The Brave One

A woman struggles to recover from a brutal attack by setting out on a mission for revenge.

I like a good revenge flick, but in all honesty, they do tend to prioritise style over substance in the majority of cases. The Brave One differentiates itself in this regard and, though it often likes to think it's more profound than it actually is, there's a lot more on offer than the average movie killing spree.

This is much more of a character study than an action film, or even a thriller. The focus is very much held over Foster's character, Erica, and her struggle to go on living after the loss of the person closest to her in horrific circumstances. This feeds into an exploration of some difficult moral questions, though it does occasionally feel like this ground is already well trodden. What sets is apart is the perceived weakness of the character and the idea that anyone can be pushed to these kinds of extremes given the right conditions.

Whilst this is not a film that revels in violence on a stylistic level, it can certainly be said to do so on a cathartic level. The lingering focus on some events is consistently coupled with Erica's reactions, attempting to give us further insight into her internal struggle to grasp the nature and meaning of what she has become. However, this isn't always the case, and the movie shies away from some moments, preferring to deal with the aftermath, rather than the act itself. There are also some nice subtle touches at these points, her moral justification sometimes giving way to behaviours more akin to a serial killer.

On the negative side of things, the first twenty minutes or so can be a bit of a slog. The plot goes to great lengths in trying to emphasise how close Erica and her husband to be, David, are. This comes across a little heavy-handed at times and is arguably unnecessary, given how the rest of the story plays out. The opposite is true of her relationship with Howard's Detective Mercer. They go from being strangers to the closest of friends in what seems like minutes. Aside from these concerns, the plot generally holds up quite well, though I am inclined to point out that this must be the unluckiest woman in New York considering all the dangerous situations she seems to find herself in as the flick gets going. 

As for the stars, I'm a big fan of Jodie Foster and she gives a good performance here. Plenty of versatility is required for the role as the character develops and she handles it with ease. The shift from paranoid and traumatised to strong and fearless is measured well and there are many subtle nuances required to keep the arc feeling natural, all of which she communicates with unobtrusive skill.

As a whole, it's an enjoyable film, though a little on the clumsy side at certain points. The most interesting aspects are by far the themes of overcoming great loss and coming out the other side. The moral ambiguity also throws up some philosophical considerations and dodges more than a few Hollywood tropes along the way. Well worth the time.

The Verdict:

7/10
A revenge flick with a difference. Relatively stale moral wrangling is tempered by some intriguing character study that stands up to scrutiny well.