Post by KNOWTHIS on May 4, 2007 6:20:32 GMT -5
www.nj.com/entertainment/ledger/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1178252773215340.xml&coll=1
Taking liberties, post-9/11 style, in culture of fear
Taking liberties, post-9/11 style, in culture of fear
"Civic Duty" offers counter-programming to popcorn fare. The suspenseful film follows an unemployed accountant, Terry (Peter Krause), who obsessively monitors his Muslim neighbor, convinced he's a terrorist.
Topical yet flawed, the movie examines the climate of fear and paranoia that continues to exist more than five years after 9/11. It shows us how civil liberties are compromised in an environment where everyone is asked to be on watch for suspicious behavior.
The film's delusional hero racially profiles his neighbor, Gabe (Khaled Abol Naga), watching him around the clock through a window and tailing his car when he runs errands. Terry's concerns are heightened as he observes Gabe taking out trash at odd hours and collecting large quantities of ATM deposit envelopes. When he calls the FBI with a tip, the investigator (Richard Schiff) humors him, assuring him that he'll look into it, but that it's not a high priority since there's no evidence of imminent danger.
Terry grows so frustrated with the lack of response, he decides to confront Gabe himself. He breaks into his neighbor's apartment, demanding a confession at gunpoint, torturing a man who may have done nothing wrong. It's a case of role reversal, as Terry acts like a terrorist himself in this situation. But the audience still has to wonder whether Gabe's telling the truth when he claims that he's just a grad student studying chemistry.
"Civic Duty" is directed by Jeff Renfroe, whose tech savvy indie thriller "One Point O" won acclaim on the festival circuit. Here, he creates a movie that's like the flip side of "24," depicting a wannabe secret agent who thinks he's serving his country when all he's doing is wrecking his life.
Topical yet flawed, the movie examines the climate of fear and paranoia that continues to exist more than five years after 9/11. It shows us how civil liberties are compromised in an environment where everyone is asked to be on watch for suspicious behavior.
The film's delusional hero racially profiles his neighbor, Gabe (Khaled Abol Naga), watching him around the clock through a window and tailing his car when he runs errands. Terry's concerns are heightened as he observes Gabe taking out trash at odd hours and collecting large quantities of ATM deposit envelopes. When he calls the FBI with a tip, the investigator (Richard Schiff) humors him, assuring him that he'll look into it, but that it's not a high priority since there's no evidence of imminent danger.
Terry grows so frustrated with the lack of response, he decides to confront Gabe himself. He breaks into his neighbor's apartment, demanding a confession at gunpoint, torturing a man who may have done nothing wrong. It's a case of role reversal, as Terry acts like a terrorist himself in this situation. But the audience still has to wonder whether Gabe's telling the truth when he claims that he's just a grad student studying chemistry.
"Civic Duty" is directed by Jeff Renfroe, whose tech savvy indie thriller "One Point O" won acclaim on the festival circuit. Here, he creates a movie that's like the flip side of "24," depicting a wannabe secret agent who thinks he's serving his country when all he's doing is wrecking his life.