Wow! Such a good movie.

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I just watched the movie on a Serbian cable channel, blissfully ignorant about it, and after the opening sequence in which Jodie Foster¨s character suffered that tragedy, I rushed to my computer to check the plot; I expected some boring, spiritual post-postmodern stuff like a mixture of "Ghost" movie and finding peace in meeting "a good person" who is soul twin of lost beloved one, and so on, but no - I discovered it is a "Death Wish" remake, updated in terms of political and gender correctness (and also in terms of mobile technology).And I loved it, specially compared to move "Larry Crowne" who I saw couple of days earlier on the same channel, and I discovered I had no patience anymore for such romance lemonades, and I was happy to continue watching "The Brave One".It's been quite a while since I wrote my last review, 15 years or so (!; in the mean time Mr. Ebert passed away...), and this probably doesn't look like a review at all, rather more like a blog of a wannabe vigilante.However, anyways, I got thrilled by the movie. Both films - I mean both "Larry Crowne" and "The Brave One" are equally improbable and spectator must suspend indeed disbelief for both, but "The Brave One" feels so good, it so good to see thugs killed, shot, smashed, destroyed.The plot is more elaborate and ethically better explained than in "Death Wish 1 and 2", it began as I said as predictable story of traumatized woman who needs a shrink who would tell her at the end of the film "It's not your fault", because the good shrinks always tells those words and the patient always get cured after that. I even thought it was a true story, as for example about that woman who recognized black cop as a culprit and he got sentenced to 20 years or to life, and I thought it was going to be another heavy film, only less convincing than an average episode for CBS Reality channel.But no, "The Brave One" was more plausible than kitchen reality programme with Anthony Burdain "The Taste" with its bland, fake quarrels.I loved silent agreement between Jodie Foster and Terence Howard. His character - homicide detective with a soul - is in fact most unbelievable character, but it is like libretto in opera: sounds silly, but singers (that is actors) make it credible. It is hard to imagine such police officer in real life, but Howard did it.Last third of the movie is little bit too slow in this complicated fermentation of their relationship, but in that respect the movie is building some more upon "Death Wish", creating some biblical dilemmas and abandoning concept of pure urban western story line.The film has but one comical relief but it is a good one; when young pot smoker is giving description for photo robot, and when he is describing Jodie's character and when he is talking about arrrs, breasts etc, and female police officer at the computer is just shaking her head on it. I can easily imagine audience giggling in the cinemas and long after the film is finished, when people for example stopped over in a pub for a drink.Tho most improbable thing in the film is that point when Jodie's character lost her Ipod in the subway (after very second vigilante shooting) they did not manage to discover anything. I mean, in this time when even hotmail.com is helplessly slowed down so as NSA can read each mail first and when satellites can trace your phones via FB accounts, com'on, that is ludicrous, but I still love that film.This is "Death Wish" free of sexism and open to women's point of view.What a great movie. I assume this film amongst other movies and books is announcing this populist wave which was crowned by Mr. Trump's victory. Those waves alternates every 11-14 years. For example W. Wellman's western "The Ox-Bow Incident" with Henry Fonda from 1943 is typical leftist, liberal movie against lynch, and 14 years later Fonda repeated same liberal attitude in Mr. Lummet's "12 Angry Men". In the mean time we saw right-wing paranoid movies in same time circles.What about "The Brave One", one might ask, is it leftists' movie or right-wing? It is right-wing, in disguise of lonesome woman's revenge. But it's just a theory, perhaps for some film columnist.This movie is soothing balsam for scared people's wounded hearts. One cannot believe any more that Tom Hanks character "Larry Crowne" can seduce Julia Roberts bitchhhy character (Hanks as a producer and actor even managed to destroy "Charlie Wilson's War" which had such a potential!), nor in ghosts who can time travel, neither in guarding angels and White Light at the end of a tunnel. But one WANTS to believe that thugs get punished in a foreseeable future.If it is not possible, it should have been possible.

The Brave One (2007): Dir: Neil Jordan / Cast: Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, Nicky Katt, Mary Steenburgen: Why they titled this film as such is a puzzle. There is nothing brave about what Erika Bain does here. She is a radio personality whose fiancée is killed during a mugging and her purchases of an illegal gun and begins to pick off muggers, pimps and general outcasts. Total recycled without a shred of originality. Charles Bronson practically pioneered this plot with Death Wish, but Zoe Tamerlis made for a much more fetching heroine in Ms. 45. This is the total opposite of the storytelling that worked so well in those films. Director Neil Jordan does his best but this is a far cry from the originality of his previous film Breakfast On Pluto. Jodie Foster is one of the finest actresses of her generation but as Bain she is reduced too a formula plot where contrivances occur almost by the second. Terrence Howard plays a police detective who will end up turning a blind eye because we're called to view her as a symbol of good despite her questionable sense of direction. Naveen Andrews as Foster's fiancée isn't very broad, and Nicky Katt as Howard's partner is wasted. Contrived bullshit happens once a robbery and murder occur right after Bain purchases a gun. With that said, this is far beneath Jordan and Foster who both must brave the reduction. Score: 2 / 10

There's always something deeply unsatisfying about a Neil Jordan movie . MONA LISA contains a great cast and a character driven plot but you're unable to put your finger on why it's a film that never seems as good as it should be . THE CRYING GAME suffers from being a gimmick movie and MICHAEL COLLINS is epic and grandiose but concerns itself more with romanticised Hollywood nonsense rather than historical integrity. THE BRAVE ONE continues this frustrating career path by Jordan I must admit I'm a big fan of the vigilante sub genre . By the same yardstick I also have to admit how self limiting this type of film is . Shane Meadow's brought something new to the vigilante revenge drama with DEAD MAN'S SHOES with a bizarre subplot and Nick Love deconstructed the vigilante film OUTLAW with its moronic posse but here Jordan brings nothing new to the table Not only that but you're reminded of much better films . A man walks in to an all night store and shoots the owner . You'll be reminded of the far superior TAXI DRIVER . A couple of muggers get shot on the subway . Hey just like in DEATH WISH which while being simplistic and low brow was a groundbreaking film and superior to THE BRAVE ONE . Even the cinematography seems very similar to that of David Fincher and it's difficult not to notice the pretensions the film alludes to . You wonders if Jordan is aping Fincher's style on purpose THE BRAVE ONE continues Jordan's resume of having never made a satisfying movie . This movie has a relatively good cast , features a premise that appeals to anyone who thinks criminals are allowed to operate with impunity ie everyone in the entire world , but never manages to fully engage the audience . You've seen this type of movie before and you've certainly seen it if not done better than at least done in a more enjoyable way

... can cross that line. Said to all who forgot it or like do deny.What remains when happiness disappears and you're willing not to fake yourself but then faking yourself with shootings in which 'the others' die instantly without a scream and your gun is always loaded?I once held a drawn bow in my hand and know how a loaded weapon changes the feeling of the own body. Jodie Foster knows it and although she had inscribed her face to a character who makes use of the light trigger she always makes clear that this is not the only way. The movie shows full respect from different views to this fundamental issue by leaving enough silence to become aware about the movie in spectator's brain.The story seems only like a muzzy frame disintegrating itself when ever it is possible while "making a movie".Every single human being has to figure out how to live with fear - how to live at all, even "with a grudge". That's hard, yes.What can happen when some of the best meet and do their best to make art out of a "kind-of-standard-topic" using the financial power, knowledge and the equipment of the worlds most famous entertainment industries? You can see it when watching "The Brave One". The story disappears more and more every time I watch this magnificent work, but what I see still grips me tight and I feel my face getting wet. Mostly silent. Listen to Jodie Foster's voice during the 2 minutes (from the last caller on) when the first of her shots is heard again and Erica leaves the studio at 1:14:25. Emily Dickinsons poem „Death" spoken with a dark voice while putting gloves on - ennobled by a touch of music - just as she is called by name on the street in the night, between the last time she rather voiceless had tried to be received by a police officer and then calling the new friend on the phone in the night while waiting for the next one to kill. Anyway.~ * ~In my mind "The Brave One" is already far beyond questions about law or morality. There is no cheat code and no ace up my sleeve. Even if I think so. But then a reminder asks me to listen again carefully how heart and brain sound together.Some thankful words to Ene Oloja: Without you this film was simply impossible. Although this is only a story someone with open eyes had to wipe up the blood. God is a woman.How to come to an end? Simply stop writing and post the lines to where it's intended to.And forget about Erica Bain - if I can.