Upon entering the packed movie theater, audience members are immediately filled with a sense of urgency for the new movie "The Brave One." This is largely because of the heart-pounding musical score and the guns and violence advertised in the movie's many theatrical trailers. Yet, leaving the theater, audience members seemed to agree that their emotions about this action flick were considerably conflicted. It's safe to say "The Brave One" didn't quite live up to the expectations set by these powerful cinematic glimpses.
"The Brave One" stars Jodie Foster ("Inside Man") as Erica Bain, a host of a successful public radio talk show called "Street Walk." Foster delivers a driving performance, convincingly portraying a character whose questionable acts may actually be justified.
The story takes off with Erica and her fiancé David, played by Naveen Andrews ("Lost"), in love and in the prime of their lives. One night, as they are out walking with their dog, they are viciously beaten and robbed by a gang of three thugs. The dog is stolen, and Bain is left in a coma. As she is rushed into the hospital, a scene of doctors removing Erica's bloody clothing is juxtaposed with shots of David taking of her clothing during lovemaking.
After three weeks, Erica wakes up to find David has died. She is overwhelmed with fear and finds herself lost. In turn, Erica illegally purchases a gun and bullets. Audiences see Erica transform from a woman deeply in love with her fiancé to a woman mad with fear and an insatiable thirst for revenge.
Erica becomes a vigilante and finds herself in a world of murderous revenge. She murders an abusive husband, thieves, rapists and everyone else who proves to be someone with whom she does not agree. As she decisively carries out these actions, it's difficult to decide whether Erica is performing these harsh actions out of choice or fear. At first, it seems as though Erica simply purchased a gun for the next time someone attacked her, but she soon finds herself being forced to use it. By the end of the movie, sympathies for Foster's character fade away as she seeks out her fiancé's murderers.
For example, in one scene Erica is riding the subway late at night. There are some shady characters on the train with her, but instead of getting off at an earlier stop, Erica stays aboard and is left alone with these men. You can conjecture that in the end she takes care of them, but was it a necessary action?
Soon the detective trying to solve the case of this mysterious string of murders, played by the talented Terrence Howard ("Four Brothers"), befriends Erica, and they become companions. Detective Mercer soon starts piecing together the evidence and comes to find himself friends with the vigilante responsible for the murders.
The movie takes you back to a time not long ago when walking down New York streets at night was the worst thing you could do. It seems more and more people are feeling more and more safe walking the streets at night, but while watching "The Brave One," you remember a time when no one felt safe.
The performances in this movie most certainly outshine the archetypal plot. Foster isn't quite convincing in the beginning of the movie when she plays a girl falling in love and happier than ever before. However, as the movie takes a turn into the world of violence, Foster delivers a performance that will stay with the viewer long after the credits roll.
"The Brave One" is a movie I wouldn't rush to see; it does nothing to distinguish itself from a dozen other '90s-style thrillers, but the small details and Foster's subtle performance give life to a weary genre. It may not be artistically bold or leave hearts racing, but "The Brave One" will satisfy needs for a fresh revenge tale.
2 1/2 stars out of 5
