Reel Critics:

Director F. Gary Gray established his action-flick chops in “The Italian Job.” In “Law Abiding Citizen,” he has Jamie Foxx starring in a valiant effort to recapture the dramatic star credentials he demonstrated in “Collateral” with Tom Cruise in 2004. This new film is a gritty police thriller with gruesome crimes reminiscent of those in “Seven” and similar movies.

Foxx takes on a role similar to Morgan Freeman’s in “Seven” as he tries to figure out a serial killer’s next move. Gerard Butler gives a focused performance as the dangerous man at the center of the investigation. His thirst for revenge following the murder of his wife and child drives every aspect of the story.

His advanced training in CIA shadow operations complicates the situation. The violent deaths of many law enforcement officials add to the increasing tension. The quality acting, screenplay and slick production values are worth noting. But the logical beginnings give way to an increasingly implausible end game that propels this harsh story into the realm of the impossible.

‘Wild Things Are’ goes darker than the book

Call me crazy, but I remember “Where the Wild Things Are” as a delightful children’s book.

So imagine my surprise when I saw Spike Jonze’s melancholic, if visually stunning, film adaptation. It was just a lonely little boy and a bunch of huge hairy beasts kvetching about their lives. I thought perhaps Woody Allen had decided to make a Muppet movie.

Little Max (sweet-faced Max Records) has energy and imagination to spare, but if he feels his mom or sister aren’t giving him proper attention, he goes into “wild thing” mode. After a nasty episode with his mother, Max runs away and finds himself in a strangely beautiful land with some odd, neurotic creatures. To avoid being eaten, Max convinces them he is their king.

Their ruckus ends almost as soon as it begins. Max makes a mess of things with his new friends, and realizes perhaps there really is no place like home. Strangely, we don’t really care. I guess we’re not in Kansas anymore.

The beasts are wonderfully voiced by the likes of James Gandolfini (Carol), Catherine O’Hara (Judith) and Forest Whitaker (Ira), among others.

It is only Catherine Keener, as Max’s mother, who grounds the movie with haunting eyes that tug at our heartstrings.

JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a financial services company.