THE BRAVE ONE (2007) - ♦♦♦

Directed by - Neil Jordan

Written by - Roderick Taylor, Bruce A. Taylor, Cynthia Mort

Starring - Jodie Foster

"NEIL JORDAN takes us through the dark side of New York city streets, and explores the disenchantment of a post 9/11 society by telling the story of a seemingly happy female radio talk show host whose life turns topsy turvy when her partner is killed in a brutal and random attack. Fuelled by anger and dismay, she turns into a shock jock and radio vigilante, despite her seemingly innocent looks. 

JODIE FOSTER plays the leading character in THE BRAVE ONE, and she does so with credibility, particularly in the chronicling of her descent into darker territories that lead her to questioning her own stance on morality by carrying out deeds she did not think she ever could. Her inclusion in the film quietly feels like a bonus tribute to an earlier work that dealt with similar issues - TAXI DRIVER, which she of course starred in. 

Some faults can be found in THE BRAVE ONE's inconsistent pacing, unable to balance the character development with the unravelling of a gripping plot, and inevitably struggling to choose which side of the story should be given the most important. It is possible that the editing was done with an awareness of a possible target audience. 

Nevertheless the psychological intensity of the film is still undeniably quite interesting, and even its anger and outrage feels intense and genuine, in a modern noir film that figures as one of the most underrated works by JORDAN."

Drama, USA/Australia