Clyde Shelton feels the justice and accepts his own punishment

Rating: 8/10 (5 January 2010)

I have a lot of comments and only one question: How the hell did Kurt Wimmer's screenplay end up in the hands of F. Gary Gray?
Being an attorney myself, I understand the legal system and the often complex ways of justice. Anyway, when it comes to settlements with the ones who admit committing serious crimes, I absolutely share the resentment of ordinary people. There is no point in justice if the criminal is running free and only the one who should have prosecuted him understands why.
This movie was to be about all of it and more. Much more But then it ended up in the hands of Mr. F. Gary Gray and became only a great music video with the good looking people and massive, expensive scenes of explosions. Dammit, where was, for instance, David Fincher when this screenplay was on the table? Even a pale copy of the directing done in "Se7en" would have been satisfactory.
And how about casting? I'm sorry, but Jamie Foxx, Butler? I loved "Ray" and "300" but that's obviously the limit for these two guys. My God, I swear, this one deserves Denzel or Morgan Freeman and Mickey Rourke, at least! I believe it would even be paid off more than these two guys. Anyway, since the producer of the movie was also Kurt Wimmer, I presume the financial difficulties forced him to do only a glamorous video in order to drag all kind if people into the cinemas and probably, as he thought at the time, to save some money on the casts and the directorI have no other reasonable explanations for these enormous flaws comparing to the essence of the issue hit in the topic.
Anyway, it is how it is. The movie has some shocking scenes, as it should be, to support the power of the characters, of course. The idea of the magnificent ending (instead of poor one, as most of the people unfortunately understood due to a pathetic directing) was the peace of mind Clyde Shelton finally found. He was aware, from the very beginning of the preparations, that he would not enjoy the fruits of his actions in freedom and wealth. He understands his flaw, but he only wasn't expecting to be caught before it's time. Anyway, when the moment came and he saw the change in Nick Rice, he was ready. That's when Butler decided to smile before he set his Clyde back on the solitaire bench expecting his punishment. I loved him for that! To make the long story short, the system should serve to the people and make them safe, not otherwise.
Clyde Shelton made his point, felt the justice and accepted his own punishment.