Civic Duty (2006)

Angry and depressed over losing his job, Terry Allen begins to suspect his new, Middle Eastern neighbor is at the center of a terrorist conspiracy. Obsessed about revealing the man's true identity, he takes matters into his own hands.

Director:

Jeff Renfroe

Writer:

Andrew Joiner

Stars:

Peter Krause, Kal Naga, Richard Schiff

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Krause	...	Terry Allen
Kari Matchett	...	Marla Allen
Richard Schiff	...	FBI Agent Tom Hilary
Kal Naga	...	Gabe Hassan (as Khaled Abol Naga)
Ian Tracey	...	Lieutenant Randall Lloyd
Vanesa Tomasino	...	Bank Teller
Laurie Murdoch	...	Loan Officer
Michael Roberds	...	Post Office Clerk
Agam Darshi	...	Nurse
Mark Brandon	...	Night Anchor Bret Anderson
Brenda Crichlow	...	Day Anchor Tricia Wise (as Brenda M. Crichlow)
Val Cole	...	Morning Anchor Susan Harwood
Mark Docherty	...	News Reporter Chad Winslow
Michael St. John Smith	...	Legal Analyst
P. Lynn Johnson	...	Govenor Bradley

Storyline

Shortly after landing a job, Terry Allen is laid off, starts looking for another circa post September 11, 2001 media frenzy and paranoia with President George W. Bush stating that grief has turned to anger, anger to resolution, and that there are thousands of terrorists in over 60 countries ready to strike. With increasing reports of identity theft, the involvement of wealthy & educated foreigners in terrorist activities, Terry starts suspecting his new neighbor, a middle-easterner, who he stereotypes as 'raghead', 'camel jockey', and 'sand nigger'. His wife, Marla, does not share in his bigotry, but he believes that she has turned her attention from rock-stars to Jihadists. While looking for employment, as well as a loan to purchase a house, he also contacts the Federal Bureau of Investigation as he feels he has sufficient evidence that his new neighbor is structuring money, experimenting with chemicals, and associating with other middle-easterners for devious reasons.

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Plot Keywords:

neighbor | paranoia | accountant | kitchen | watching tv | 

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Taglines:

Are You Doing Yours?

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some threatening situations

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cast has strong ties to Aaron Sorkin's television projects: Peter Krause starred as anchor Casey McCall in Sports Night (1998), Richard Schiff was communications director Toby Ziegler on The West Wing (1999), and Kari Matchett did a five-episode run on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006) as attorney Mary Tate.

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Goofs

Right before Allen hits "the terrorist" in the head with the pistol in the alley, "the terrorist" does not have his mouth covered, but after he has been hit, his mouth is covered again.

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Quotes

Bank Teller: Did you know sir, in the future you can also use the ATM machine just outside the front doors and avoid the waiting in line for a teller?
Terry Allen: Yes I did, thank you.
Bank Teller: I love our customers prefer that option actually.
Terry Allen: Really? Do you know what ATM stands for ? Automatic Teller Machine. So when you say ATM machine, what you're actually saying is automatic teller machine machine. Now either you're just being ignorantly redundant or you really want to emphasize that machine part. In which case you're not ...

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Georgia Rule/Away from Her/The Ex/28 Weeks Later/Civic Duty (2007)

User Reviews

Roller Coaster Ride!

This movie was one hell of a roller-coaster ride! I caught the final Tribeca Film Festival screening on the Upper West Side. People were waiting outside on the waiting list line for hours, offering three times the amount for tickets. It was crazy. I planned ahead and although tempted to make a quick buck and sell my tix I went in (my wife loves Peter Krause).

The movie is a slow gradual buildup and like an old fashioned roller-coaster, you feel an undercurrent of tension building as the plot builds and builds as you ascend into world of Terry Allen (Krause) and than... JUST LIKE THAT.. you are dropped for the ride of a lifetime with twists and turns, loops that all comes to an immediate stop.

Peter Krause delivers the performance of a lifetime. If you thought he could sell coffins, you'll become addicted to his knockout performance compounded by the paranoia we all felt after 9/11. You actually feel like you are in his head throughout the entire movie. This boy has acting chops.

Richard Schiff was flawless in his portrayal of the FBI agent who is over-extended with phone call after phone call of "the terrorist next door" situations which is a drain on his once "dignified" job.

Khaled Abol Naga was a tremendous surprise. In the Q&A following the movie, I was surprised to learn English was his second language. His look, delivery of his dialouge and looks he gives Peter Krause's character throughout the movie earn our sympathy and never lets you off your guard as to "is he or isn't he" the terrorist next door.

An excellent movie with the perfect cast that had the potential to collapse in the last scene. But it didn't' let down (a masterful manipulation that I will not spoil for you).

The roller-coaster came to a stop and like a little boy I wanted to run outside get on line again and go for another spin.

But, it was the last screening...

A great film!

Details

Country:

UK USA Canada

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

11 September 2008 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Dever Cívico

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$3,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$54,902, 6 May 2007

Gross USA:

$95,953

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$108,187

Company Credits

Production Co:

Civic Duty Productions, Intandem Films, Landslide Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1