Rent The Brave One (2007)

Death Wish with a conscience? - The Brave One review by CP Customer

Jody Foster and Terrance Howard play their roles convincingly but fail to really question the notion that the ends justify the means. The film is more morally ambiguous than Bronson's series of vigilante films but still leans towards a simplistic scenario with 100% bad guys, 100% good guys and women with empathy for each other. I'm not sure the genre is turned on its head at all. The "I Walk the City" extra is interesting but rather a bit self congratulatory.

By the numbers - The Brave One review by Kurtz

The most surprising thing about this movie is how unsurprising it is- it really is a straightforward tale of revenge: Neil Jordan and Jodie Foster try to stress the inner torment of Foster’s vigilante but inner angst is a bit less interesting to watch than a spunky woman with a gun cutting a swathe through assorted lowlives, and we see a lot more of the latter than the former. Terence Howard is wasted as the sympathetic cop whose investigations bring him close to Foster.

the great one - The Brave One review by CP Customer

brilliant acting by jodie foster as usual, great plot which keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout

First rate Thriller - The Brave One review by GI

This is a quite exceptional thriller. It's essentially a revenge narrative with a vigilante theme built in but it steps beyond what you'd expect from that description to be a quite sensitive and morality questioning story that delves into the pain of grief and the effects of post traumatic stress disorder. It touches too on the issues of what society considers justice. Jodie Foster, in a performance that is as good as one she gave in The Silence Of the Lambs (1991), plays Erica, a New York radio show presenter, who is walking one evening with her fiancé when they are attacked by some street thugs. She is badly injured but the love of her life is killed. She struggles with her grief and the fear of venturing into the streets long after the event and to combat this she buys an illicit handgun. When she is faced with another threat and uses the gun she finds a new strength to carry on but soon guilt at what she has done starts to set in. Then by a quirk of fate she gets a lead on who killed her man. Terrence Howard is first rate as the detective that is investigating the killings she leaves in her wake. The narrative goes way beyond just another violent revenge movie and it's a really compelling and very watchable story that focuses on Erica's pain and the mental anguish she is trying to overcome. This is a fantastic film, a real achievement for Foster and one I highly recommend.

Jodie Foster is jaw dropping & perfect in a sledgehammer impact of a movie - The Brave One review by TB

Thank goodness for Jodie Foster. What could have been a film riddled with clichés and staleness is a revelatory look at how a woman deals with grief, loss and fear, becoming the very thing that plagues her thoughts.

The direction and script, whilst many say is simply an updated Death Wish, really delves deep into the horror of the loss which comes as the result of a sickening act of violence. And the rebirth of someone who before had never even given that level of fear a second thought.

And yes, Foster is totally believable as the gentle, slight radio host who, after a savage attack that maims her and kills her fiancé, becomes an avenging angel, walking the streets and dealing out brutal justice. This is no Meg Ryan in Courage Under Fire miscasting. Not for one second was Foster anything less than committed and in the moment.

Whilst this is undoubtedly Foster's film, by no stretch does this mean that Terrance Howard is relegated to irrelevance. His cop, so jaded from the repeat encounters every shift with the hell, murder and sadistic underbelly of New York, still fights for what is right and trying to make a tiny spark of difference in a world of indifference. His presence, combined with the power of Foster, is flawless.

The music is the other thing which I absolutely loved. Dario Marianelli has crafted a thing of beauty, perfect gentle strings turning into horror and terror. His soundtrack is the beating heart of this film, comforting and guiding us through Erica's journey.

This film also needs to be applauded for not giving us easy answers. The world we live in is far too complicated for a one-size-fits-all solution. It is to the movie and script's credit that we are also never sure quite what Erica's metamorphosis will mean going forward. Yes, she is motivated by revenge, but there is also the very real possibility of the change being something that she cannot live without.

The only thing that stops this from getting 5 stars is simply that some of the elements are a bit too much. There are SO MANY SCUMBAGS in this film, coupled with the fact that despite it being shot in New York, we aren't treated to much of the beautiful part of the city. And that lightness and levity was really needed at certain times. Yes, I can appreciate that this is a film about love and loss and hurt, but having some gentleness wouldn't have gone amiss.

But these are minor niggles. This is an incredible film, made with love and a passion to tell a difficult story as well as possible in a new and fresh way. It is a difficult watch, but worth it. And for once with these types of films, the ending isn't screwed up.

By the numbers - The Brave One review by CP Customer

Very poor Jodie Foster vehicle, continuing her decline since Panic Room. It is clear that she is the big star and is onscreen for most of the film, with the supporting cast relegated greatly.

The film tries to be edgy and current with some unusual angles but fails when it comes to the actual plot. We see little of Foster's job or her strong feelings for her husband, as the film soon delves into revenge. Even then, it fails to provide any thrilling moments our bad undertones as seen in Death Wish.

And the final ending leaves you feeling cheated until the next Foster vehicle.

Jodie Foster rides again - The Brave One review by CP Customer

Terrence Howard and Jodie Foster play the lead characters in this film.

The film shows two sides of Erica, a before and an after.

The music has a haunting melody to it that fits perfectly to the film, and some really good soundtracks.

I have never seen a bad Jodie Foster film, she knows the script to choose and brings her all to each part she plays.

A really good film.