The Brave One

Thu, Sep 4, 2008

So last week I wrote a review of Death Sentence starring Kevin Bacon and Kelly Preston. In that review, I mentioned The Brave One, starring Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard. Death Sentence was a base hit grounder up the middle, for you non baseball fans, that is generally a hard hit ball back at the pitcher that sometimes is fielded, sometimes not. On the other hand, The Brave One, while not a home run, was definitely a stand-up double. I will dispense with the baseball analogy now.

The Brave One is a well written story of the way a scared victim regains their power and confidence after vicious attack. Jodie Foster, as Erica Bain, and Naveen Andrews, as Dr. David Kirmani, are a young engaged couple who are savagely attacked by a gang of thugs. Dr. David Kirmani is killed in the attack and Erica Bain is physically battered and emotionally devastated. For a short moment, it appears that Bain is going to retreat into the safety of her apartment and simply fade away; if this had happened there really would not have been much of a movie. Instead of retreating, Erica becomes a vigilante. In a series of escalating vigilante outburst, Erica takes revenge on everyone from a random burglar to thugs on a subway. Apparently realizing she is spinning out of control, Bain, in her capacity as a talk radio personality, reaches out to Terrence Howard’s character, Detective Mercer. It becomes obvious that there is a romantic spark that ignites between the two and that both are reaching out to the other. The suspense builds with Bain drawing closer to the group of thugs that murdered her fiancée and seriously injured her. In a violent but measured revenge sequence, Bain tracks down and murders her and her fiancées attackers. The arrival of Detective Mercer during the movie’s pinnacle, throw into play, the ethical question of Bain’s actions. In a twist, the seemingly honorable and law abiding detective decides to cover for Bain; even having her shoot him to make the cover story work. With this, the movie ends.

This movie ask some quite difficult personal and social questions. How would you react if someone you loved was murdered? Is vigilante just acceptable? And if so when? After his assistance with the vigilante, is the detective still honorable? These and other questions are what helps to make this fime work where Death Sentence did not. Jodie Foster’s character, unlike that of Kevin Bacon, does have qualities that are both redeemable and easier for the movie goer to relate to. Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard give outstanding performances. This film is definitely work adding to your netflix or catching on Direct TV!