The Brave One (DVD, 2008, Widescreen)

For the 2nd Time within 2 Weeks comes a major violent movie; in which a "Crime Victim turns Hunter" to 'Exact Revenge'.
Kevin Bacon's 'Death Sentence' (SEE MY REVIEW), was the first one out of the gate; and 'The Brave One' is 'by no means' faultering 2nd out-of-the-gate. Addressing middle-class fears of Urban Crime and Violence; 'The Brave One' is a revenge-thirsty 'Death Wish' that would make even Charles Bronson proud.
'The Brave One'; with an A-List Director in Neil Jordan and Top-Flight Talent in stars Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard is more a combined genius of paranoia, revenge and brutality that succeeds in having it "both ways".
Seeking Vengeance — and not necessarily against solely the people who have actually wronged her — Radio Talk Jock Erica (Foster) feel guilty; but does not stop from making like Charles Bronson and continuing her "One-Woman Vigilante Campaign".
Like 'Death Sentence', 'The Brave One' holds a plot that engages when good people make the mistake of crossing into a land where rules of civilized behavior do not apply. Bacon stopped at a gas station in a bad neighborhood; Erica's Doctor Fiancé David ('Lost's' Naveen Andrews) distractedly throws a ball into a park's lonely tunnel for his dog. When he and Erica step inside to discover what has become of the animal, a group of louts step from the shadows savagely beating and robbing the couple.
She (Foster) awakens from a Coma days later to a radically changed world. The woman who hosts the insipid Talk Show that extols the 'Joys of New York City' now fears the place. She does not want to leave her apartment....and then she buys a gun.
The weapon is for protection; but then forced to - she uses it one night in a case of self-defense, (her first step in transforming into an Urban Hunter). Soon, the tabloids are full of the exploits of this Local Hero.
A Detective, Mercer (Howard), takes charge of the Investigation, vowing to catch someone he regards as no better than the Murdered Criminals. Erica is wracked by guilt, but has the prescence of mind to cover the case on her show and to befriend Mercer.
The vigilante disgusts him; he is a good Cop who believes in the Justice System, even as he privately admits to Erica its failure when it comes to a case that has long obsessed him.
'The Brave One' is viscerally-effective. Foster's histrionics quickly grows. Erica's guilt festers into Vengeance; and becomes less disingenuous, as she begins to continually troll for strangers to dispatch under the merky sides of dark. But can this ultimately be drawn to any peaceful end?
Straight-Up Revenge has created a Warrior; one who has had enough of being a victim; enough of watching others become victims; and has chosen to extol her Virtue and Judgement upon the wicked.
Bravo !! Bravo !!
SEE THIS !!!!