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The Brave One
2007 122 min United States of America R 16+
★6.3
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Neil Jordan
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
A woman struggles to recover from a brutal attack by setting out on a mission for revenge.
Budget:
$70M
US Gross:
$36.79M
Worldwide:
$69.77M
Starring
Jodie Foster
Actor
Terrence Howard
Actor
Naveen Andrews
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2008
— Best Actress (Drama)
Key opinion
The Brave One is a polarized psychological thriller that gains significant emotional weight from Jodie Foster’s commanding performance. While many appreciate its philosophical exploration of vengeance and moral decay, others find the narrative hampered by derivative genre tropes and an inconsistent, often unconvincing plot.
| Acting | Jodie Foster anchors the film with a layered, emotionally raw performance that effectively portrays the heroine's transformation from victim to vigilante. | |
| Theme | The film elevates the standard revenge narrative by prioritizing psychological and philosophical reflection over conventional action beats. | |
| Acting | Terrence Howard provides a strong, sympathetic performance that effectively serves as a moral counterpoint to the protagonist's descent. | |
| Screenplay | The script is hindered by contrived plot developments and dialogue that occasionally lean into the absurd or overly dramatic. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the pacing are split; some find the contemplative, character-driven tempo immersive, while others view the film as sluggish and lacking in meaningful development. | |
| Direction | The direction is viewed by some as an atmospheric and moody exploration of urban darkness, while others criticize it for failing to offer significant innovation to the genre. |