Starring Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Nicky Katt, Naveen Andrews, Mary Steenburgen
Written By: Cynthia Mort, Roderick Taylor, Bruce A. Taylor
Directed By: Neil Jordan
Studio: Warner Brothers
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I didn’t even realize that this movie came out in theaters. Well now it’s on DVD and while I never heard of it before, The Brave One is a decent revenge flick that is one part sappy and the other part thrilling to watch.

The Brave One is about a popular New York City radio talk show host, Erica Bain (Jodi Foster) who takes matters into her own hands when her Fianc David (Naveen Andrews) is killed in a senseless, random attack. While taking a stroll through Central Park, Erica and her fianc discover that their dog is missing and the dog ends up in the hands of a bunch of thugs with a video camera. They threaten the couple, start to molest Erica and David fights back. He gets beaten to death and Erica is almost killed as well. After surviving the attack, she returns to her radio show but becomes a changed person. She starts to go on a vigilante spree and takes out various criminals like people who steal, beat up hookers and other “lovely” people. Hot on her trail is a cop (Terrence Howard) set on apprehending David’s killer but also stopping the violent crimes that are following that tragic incident.

This movie starts out like Ghost minus Patrick Swayze and Whoopi. Of course Naveen Andrews didn’t turn into a ghost and communicate with Whoopi Goldberg. That would be just silly! But the movie turns into Boondock Saints and Jodi Foster goes on a revenge spree. I mention Boondock Saints because there is a cop in the movie, who’s not totally against her violent crimes. But since he’s a cop, he has to find the killer of the other crimes as well. The Brave One is a very different than that movie though. The Brave One is more about coping with the lost of a love one and trying to figure out what to do with your life after. Jodi Foster’s character decides to just angry & depressed and goes on a killing spree. I’m not sure I would take that route with shooting random thugs on a subway, but I’m sure I’d want to go after the killers. But saying I would and doing is two completely different things. Terrence Howard was probably the best thing about this movie. His acting just keeps getting better and better with each role he does. Jodie Foster plays her character well, but something tells me that she’s just a little too trigger happy. It just seems the only option to do with these criminals & thugs is to shoot them. What about shooting them in the arm? Wouldn’t that get the point across?

If you like vigilante movies, The Brave One has a lot of good things going for it. Great acting from Howard and Foster, and an interesting story with some occasional violence. My only negative for this movie is sometimes the pacing is off. The bonus features available on the DVD include a featurette about the movie & vigilante movies, and then some additional scenes. This movie is worth watching but I’d recommend renting it.

Features:
I Walk The City Featurette
Additional scenes

Audio:
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 CC
SPANISH: Dolby Digital 5.1
FRENCH: Dolby Digital 5.1

Video:
Widescreen 2.35:1 Color (Anamorphic)

Subtitles:

Favorite Scenes:
Rating: R
Running Time: 122 minutes
Extras Rating:
Overall Rating: