Skip the 10 Minute Intro and the Brave One is Definitely Worth While: Movie Review of the Brave One

Written by Roderick Taylor, Bruce A. Taylor and Cynthia Mort

Starring Jodie Foster (Silence of the Lambs, Contact) and Terrence Howard (Crash), The Brave One has a slow and meaningless start but builds into a very satisfying thriller.

Jodie Foster plays Erica Bain. She's an outspoken and almost poetic radio personality in New York. She's cheerful, and perhaps even delicate. One thing is for sure, Erica is completely head-over-heels with her fiancé, David (Naveen Andrews). One fateful night, they both decide to take their dog for a walk in the park. This is usually not a good sign in the movies but we'll go along and act like we don't know what's going to happen. After all, this is Jodie Foster. Surprise, surprise, Erica and David are ambushed by some wild gang members. He's killed and she's beaten within an inch of her life.

Erica comes to in the hospital. She finds out about David, finds it difficult to let go. Then finally, she tries to find out who attacked her and her fiancé and stole her dog. Naturally, Erica must rise above a wave of paranoia following her attack. She has a hard time dealing with the feeling of men following her on the street. You can imagine how hard it was for Erica to leave her apartment building to go to the police station. They make her sit and wait to see someone. This station makes everyone who comes in sit and wait. I don't think anyone in that waiting room ever got to see a single person.

Tired of waiting, eager to get some peace, get some justice and get the confidence to walk through the city streets alone again, Erica fled the waiting room at the station and went to a gun store. She can't even wait the two weeks until her record comes back and she's approved. Erica needs the weapon now. She finds someone who will help. A nice oriental guy sells Erica a pistol for a thousand dollars and she's off to the shooting range - or should I say, shooting spree in the dangerous back alleys of New York.

When I went in to The Brave One, I left my mind open. There were no expectations. What I felt throughout the film quarter of the film is disorientation and perhaps even boredom. Needless to say, the introduction, everything leading up to the first gun shot is almost unbearable. It is possible to sit through it. The two lovers, David and Erica have hardly any chemistry - except perhaps, sexual chemistry and some of their other moments together can almost be called corny. It's not until Erica first pulls that trigger, killing some wacko guy in a convenience store that the film actually starts to become interesting.

After several of Erica's shall I say, executions, a Detective Mercer (Howard) starts to investigate this unexpected series of murders. Most of the people found dead are among the dregs of society. Is it justice? Is it a woman getting her gun off? This is something the movie questions. Just as the recent Kevin Bacon thriller, Death Sentence explored earlier this year, I think this film does a good job of disguising murder by suggesting that it is justice. But then again, I did grow up watching some pretty violent but ultimately, pretty awesome action films.

As always, Jodie Foster's reactions are perfect. We're all usually going to see a movie with Jodie Foster because it's Jodie Foster. This is the girl that first matched wits with Hannibal Lecter. She's got two Oscars, I believe and both of them were well-deserved. This woman can act and we know it. Jodie Foster doesn't cease to impress us here. Sure, her performance feels a tad weak in the beginning but perhaps it's because she's supposed to play happy. I can't remember the last Jodie Foster film in which she was actually smiling for more than 15 minutes.

My thoughts

If not for such a weak beginning, I would say The Brave One was a winner. It has great character moments, especially from Erica or Jodie. Personally, I'd like to see her score one best actress nod after she's been snubbed so many times before. The movie is thrilling. It's got some fun, cynical humor. But, there are just too many moments after the opening credits that feel too unnecessary and boring.

Final note

It's not like I didn't have a good time. Watching people who deserve to get whacked actually get whacked is always kind of entertaining in a film like this. Seeing someone like Jodie Foster doing it is even more entertaining in some weird way. This movie is well worth the money - given you are 5 to 10 minutes late.