Movie Review: The Brave One

A New York City woman (Jodie Foster) struggles to recover from a brutal attack by setting out on a mission for revenge.

I predicted this movie to be just like Death Wish just from the previews, and that's pretty much exactly what it is. "Death Wish for the new millenium", with a female lead and more morality questions about vigilantes and capital punishment. Hot topic buttons are pushed with violence and revenge shoved right into the camera. Feminist with a gun anyone? How about just a pissed-off women with a gun?

But it's not really all that bad. Sure, not the least bit original nor does it really make a statement about anything one way or the other by the end, but it is easy to care about the characters and get wrapped up a bit in the story itself. Jodie Foster is, well, Jodie Foster... i.e. fantastic. But does it seem to anyone else that the older she gets, the more she looks like a teenage boy? Maybe it's just me.

On a side note, I kept thinking that Bernie Goetz could probably sue the writer of this film. If you've fogotten, he's the "Subway Vigilante" who shot four young black men who were intent on robbing him on the subway in Manhattan in 1984 and became a symbol of New Yorker's frustrations with a high crime rate. Read all about his story here.

Back to the movie though... although entertaining, I think it tries really hard to make a social statement but never quite does. Very watchable though.

6.5/10