'Can't fight fate.........'

Rating: 7/10 (13 April 2010)

A brilliant man orchestrates a series of high-profile murders that grip the city of Philadelphia - all from inside his jail cell.
The prosecutor assigned to his case realises he is the only one who can end the reign of terror...
If you can forgive all the blatant plot holes and the really silly story and daft narration, this is a fun film to watch.
Butler is good as the good/bad guy (depending on how you feel), and parents will definitely feel empathy with his loss. It's a typical Hollywood movie, with good camera-work, good acting, red herrings, but gaping plot holes.
Foxx seems a little miscast as the councillor, and i feel that someone a little older would have benefited from the role. And the ten years later stint is hilarious, as the only thing that has changed is Foxx's house, and he has a bit of a beard.
Butler is the star though here, usually playing the 'proper' good guy in other films, it's nice to see he has a little nasty side to him, regardless of how silly his hi-jinks are.
Cars blow up, people get shot, and you can more or less guess who will be the next to die by what they say prior to their death.
it's the kind of film you watch and enjoy immensely during the running time, but then after the film has finished, you wonder why you enjoyed it so much, and question the realism of the film and the probability of how much of the film is believable.
But it's a jolly good film, and not since Falling Down, have i rooted so much for the 'bad' guy.
Forgettable, but enjoyable.