Review of film: “THE BRAVE ONE”

Review of film:   “THE BRAVE ONE”  -- Home of The (Morally-Conflicted) Brave (One) =  

                      [ RATING:  7 of 10 stars ] 

Date Rated: Sep 11, 2007 | Rel. Date: Sep 14, 2007

(Based on seeing an advance preview of the film:)  Thankfully, this film did not have the difficult quirkiness of Neil Jordan's 2005 film 'Breakfast On Pluto'.  JODIE FOSTER gives a very strong, stoic performance as a Victim gone mad (who, rather than 'taking' it anymore, prefers to 'DISH it out' to various urban misfits who attack and harm other quasi-Innocents)…

…  TERRENCE HOWARD plays a Police defective who empathizes with her initially, confides in her, and then becomes an unwitting at-least semi-Accomplice to what turns out to be her hidden Revenge-seeking activities. A more apt title might have been “The ANGRY One”…

…  Overall, I found it to be a WELL-DONE thriller (that got the audience cheering at her exploits at numerous occasions-- tho one must wonder in retrospect how 'healthy' that reaction might be society-wise). The stars (and NICKY KATT as Howard's assistant Detective Vitale) give tough, believable performances in a tough, bloody, well-constructed Paean to Retribution.