Lollivan
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
Lidia Draper
Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.
Guillelmina
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Chrysanthepop
Peter Krause acts in and produces 'Civic Duty'. Krause has been an actor I have always admired, mostly for the choices he's made in film and television and with 'Civic Duty' he takes a bigger risk in producing a movie that is vulnerable in a hit and miss situation. Basically, it's the kind of movie that either people will like or hate. For me, it's an interesting take on a delusional man suffering from a severe form of paranoia. The film is very engaging right from the beginning even though it starts off a little slow as the tension gradually builds up. I was afraid that it would follow the route of movies like 'Falling Down' or 'The Assassination of Nixon' but thankfully not. The soundtrack is brilliant. Krause is awesome as the delusional Terry Allen. This is further proof of what a versatile actor he is. Krause is excellently supported by a charming Kari Matchett, a sincere Khaled Abol Naga and a no-nonsense Richard Schiff (although this kind of role is hardly anything new for Schiff). The editing is tight but I just wish there was more back story to Terry Allen, something that would indicate why or how he had become so ill. Clearly he wasn't like this before. Nonetheless, 'Civic Duty' (ironic title) is still a well-made and interesting character driven film.
Lechuguilla
Peter Krause plays Terry Allen, a laid-off accountant with time on his hands. As he updates his resume he becomes obsessed with the new tenant who has moved into an apartment across the courtyard, a man of Middle Eastern origin, whose behavior seems suspicious to Allen. Of course, Allen is one of these people who never learned that there is nothing more deceptive than superficial appearances.The real basis of Allen's obsession is television "news", which he constantly has on, blaring out scary headlines and hints of "terror". Allen's wife Marla (well played by Kari Matchett) tries to be the voice of reason. But she is no match for the nonstop fear message coming from the boob tube. And the more Allen connects the TV message to the suspicious stranger, the more paranoid and irrational Allen becomes.It's a highly relevant story, one wherein Allen represents many gullible Americans who take at face value everything they hear on TV. In the real world, most people have psychological brakes that prevent them from acting on their fears. Allen does not have those brakes, and he reacts accordingly."Civic Duty" is mostly a visual film; dialogue is fairly minimal. However, some of the lines convey the film's theme. In one confrontation Terry tells Marla: "We all have to be the eyes and ears now (for the FBI)". To which Marla responds: "If you weren't up here all day long spying on our neighbors like some paranoid right-wing whack ..."; Terry retorts: "Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean they're wrong ...".The film's pace in the first half is fine; the plot moves along at a good clip. In the second half, the pace slows, as viewers must endure a tedious police standoff. A chase sequence in the second half is unnecessary filler. The lack of inquisitive neighbors provides the basis for an obvious plot hole, particularly as we approach the film's climax.Cinematography is adequate; the emphasis is on close up shots, even extreme close-ups. Lighting trends toward low level. Overall acting is slightly above average. Richard Schiff, as the low-key, laconic FBI agent, gives an especially good performance. Background music is fairly creepy, and when combined with the dark visuals and minimal dialogue, creates a fair amount of suspense.The real "message" of this film is the dreadful effect that television "news" has on many Americans. In effect, "Civic Duty" is the cinematic expression of media critic Marshall McLuhan's famous line, some forty years ago: "The medium is the message".
Michael O'Keefe
Slow thriller that builds steam slowly...then the damn lid blows off. Terry Allen(Peter Krause)is a CPA that gets laid off from his job post 9-11. His wife Maria(Kari Matchett)believes he has way too much time on his hands. Terry becomes obsessed with possible terrorists after spending much of his days and nights watching national news on the subject. When a "middle-eastern" man, Gabe Hassan(Khaled Abol Naga), moves into a neighboring apartment; Terry believes he has uncovered a suspicious terrorist conspiracy. How far will he go to protect homeland security? Why doesn't somebody just grab this guy by the throat and slap some sense into him? Its a movie, that's why. Watching paranoia make Terry sweat is the source that fries your nerves. Also featured are Richard Schiff and Ian Tracey.
Roald Pettersen
According to this film, you should never notify the FBI or other authorities if you get a suspicious neighbor. Not even if he looks like a terrorist and has a chemistry lab and receives constant deliveries from other suspicious-looking people. And especially not if you just lost your job and your wife just left you. They will just think you are paranoid and put you in an asylum, even if it turns out in the end that you were right all along. This is one of the reasons why terrorists have succeeded so far. This is how they put the first bomb in WTC and carried through their second assault. This is how they made the bomb for the Lockerbie accident and got it on board. People did not care, or were afraid of the unpleasantness to themselves if they notified the authorities.
