The Brave One (18)
Directed by: Neil Jordan Starring: Jodie Foster, Terence Howard, Naveen Andrews Synopsis: Erica Bain (Foster), a New York radio host, barely survives a horrific attack by three thugs who also murder her boyfriend and video the whole thing. After spending three weeks in a coma she slowly starts to rebuild, but encountering indifference and even hostility from the police she feels the need to protect herself with a gun...and that's when the trouble starts. Review: Although this tells a similar tale of revenge, this is about as far removed from Death Sentence as you could get. I was a little wary of watching this, as I wasn't sure if a high profile actress like Jodie Foster could pull off this role and whether director Niel Jordan could do a straight forward revenge movie. With one or two reservations, however, I can whole heartedly recommend this. Like Kevin Bacon, Foster starts the movie in full smarm mode - happy life, about to get married, etc. The actual attack is very nasty, and seeing her afterwards at the hospital, all broken, bloodied and bruised, is very uncomfortable. The movie succinctly deals with her mental recovery in a realistic way. At first she's afraid to leave her apartment, and when she eventually overcomes that, she still has a heightened sense of paranoia. What sets this movie apart from the usual revenge flicks, is that Erica isn't actually looking for revenge - at least not initially. She buys the gun (illegally, because she can't wait 30 days)is because the police seem overworked at best, inept and indifferent at worst. The first murder she commits is due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but she realises that as she doesn't have a licence for the gun she's going to get into trouble herself.
Terence Howard does a good job, almost stealing the spotlight as Det. Mercer, an intelligent cop who befriends Erica and is the one leading the vigilante case. His banter with his partner (Nicky Katt) shows both his humour and his sense of righteousness. The moment when he starts to realise Erica's involvement is very well done. The movie does have problems though. Neil Jordan couldn't quite just make an effective thriller - there are a few bells and whistles (sex scenes between Erica and David intercut with flashes of violence and/or Erica in ER, for example), and Erica's radio show is so damn boring. Verdict - a strong, effective thriller with realistic motivations, but with artistic pretentions and cliche villains. 7 out of 10 (Review by MikeOutWest)
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