Rating of
2/4
"The Brave One" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 03/25/12
Jodie Foster is the DJ of probably the most boring radio show in the world and enjoys a picture postcard romance with the perfect man. When he is killed by muggers, she takes her power back by gunning down every bad guy she comes across. Yes, it's Death Wish with a chick. I've never been the biggest fan of Jodie; she's always decent, but never spectacular, and so it is with this one. She does have some very able support from Terrence Howard who once again impresses as the cop who is unknowingly pursuing her, and Neil Jordan's direction is just right; the attack scene is particularly effective, especially the "happy slapping" mobile phone footage which adds a chilling realism to the violence. But I do have some problems with it, and they pretty much all stem from the same thing. The fact that it is a mainstream Hollywood film. First, the title. "The Brave One"? I'm sorry, but that REALLY sucks in a "Half Past Dead" or "Primal Fear" kind of way! Then there's the crappy voice over that insults the audience's intelligence and the highly predictable plot, although in its initial stages, it relies on some serious leaps of faith. Namely, Jodie's terrified of going outside and yet is willing to follow a strange man into a back alley to buy an illegal weapon, and the fact that everywhere she seems to go there is a rapist/mugger/murderer lying in wait. And the ending is a total cop out. But it is very well made and holds the attention for the full duration; I just wish it had a little more character to it.
