3 of 17

Write now Article Tools

Two years ago a preview story about Flight Plan, suggested that it was similar to Panic Room in that they both featured Foster trapped in a small space. This similarity didn't seem to bother the writer who assured the reader: "Bottom line: we'd pay to watch Jodie trapped in a cardboard box."

If however a viewer saw these two movies and wondered if they were the start of a disheartening trend, they can relax. This is an entirely new movie. It features Jodie Foster going over the edge and killing people. We haven't seen that before, but naturally Jodie does it perfectly.

Foster plays Erica Bain, proud New Yorker, AM radio talk show host, happily engaged to a David, a doctor (Naveen Andrews, of Lost) Though Andrews is unequivocally sexy and their chemistry is convincing we aren't given a chance to get attached. Even if one hasn't seen the preview the doomed soundtrack implies that something bad is about to happen.

Their nightly dog walk through Central Park is brought to a brutal halt when they are attacked by gang members, all the more terrifying for being drunk and stupid. Erica wakes up in the hospital three weeks later to the shocking news that she is alive, her dog is missing and her David is dead.

At first she tries to take revenge through legal channels. She becomes dissatisfied with the police's progress and dedication. Inquiries into her case are responded to with "I understand this may be difficult for you" ,the words are correct and sympathetic but they are spoken without concern or eye contact.

She has no illusion of safety to soothe her and the wound left by her fiance's death is not healing quickly. Even her comforting memories of him are interrupted, in a disturbing sequence that flashes from their love scene to the image of their attack. She feels she has no refuge and no outside help, so she buys a gun to protect herself. At this point she hasn't crossed the line. It takes witnessing another murder, for her to use that gun. From then on she is a controlled cannon, searching for bad guys to take out.

She meets Detective Mercer, played with complexity by Terrence Howard, who bonds with her while attempting to solve the run of vigilante crimes, initially making no connection between the two. Mercer is a good cop who feels hampered by the limits of legality in seeking justice but is unwilling to cross the line that Erica has. She asks him if there's anything he could do to catch a bad guy she winds up offing. Frustration is visible in those warm brown

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Movie reviews: The Brave One?
We want to hear your view. Write now!