The Brave One (2007)

Overall rating from 1 to 100: 75

O Masterpiece (95-100)
X Excellent (75-94)
O Rental (60-74)
O OK (50-59)
O Mediocrity (30-49)
O Avoid (1-29)

Review by Jason Pyles / September 27, 2007

Not to be confused with the 1957 film called "The Brave One," which is about a Mexican boy and his bull, this brave one essentially refers to a female superhero (minus the super powers), much like Batman, who becomes a vigilante by taking the law into her own hands. And just like many other superhero stories, the villains create their monstrous tormentor.

And though it has been getting mixed reviews, this critic is here to tell you that this flick "delivers the goods," which is to say, it gives us exactly what we want. Without question, "The Brave One" manipulates us with Hollywood conventions and unlikely occurrences, but it's a good time nonetheless.

I noted that Jodie Foster's character, Erica Bain, evokes the same torn feelings within us that Michael Douglas' William Foster makes us feel in "Falling Down" (1993), another vigilante flick where a regular person goes berserk, lashing out at the evil people of the world. At first, we enjoy this to the point of amusement. But as the afflicted one spins out of control, we begin to cringe and grow concerned.

Erica Bain walks the city with a microphone, recording its organic and inorganic, auditory wonders. She uses these recordings as the ambient backdrop for her radio talk show, "Streetwalk." Bain is deeply in love and unofficially engaged to David (Naveen Andrews, "L O S T"). The wedding invitations have already been ordered.

One fateful night, the two inexplicably enjoy a streetwalk through Central park … again, at night. They are attacked and while she is merely brutally beaten, David is killed. Be warned, this scene is terribly unsettling, especially if you're the type of viewers who identifies with the characters.

As she recovers weeks later, still sore with fear, she purchases a gun and learns how to use it. The rest of the movie depicts Bain's bitterness, enjoyment and guilt while she administers swift justice to the scum of New York. One of the film's great strength's is Bain's initial weakness: She isn't automatically a Rambo; instead, she is awkward, unsure and fumbling while mastering her firearm.

"Disturbing" movies used to be my favorite kind of films. But the older I get, the harder they are to take. "The Brave One" is remarkably relentless and fairly graphic, particularly the upsetting attack scene that serves as the inciting incident.

Interestingly, to help us maintain our support of Erica's onslaught, the filmmakers give us repeated, brief flashbacks to that horrid event, so we can stay angry and justify her actions, a theme that's reinforced and carried throughout the film.

Despite the contrivance, "The Brave One" is solid, if some suspension of disbelief is allowed. We see other recurring themes, too, such as dominant female characters, various forms of recording the events of the city and the moral wrestle between doing what's right and doing what needs to be done.

Directed by Neil Jordan
Jodie Foster / Terrence Howard / Naveen Andrews
119 min. Drama / Thriller
MPAA: R (for strong violence, language and some sexuality)

Copyright 2007. 191