The Brave One

Starring: Jodie Foster, Naveen Andrews, Terrence Howard, Mary Steenburgen, Jane Adams
Nicky Katt, Zoe Kravitz, Dana Eskelson
Directed by: Neil Jordan
Review: Dave Burbidge
Release date: 21st Jan 2008

Erica Bain (Foster), a radio presenter and her fiancé David (Andrews) are walking their dog at Stranger's Gate in New York's Central park, when they are attacked by three thugs, and David is killed, although Erica only finds out some thr, she regains her confidence and is oon taking her gun with her on some nocturnal travels. This leads to the death of a number of would be attackers, which means that the cops are now hunting a vigilante. One officer gains her attention and the two begin a cat and mouse working relationship after she interviews him for her radio show. When a bad guy that he has been unable to put away is killed, other clues begin to fall into place and his suspicions grow.

A revengers tragedy that has a number of moral issues, such as the cop sympathising with Erica's response and of course gun control in the U.S.A. Vilgilantes have been covered a number of times before, but this is far from the soap opera style of 'Death Wish' and instead looks at the enormous stresses put upon Erica. Jordan seems to direct this with a heavy hand, and it seems very one paced and, dare I say it, slow. Some more time in the editing suite would not have gone amiss. Foster slips back into an action role such as in 'Panic Room' or 'Flight Plan'. Quite why someone would enter Central park at night and expect to leave alive is beyond me. Still at lwast the dog survives.