The Brave One (2007)

Jodie does it again

Jodie has made a Aone DVD. It is different and very intriging. She does an excellent job in all her portrayals. September 29, 2008

Angel Of Death...

Jodie Foster (Taxi Driver, Silence Of The Lambs, Panic Room, Flight Plan) has really hit her stride w/ these thrillers. In THE BRAVE ONE, she takes on the role of radio-personality turned vigilante w/ ease and cool lethality. At first, I thought this was going to be some sort of DEATH WISH re-tread. Nope, TBO is a story about the ultimate cost of revenge. The toll that vengeance takes on the avenger in the form of a new inner deadness and freezing of one's own soul. While the scumbags who get their due are certainly deserving of their fate, Erica must go deeper into the abyss w/ each execution. The price of becoming an angel of death is extremely high. Ms. Foster brings authenticity and anguish to the part of Erica Bain. I found myself pitying her, while at the same time hoping she would get the satisfaction that she was willing to kill and die for. As a Jodie fan for some 30+ years (I fell in love w/ her character in The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane back in the 70s), I consider this to be one of her best performances. Terrence Howard is also great as the cop who finds himself torn between his sense of morality / duty, and his growing understanding of / respect for the motive that drives this street-avenger. I must admit that I did not see the finalé coming! I was surprised by it. I was even more surprised by my own gleeful reaction to it! Watch it and you'll see what I mean... September 27, 2008

A Lady's Death Wish

I thought this was a terrific Jodie Foster movie. Summarizing: Jodie and her boyfriend are beaten to a pulp in Central Park. The boyfriend dies and Jodie becomes a vigilante as she searches for the perps to even the score. Terrence Young is a detective that's simpathetic to her cause.
This movie was well written and doesn't contain any nonsense scenes of gore, torture, or rape. Jodie chose this role very well. September 10, 2008

How people live with fear

Radio announcer Erica Bain (Foster) had the perfect life. Her show's going great. She loves her fiancee, Dr. David Kirmani (Naveen Andrews). Then they are attacked one night in the park while walking their dog by a vicious band of street punks. Erica awakens from a coma after three weeks to discover that David's family had to let him go while she was unconscious.

She's afraid to walk the streets anymore, even the most innocent passerby makes her wary. So, she buys an illegal gun. Next, she takes up smoking.

A friend tells her she's got to figure out a way to life. That's the hard thing. The story tells how fear changes a person and makes them wonder if they will ever be the same again.

Erica starts out innocently enough, defending herself against a robber who killed his wife. Next, it's a pair of punks in the subway who rob an innocent person and then pull a gun on her.

Almost every person who's been hurt has wanted to seek vengeance in some way. The dream is a lot harsher than the reality. "The Brave One" is painful to watch, but it's worthwhile. Jodie Foster's given the best performance of a life full of strong performances. Also, kudos to Terence Howard as Detective Mercer.

Rebecca Kyle, September 2008



September 10, 2008

A little confused by the ending

I liked most of this movie. A variation on the Charles Bronson movies of the 70's and 80's for revenge killings after a family member is killed. Jodi Foster does a great job as usual portraying a victim that fights back. And she is also vunerable as she exposes herself to danger in order to avenge those who can't or won't.

But the ending left me wondering a few things. As we know from television New York city has CSI investigators. If evidence is collected from a triple murder as it might very well be, how did the last victim holding the murder weapon put a bullet into the back of his own head while laying on the floor? Also, he should have GSR (gun shot residue) on his hand from pulling the trigger but he never fired the gun? Since Jodi Foster handled the clip as well as the gun, it would seem logical her prints might be on the gun parts not rubbed clean by the detective covering for her.

Just a few loose ends I think a good CSI would find. What prompted the detective to go to the scene of the crime since he had no real reason to go find that suspect again without new evidence.

Otherwise minus these short comings it is a pretty good film overall. September 10, 2008

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