Description:
Peter Krause (Six Feet Under) uses his everyman good looks to subversive effect in Civic Duty, an effective little thriller. Recently fired accountant Terry Allen (Krause) grows increasingly suspicious of his new neighbor, an Islamic student (Egyptian star Khaled Abol Naga) who keeps late hours. Allen's wife Marla (Kari Matchett, 24) believes he's being paranoid and their relationship crumbles under the pressure, which only leads Allen to obsess all the more about this possible terrorist--until he finally acts on his suspicions. As the confrontation escalates out of his control, Allen is forced deeper into a corner he never ant
Peter Krause (Six Feet Under) uses his everyman good looks to subversive effect in Civic Duty, an effective little thriller. Recently fired accountant Terry Allen (Krause) grows increasingly suspicious of his new neighbor, an Islamic student (Egyptian star Khaled Abol Naga) who keeps late hours. Allen's wife Marla (Kari Matchett, 24) believes he's being paranoid and their relationship crumbles under the pressure, which only leads Allen to obsess all the more about this possible terrorist--until he finally acts on his suspicions. As the confrontation escalates out of his control, Allen is forced deeper into a corner he never anticipated. Civic Duty is a lean, sinewy movie, making the most of its concise storyline and claustrophobic setting. Though the director tries perhaps a little too hard to insert some visual flash, this is essentially and actor's showcase. Krause, though not always the most expressive performer, does a good job of drawing the audience into his increasingly untrustworthy consciousness. Matchett and Naga turn in solid work, while Richard Schiff (The West Wing) is particularly strong as a doubtful FBI agent that Allen contacts. Civic Duty is more interested in psychology (and cinematic suspense) than politics, but it delves just enough into the issues around terrorism--What do we lose in the pursuit of security? What might drive a terrorist to such horrific acts? How do we fight violence without being consumed by it ourselves?--to give the movie some heft, something for an audience to chew on when it leaves. --Bret Fetzer
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