‘Law Abiding Citizen’ – pro-torture polemic?

The officers trying to bring down the vigilante in “Law Abiding System” will try anything to stop the man’s rampage.

Even if it leaves his civil rights trampled in the process.

Audiences are used to films echoing the industry’s ideological viewpoint, be it courtesy of Michael Moore or the latest confection for the kiddies.

But it’s odd to see a mainstream movie take a stance that might have Rush Limbaugh cheering in the aisle.

In “Citizen,” which opens today, several sequences appear straight out of the “24″ playbook.

One of the supposed good guys chasing the vigilante in question (Gerard Butler) exclaims of his prey,  “F&*$ his civil rights,” while a colleague mutters, “yeah” in response.

Later, the mayor chimes in about the effort to stop Butler’s character from striking again.

“I don’t care what kind of laws we have to bend,” she says.

The generally chaotic storyline means it’s not wise to draw too much from these moments. But should the movie strike a nerve with the public it could give screenwriters more wiggle room the next time they bang out an action thriller.

(Photo: Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx star in Overture Films´ “Law Abiding Citizen.” Photo Credit: John Baer © 2009 LAC Films, LLC. All Rights Reserved)

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