The Brave One (2007)

Director: Neil Jordan
Writers: Roderick Taylor, Bruce A. Taylor
Rated: R (strong violence, language and some sexuality)

Main Cast:
Jodie Foster ... Erica Bain
Terrence Howard ... Detective Mercer
Nicky Katt ... Detective Vitale
Naveen Andrews ... David Kirmani

Every once in awhile, you'll see a movie where an actor or actress' performance is so captivating that you, as a viewer, will allow yourself to overlook plot holes or questions left unanswered by the script. That was Jodie Foster in this film.

Foster portrays Erica Bain, a radio personality in Manhattan who is preparing for marriage with fiance David Kirmani (Andrews). One night, while walking their dog through Central Park, Erica and David are assaulted by a group of unidentified thugs. Erica narrowly escapes the beating with her life. David is not as fortunate. The rest of the film is dedicated to Erica's attempt to reacclimate to everyday life. In her failure to do so, and disillusioned by law enforcement, Erica purchases a gun and becomes a vigilante taking her revenge on the ill-doers in the city.

I'll spare you my questions about the ending, not wanting to spoil it for those who haven't seen the film. But I was still left with a number of issues. Secondary characters in the film seem to appear and disappear without any real purpose. The reasons why Erica feels so comfortable at night after such a traumatic ordeal are never delved into fully. At times, the story seemed to resemble more of a comic book-based "birth of a superhero" storyline than a believable account of one woman's struggles to overcome pain and loss.

But it wasn't until after the end credits that I found myself delving with greater detail into these quirks. While watching the film, I was completely engrossed by Foster's performance. The passion and believability she provided the role of Erica Baines made it, in turn, feel more natural than it was. I also give credit to Terrence Howard, who made Detective Mercer into a sympathetic figure who felt real and personable rather than a cut-out pillar of the "virtues of law enforcement."

Like pitching can defeat good hitting in baseball, knockout acting can overcome the weaknesses of a script. You should definitely see this film. Enjoy the performances.

Final Grade: B-