The Brave One – a movie that doesn’t make sense
I watched the movie The Brave One over the weekend, and I can’t help but feel that there was so much wrong with it, which is a real shame because Jodi Foster’s portrayal of Erica Bain was inspiring. It was really gritty, but the movie was ridiculous.
How is it possible for one woman to witness first hand so many crimes and unsavory events? Is New York really like that? It was as if every cliché criminal was out there stalking her. She was with her boyfriend in Central Park and they were attacked by a group of thugs who, for reasons undisclosed in the movie, recorded the whole thing on camera.
Then there was Erica Bain’s idiot boyfriend who threw a punch at one of the thugs. There was no reason for that to happen. But, of course, it did, and he was beaten to death. The fact that he was Saeed from Lost doesn’t excuse anything.
Is it really possible to shoot two men on a New York subway train and not be seen? The whole vigilante thing is old and, in this case, pointless. The Brave One could have been a great movie if it had just been given a bit more thought, rather than just handing a woman a gun and having her shoot half a dozen people in the face.
I haven’t seen a really interesting movie in the cinema since Lady in the Water. The new Resident Evil is released in Thailand this week, but I’m expecting it to be awful. As a fan of the game and genre, I’ll still go and see it though.
Seen any good movies lately?
Techno' tags: Thailand, Jodie Foster, The Brave One
Matt I noticed that you have a tendency to take absolutely everything at face value and not search a little deeper afterwards. For me ,TBO was not meant to be literally taken as a real life New York. The theme was meant to be a women standing against crime in a city where the cops had failed the people. The overwhelming crime was a symptom of this and she was meant to "crack". Notice most of the movie is shot in darkness to build this atmosphere.
The BF threw a punch because he was desperate but yes I also wondered why they filmed the assault.
"Bug" was a good movie.
i won't be able to watch saeed as anyone else. hes type cast in my mind. why the hell do thailand get movies before the uk? this isn't out until the 28th here.
If it's not meant to be real-life NY then what is it supposed to be? There was no reason for her to be a vigilante. She was just killing people for the hell of it without any purpose. It was about NY; look at how many times they reference the city by name.
Even if you just look at the theme, straight away she turns on the cops… but why? She says they aren't helping her even before they've spoken or acted. And how have the police even failed her? It's not a realistic picture of urban life. Her actions are irrational. I can't search for deeper meaning in a film that makes no sense when transposed with reality. It wasn't a fantasy film.
Real life NY? I don't think so. Ever see the tv show friends? Is it really possible for a bunch of 20 something with no discernible income to afford a huge loft apartment in Manhattan? Of course not. Just like you couldn't shoot someone on the subway and walk off without anyone noticing. This is not the first time a city has been dramatized for film and won't be the last. Take Collateral with Tom Cruise for example.
I also saw this movie and didn't like it. However, I do think Terrence Howard is a great actor and love watching him on screen.
Haven't seen the movie, but KNOW Foster is one of the best actors out there. That the violence and vigilantism was heavy handed and predictable, well…maybe, but when they put a gun in her hand for revenge…well, I didn't hear the same criticism of Buford Pusser and his Bat, or Rambo and what seemed liked every weapon imaginable. It sounds like this is a movie script that may be gender neutral. Stevie, me boy, would Schwarzenneger have received the same response?