Ever since I watched this movie I've had mixed feelings about it. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something felt wrong. I knew it was a good movie with - as usual - a great Jodie Foster in the lead role, but why was I somewhat disappointed? Then it suddenly hit me! This movie contains a story that has been told so many times before. "Death wish", "Taxi driver", "Batman", "Robocop" and even the video game "Max Payne" all tell similar tales of how a rogue vigilante randomly goes out and kills would-be muggers on the mean streets after dark in their cities.
Thus the biggest flaw of "The brave one" is the story's serious lack of originality. Luckily: the rest is quite good. You care about most of the characters and virtually all acting is really nice; especially Jodie Foster as the frustrated anti-hero and Terrence Howard as the detective who is assigned to crack the case.
The sinister atmosphere that this movie generates is exactly the same as in the 1976 classic "Taxi driver" but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Such a distressing mood gives the impression of being back in the jungle where survival of the fittest is the number one rule. The first crime depicted in this bleak movie is a good example of such a situation. The brutal scene where Jodie Foster and her husband are roughed up by a couple of street punks late at night is truly heartbreaking stuff.
In short: Forget about the fact that this movie tells a worn-out story and you'll enjoy it all the more.
Thus the biggest flaw of "The brave one" is the story's serious lack of originality. Luckily: the rest is quite good. You care about most of the characters and virtually all acting is really nice; especially Jodie Foster as the frustrated anti-hero and Terrence Howard as the detective who is assigned to crack the case.
The sinister atmosphere that this movie generates is exactly the same as in the 1976 classic "Taxi driver" but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Such a distressing mood gives the impression of being back in the jungle where survival of the fittest is the number one rule. The first crime depicted in this bleak movie is a good example of such a situation. The brutal scene where Jodie Foster and her husband are roughed up by a couple of street punks late at night is truly heartbreaking stuff.
In short: Forget about the fact that this movie tells a worn-out story and you'll enjoy it all the more.