW ABIDING CITIZEN such an enjoyable movie and potentially one of the most widely satisfying box office offerings this year. The film is accessible to all audiences and has the makings of a sure-fire financial hit.

Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler are ‘Law Abiding Citizen’s

F. Gary Gray, the director of the upcoming thriller, ‘Law Abiding Citizen,’ has released these two poster on his Twitter page. It’s not that big of a deal to do character posters for your film when you only have two, major stars on board. Something tells me we’re not goin to be getting one of these for Colm Meaney or Bruce McGill, although Bruce McGill on a poster is long overdue.

‘Law Abiding Citizen’ stars Gerard Butler as a family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered. Jamie Foxx plays the young prosecutor who works a deal to get the killers a lighter sentence. Years later, Butler’s character devises a plot to either kill key players in the trial or have the legal system fixed. It is up to the prosecutor to put an end to the killings.

The idea isn’t groundbreaking. There are numerous movies about lawyers or judges being terrorized by someone who was wronged by the flawed legal system. ‘Cape Fear’ is probably the most notable. However, with these two stars driving the suspense, ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ could be one step ahead all the others.

It is set for release on October 16th.

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5 out of 5 stars

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STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON hits theaters on August 14

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