Director:
Jeff Renfroe

Cast:
Peter Krause
Kari Matchett
Khaled Abol Naga
Richard Schiff

Official URL:

Country: USA
Rating: R
Studio Name: Freestyle Releasing
Running Time: 1 hr 38 mins
Release Date: May 4, 2007

Critics's Rating:
(2 12 out of 4 Reels) 

May 4, 2007

By Veronica Mixon

I can’t think of any recent film that captured America’s paranoia more than Civic Duty. Other films have focused on the country’s pain; our growing awareness of international hostility and our ever increasing lose of human life. But, nothing remotely touches on our creeping dread of foreigners in our midst. The openness of American policy was attacked on September 11th and we were forever changed. So, how do we cope in this new century?

In Civic Duty, Peter Krause plays Terry Allen, a recently fired accountant who suspects that his new Islamic neighbor may be a terrorist. Initially, his devoted wife, Marla (Kari Matchette, TV’s Invasion) believes the stress of losing his job and the constant media barrage of horrific news is at the heart of his frustration. They are a loving, liberal couple and Terry’s scrutiny of this Islamic graduate student surprises and upsets her. It seems Gabe Hassan’s (played by Egyptian movie star, Khaled Abal Naga) late night activities and his randy spying on Marla incites Terry. He begins following Hassan and wonders why the young man is collecting envelopes from local ATM machines. Terry’s surveillance of Hassan becomes his new job because it is more exciting than looking for regular employment. Terry even contacts the FBI and meets with an agent (Richard Schiff, TV’s The West Wing) but the FBI barely shows interest. Furthermore, when Hassan discovers that Terry is spying on him, things take a nasty turn.

Peter Krause is the driving force in this piece which has the pacing of a routine TV drama. But, Krause, who is best known for his incredible work on HBO’s Six Feet Under, breathes life into Terry and ignites a credible rage and paranoia that is understandable especially when he doesn’t receive support from either his wife or the FBI. When Terry confronts Hassan, Krause increases his intensity to the nth degree and delivers a superb performance. Krause’s everyman takes center stage and his feelings about our current economy and state of warfare is reflected in his character’s need to be heard.

Civic Duty is a nice vehicle for Peter Krause and director Jeff Renfroe was brilliant in casting this talented actor in this small indie film.

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