The Brave One (2007)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writers (WGA):

Roderick Taylor (screenplay) &
Bruce A. Taylor (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 September 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

How many wrongs to make it right?

Plot:

A woman struggles to recover from a brutal attack by setting out on a mission for revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Police | Gun | Assault | Hospital

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Jodie Foster	...	Erica Bain
Terrence Howard	...	Detective Mercer
Nicky Katt	...	Detective Vitale
Naveen Andrews	...	David Kirmani
Mary Steenburgen	...	Carol
Ene Oloja	...	Josai
Luis Da Silva Jr.	...	Lee
Blaze Foster	...	Cash
Rafael Sardina	...	Reed
Jane Adams	...	Nicole
Gordon MacDonald	...	Murrow
Zoë Kravitz	...	Chloe
John Magaro	...	Ethan
Victor Colicchio	...	Cutler
Jermel Howard	...	Thug on Subway
Dennis L.A. White	...	Thug on Subway (as Dennis White)
Julia Garro	...	Shauna Nelson
James Biberi	...	Detective Pitney
Brian Delate	...	Detective O'Connor
Lenny Venito	...	Mortell
Carmen Ejogo	...	Jackie
Dana Eskelson	...	Sketch Artist
Angel Sing	...	Gun Dealer
Yolande Bavan	...	David's Mother
Ivo Velon	...	James
Tina Sloan	...	Stationary Saleswoman
Jaime Tirelli	...	Pawn Shop Guy
Larry Fessenden	...	Sandy Combs
An Nguyen	...	Ida Combs
Brian Tarantina	...	Gun Store Clerk
Michael Anthony Williams	...	Subway Dad
Jesus Ruiz	...	Chief of Detectives
Hope Adams	...	Press Conference Reporter
Joseph Melendez	...	Press Conference Reporter
Ted Neustadt	...	Press Conference Reporter
Brett Berg	...	Ethan's Friend
Jeffrey Manko	...	Emergency Room Doctor
Mick Cunningham	...	Precinct Cop
Lisa Joyce	...	CPA Worker
Tom Greer	...	Desk Cop
David Naizir	...	Guy Outside Subway Station
Bob McClure	...	Sound Engineer (as Robert Michael McClure)
Tashya Valdevit	...	Erica's Nurse
Lai-Si Fernandez	...	Shauna's Friend
Moisés Acevedo	...	Reed's Runner
Dennis Leonard Johnson	...	Reed's Runner (as Dennis Johnson)
Jack Caruso	...	Subway Detective
Jim Taylor McNickle	...	Subway Detective
Rosanne Lucarelli	...	Subway Reporter (as Rosanne C. Lucarelli)
Leif Riddell	...	Subway Reporter
DeShaun Stallworth	...	Subway Reporter
Michael J. Burg	...	Elevator Man
Creighton James	...	Elevator Man
Clayton Dean Smith	...	Elevator Man
Barbara Gayle	...	Elevator Woman
Anna Margaret Hollyman	...	Elevator Woman
Lily Mercer	...	Elevator Woman
Musto Pelinkovicci	...	Russian Cab Driver
Dean Meminger	...	NY1 Reporter
Cheryl Wills	...	NY1 TV Anchor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Donna Ross	...	Lady at Bar
Kevin Cannon	...	Relative (uncredited)
Dominick Cicco	...	Pawnshop Owner (uncredited)
Vanessa DeMira	...	Tenant (uncredited)
Rick Derby	...	Radio announcer (uncredited)
Joe Dolinsky	...	Man in bar (uncredited)
Edgar Felix	...	Street Detective (uncredited)
Roy William Gardner	...	On Air News Reporter (uncredited)
Bianca Giancoli	...	Hooker (uncredited)
Brian Gildea	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Tina King	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Loukas Papas	...	Street Detective (uncredited)
Adam S. Phillips	...	Driver (uncredited)
Alfredo Suarez	...	Walker (uncredited)

Directed by
Neil Jordan

Writing credits (WGA)
Roderick Taylor		(screenplay) &
Bruce A. Taylor		(screenplay) and
Cynthia Mort		(screenplay)
Roderick Taylor		(story) &
Bruce A. Taylor		(story)

Produced by
Aaron Auch	....	associate producer
Bruce Berman	....	executive producer
Susan Downey	....	producer
Jodie Foster	....	executive producer
Herb Gains	....	executive producer (as Herbert W. Gains)
David Gambino	....	co-producer
Dana Goldberg	....	executive producer
Joel Silver	....	producer

Original Music by
Dario Marianelli

Cinematography by
Philippe Rousselot		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tony Lawson

Casting by
Laura Rosenthal

Production Design by
Kristi Zea

Art Direction by
Robert Guerra

Set Decoration by
Lydia Marks

Costume Design by
Catherine Marie Thomas		(as Catherine Thomas)

Makeup Department
Jerry DeCarlo	....	hair stylist
Marjorie Durand	....	makeup artist
Kelly Gleason	....	makeup department head
Frances Mathias	....	hair stylist: Jodie Foster
Suzy Mazzarese-Allison	....	hair department head (as Suzy Mazzarese Allison)
Kyra Panchenko	....	makeup artist: Jodie Foster
Barry Berger	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Kelly Gleason	....	prosthetic makeup artist (uncredited)
Craig Lindberg	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Josh Turi	....	life casting (uncredited)
Josh Turi	....	set application (uncredited)

Production Management
Sara Flamm	....	production supervisor
Herb Gains	....	unit production manager (as Herbert W. Gains)
Paul A. Levin	....	post-production supervisor
Ray Quinlan	....	unit production manager (as Raymond Quinlan)
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)
Mark Scoon	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph Aspromonti	....	second second assistant director (as Joe Aspromonti)
Daniela Barbosa	....	additional second second assistant director
Sean Farrell	....	dga trainee
Richard Patrick	....	first assistant director
Michael Pitt	....	second assistant director (as Michael A. Pitt)
David Catalano	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Joseph Alfieri	....	construction coodinator (as Joseph Alfieri Jr.)
Gary Cergol	....	graphic artist
Bear Davies	....	set dresser (as James Bear Davies)
Eric Dean	....	art department assistant
Joseph DeLuca	....	set dresser (as Joby DeLuca)
Candis Heiland	....	assistant props (as Candy Heiland)
Kalina Ivanov	....	storyboard artist
Darrell K. Keister	....	assistant art director
Claire Kirk	....	art department coordinator
Marion Kolsby	....	assistant art director
Eric Lewin	....	set dresser
Brian Mannain	....	set dresser
Anthony Munafo	....	assistant property master
Gus Papadopoulos	....	assistant property master (as Gus Papadopolus)
Edward Pisoni	....	assistant art director
Julio Daniel Rodriguez	....	set dresser (as J. Dan Rodriguez)
Michael Saccio	....	property master (as Michael A. Saccio)
Will Scheck	....	key greensperson
Josephine Shokrian	....	art department assistant
Rodney Sterbenz	....	on-set dresser
Robert Topol	....	master scenic artist
M. Tony Trotta	....	stand-by scenic artist
Dave Weinman	....	leadperson
Denis Zack	....	set dresser
Stephen Caldwell	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Daniel Geary	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Adam Jones	....	scenic shopman (uncredited)
Mark Pollard	....	additional graphic artist (uncredited)
Mary Prlain	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Kevin L. Raper	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
Diane Rich	....	lead scenic artist (uncredited)
Diane Rich	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Michael Scarola	....	key construction grip (uncredited)
Sha-Sha Shiau	....	set decorating assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	adr editor (as Gina Alfono)
Jamie Baker	....	foley editor
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Constanzo)
Chris Fielder	....	assistant sound editor
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Graziadei	....	boom operator
Ruth Hernandez	....	supervising adr editor
Frank Kern	....	supervising foley editor
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer (as George Lara)
Tommy Louie	....	second boom operator
Tommy Louie	....	second cable person
Douglas Murray	....	adr mixer
Tom Nelson	....	sound mixer
Philip Stockton	....	sound designer
Philip Stockton	....	supervising sound editor
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor (as Steve Visscher)
Allan Zaleski	....	sound effects editor
Alexa Zimmerman	....	assistant sound editor
Christopher S. Aud	....	additional sound designer (uncredited)
Lawrence Herman	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Larry Hoff	....	sound (uncredited)
Bret Johnson	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Jessica Parks	....	apprentice sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Brink	....	special effects coordinator
Ken Goodstein	....	special effects technician
Charlie Simunik	....	special effects foreman (as Charles R. Simunek)
Doug Facciponti	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Louie Zakarian	....	prosthetic artist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Glenn Allen	....	visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital
Richard Friedlander	....	visual effects producer: Brainstorm Digital
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects supervisor: Brainstorm Digital
Daniel Abramovich	....	digital compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Justin Ball	....	senior systems engineer: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Justin Ball	....	visual effects CGI artist: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals (uncredited)
Aleksandar Djordjevic	....	digital compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Jeremy Fernsler	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Brad Gayo	....	senior digital compositing artist: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Manuel Rey Gonzalez	....	digital compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Chris Halstead	....	compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Chris Jensen	....	digital intermediate colorist assist (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Scott Minter	....	digital compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Joseph Oberle	....	digital compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Michael Pecchia	....	senior compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
David Piombino	....	digital compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Rob Roth	....	title graphics designer: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Luke Rowsell	....	visual effects assistant (uncredited)
Danita Slaughter	....	digital opticals editor (uncredited)
Michael Stewart	....	digital compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Bryan Wengroff	....	visual effects coordinator: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)
Chris 'Pinkus' Wesselman	....	digital compositor: Brainstorm Digital (uncredited)

Stunts
Chris Barnes	....	stunts
Bobby Beckles	....	stunts
Chick Bernhardt	....	stunts (as Chick Bernhard)
Jill Brown	....	stunts
Jared Burke	....	stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts
Darren Cerullo	....	stunts
Wayne Cerullo	....	stunts
Bob Colletti	....	stunts
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunts
Douglas Crosby	....	stunts
Vince Cupone	....	stunts
Peter Epstein	....	stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunts
Jeremy Fry	....	stunts
Jeffrey Lee Gibson	....	stunts
Henry Kingi Jr.	....	stunt double: Terrance Howard
David S. Lomax	....	stunts
Dave Pope	....	stunts
Stephen A. Pope	....	stunts (as Stephen Pope)
Hans Raith	....	stunt double
Steve Ritzi	....	stunt coordinator (as Steven Ritzi)
Mike Rufino	....	stunts (as Michael W. Rufino)
Jill Stokesberry	....	stunt double: Jodie Foster
Anthony Vincent	....	stunts
Chrissy Weathersby	....	stunt double: Zoe Kravitz
Chad Knorr	....	precision driver (uncredited)
Rocco Parente	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rico Omega Alston	....	video assist operator (as Rico Alston)
Keith Bunting	....	dolly grip
Gavin Curran	....	rigging best boy
Bill Daimant	....	a dolly grip
Jack English	....	chief lighting technician
Abbot Genser	....	still photographer
Carlos Omar Guerra	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Carlos Guerra)
Chris Henry	....	lighting technician
Gus Magalios	....	best boy grip (as Constantine Gus Magalios)
Derek Murphy	....	rigging gaffer
Ed Nessen	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Edward Nessen)
Neal Norton	....	Steadicam operator
Neal Norton	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Billy Patsos	....	key rigging grip (as Bill Patsos)
George Patsos	....	key grip
Rocco Proscia	....	best boy rigging grip
Michael Rudolph	....	lighting balloon technician
Daniel Salk	....	video assist operator
Pierson Silver	....	additional second assistant camera
Darrin Smith	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Joshua Solson	....	lighting technician
John Velez	....	chief lighting technician (as John G. Velez)
Kelly Britt	....	electrician (uncredited)
Travis Cadalzo	....	camera loader (uncredited)
Anne Carson	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Justin Cheatham	....	light board operator (uncredited)
Chris Drechsler	....	electrician (uncredited)
Phaedra Eason	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Susan Heller	....	electrician (uncredited)
Philip Kathrens	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Lance Mayer	....	libra head technician (uncredited)
Paul C. McKenna	....	technocrane operator (uncredited)
Keith McNicholas	....	electrician (uncredited)
Tim Metivier	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Phil Pastuhov	....	aerial director of photography (uncredited)
Lance Rieck	....	remote camera technician (uncredited)
Brooke Stanford	....	balloon lighting supervisor (uncredited)
Jonathan Stern	....	additional electrician (uncredited)
Joshua Van Praag	....	electrician (uncredited)
David Woolner	....	lighting balloon operator (uncredited)
J. Dan Wright	....	electrician (uncredited)
J. Dan Wright	....	key lighting balloon technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Rori Bergman	....	casting assistant
Ali Farrell	....	casting associate
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Jennifer Sabel	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ghilaine Bouadana	....	set costumer
Mickey Carleton	....	assistant costume designer
Cara Czekanski	....	set costumer
Laura Downing	....	wardrobe supervisor
Rachel Leek	....	costumer: Ms. Foster (as Rachel J. Leek)
Jill Merritt	....	set costumer
May Elbaz	....	additional wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Natalia Parsons	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Ian Blume	....	assistant editor
John Scott Cook	....	first assistant editor
Rick Derby	....	assistant editor
Noreen Donohoe	....	post-production coordinator: Dublin
Ann Gray	....	post-production coordinator
Mo Henry	....	negative manager
Yvan Lucas	....	colorist: Efilm
Devon Miller	....	digital conformation: EFilm
Loan Phan	....	digital intermediate producer: EFilm
David O. Rogers	....	assistant editor (as David Rogers)
James Turpin	....	assistant editor (as Jamie Turpin)
James Schmidt	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Adam M. Weber	....	editorial production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Nick Banes	....	music score mixer
Nick Banes	....	music score recordist
Junah Chung	....	musician
Michael Connell	....	music editor
Tony Finno	....	orchestra librarian
Jody K. Jenkins	....	score synth programmer
Chris Jennings	....	music score mixer
Chris Jennings	....	music score recordist
Dario Marianelli	....	orchestrator
Maggie Rodford	....	music coordinator: Air-Edel
Jason Stasium	....	music score mixer
Jason Stasium	....	music score recordist
Benjamin Wallfisch	....	conductor
Benjamin Wallfisch	....	orchestrator
Nick Wollage	....	music score mixer
Nick Wollage	....	score recordist
Jay Duerr	....	additional music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Peter Clores	....	transportation co-captain
Steven R. Hammond	....	transportation captain (as Steve Hammond)

Other crew
Matthew Artus	....	office staff assistant
Sim Bajaj	....	assistant: Mr. Silver
Christina Bryant	....	assistant: Ms. Downey
Max A. Butler	....	production secretary (as Max Butler)
Jana Camacho	....	set staff assistant
Neil Carter	....	technical advisor: police
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Rebecca Chernoff	....	assistant: Ms. Foster
Joe Cicchesi	....	production assistant
Mary Cybulski	....	script supervisor
Renee D. Czarapata	....	assistant production accountant (as Renee Czarapata)
Gary DeJesus	....	set staff assistant
David Dreishpoon	....	craft service (as David Dreshspoon)
Kathleen Fellegara	....	technical advisor
Frances Fiore	....	unit publicist
Evan Gabriele	....	staff assistant
Gabriel A. Gonzalez	....	staff assistant
Damon Michael Gordon	....	assistant location manager
Hannah Heinrich	....	staff assistant
Jason Hinkel	....	assistant production accountant
Lara Khajetoorians	....	assistant: Ms. Downey
Jackie Koppell	....	assistant: Mr. Gains (as Jacqueline Koppell)
Patricia LaMagna	....	assistant: Ms. Foster
Peter Marshark DBA JandP Craft LLC	....	craft service (as Peter Marshark)
Cristina Lois	....	office staff assistant
Steve McAuliff	....	animal trainer
Sarah J. Meyer	....	assistant: Mr. Gains
David Owens	....	animal trainer
Natalia Parsons	....	staff assistant
Derek Peterson	....	set staff assistant
Paul Polow	....	set staff assistant
Nathaniel Posey	....	assistant: Mr. Silver
Sonny Ritscher	....	production accountant
Ilka Rivard	....	production office coordinator
Jesus A. Del Rosario Jr.	....	stand-in
James Schmidt	....	office staff assistant
Gwen Schroeder	....	assistant production office coordinator (as Gwen Laura Schmitt)
Mary Sheibani	....	assistant: Herb Gains, preparation
Christine Sheridan	....	assistant: Mr. Jordan
Sha-Sha Shiau	....	staff assistant
Sarah Smith	....	assistant: Mr. Jordan
Eve Strickman	....	set staff assistant (as Eve D. Strickman)
Robert T. Striem	....	location manager
Angel R. Vasquez	....	location assistant
Kyle Villegas	....	staff assistant
Kevin Wigfall	....	assistant: Mr. Howard (as Kevin Webb Wigfall)
Carlos A. Acosta	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Luke Den Haan	....	accounting clerk (uncredited)
Scott Ferlisi	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Evan Gabriele	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Michael Hartel	....	location scout (uncredited)
Ellen Houlihan	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lori A. Lopes	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Casey Madigan	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
John J. Miralles	....	compositing supervisor (uncredited)
Becky Morrison	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Kip Myers	....	location scout (uncredited)
Patricia Peete	....	extras (uncredited)
Daniel Pollack	....	location scout (uncredited)
Eric J. Robertson	....	title designer (uncredited)
Christina I. Rodriguez	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Jonathan Roumie	....	location scout (uncredited)
Jon Shaw	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Paul Singh	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Jeff Solano	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Aaron Walrod	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Michael Williams	....	assistant: Neil Jordan (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Redemption Pictures
• Silver Pictures
• Village Roadshow Pictures
• WV Films III

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2007) (Malaysia) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Karo Premiere (2007) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (HD DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2008) (Brazil) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Brainstorm Digital (visual effects)
• XYZ-RGB (cyber scanning)

Other Companies

• Animal Actors  animals provided by
• Brainstorm Digital  main title sequence designed by
• C5  post-production sound services
• Corbis  footage
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Fujifilm  motion picture products
• Gourmet To U  catering
• Grant Wilfley Casting  background casting: New York
• Kodak  motion picture products
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals (uncredited)
• Rockbottom Rentals  cellular fax rentals (uncredited)
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals (uncredited)
• Rockbottom Rentals  modem card rentals (uncredited)
• Rockbottom Rentals  nextel cell phone rentals (uncredited)
• Soundtrack F/T  sound re-recording (uncredited)
• Technicolor  color
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Widget Post Production  adr recording facility (uncredited)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

122 min | Canada:119 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

UK:18 | Finland:K-15 | South Korea:15 | Ireland:16 | Norway:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA | South Africa:16LV | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R (certificate #43480) | Germany:16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Malaysia:18PL | France:-12 | Spain:18 | Philippines:R-13 | Taiwan:R-18 | Japan:R-15 | Brazil:16 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Broadway Stages, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Redemption Pictures

Trivia:

Not your typical product placement: In the scene where Mercer visits Erica's apartment, a container of Israeli-produced sea salt is visible showing the Hebrew-language side to the camera. The Hebrew words melekh-yam (sea salt) can be seen. This is a product not widely available in the US, only through speciality and kosher stores, so perhaps it was purchased by a set dresser near the Brooklyn studios.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Erica comes home with the wound in her arm and her neighbor finds her, her neighbor already has blood on her shirt before she bends down to help Erica.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Erica: [voiceover, doing her radio show] I'm Erica Bain. And as *you* know, I walk the city. I bitch and moan about it. I walk and watch and listen, a witness to all the beauty and ugliness that is disappearing from our beloved city. Last week took me to the gray depths of the East River where Dmitri Panchenko swims his morning laps...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-09-15)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Burning On Both Ends

satisfyingly full-circle

So what would it take to turn a happy 30-something New Yorker, in love with her city and her fiancée, into a cold blooded murderer? How about being attacked and brutally beaten in Central Park by a gang of thugs, then waking up in hospital only to find out that the love of your life has been buried while you were in a three week long coma.

The Brave One takes you on a journey of what it means to loose everything, to become a shadow of yourself, propelled by a very strong performance by Jodi Foster as Erica Bain. We watch as she finds herself crippled by fear, unable to step over the threshold between her home and the city she once felt safe in, now turned against her. When she does find the strength to leave, she's caught up in a convenience store shooting and surprises herself by killing the attacker. And so begins her mission to take the law into her own hands, killing those who abuse, taunt and betray, yet always remaining the victim of violence On the way, she catches the attention of NYPD Detective Mercer (Terrence Howard), the lead investigator in what becomes known as the "vigilante killings". They form a close bond, though the basis of it is not always clear. It's a pity that so much of the film's focus is on the murders, preventing the audience from exploring Erica's character deeper. You wonder why she has no friends and what her logic is for not seeking help when she is clearly loosing her mind. However, what the narrative may lack depth and dimension is balanced out by the cinematography, most notably the artful juxtaposition of tender love making and gory violence to signify her pain. And while the ending may feel like somewhat of an anti-climax after spending the past two hours jumping out of your seat, it never the less brings the journey satisfyingly full-circle.

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