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| Reviewed by: Chris Burton 18 Feb 2008 Brave One, The
| |  Jodie Foster is one of the finest actresses in Hollywood, but she doesn't make that many films. Generally, she chooses good projects. They may either be smaller independent films about gay cowboys eating pudding or action films about some crazy lady on an airplane. The Brave One is an amalgam of Taxi Driver, Death Wish, Dirty Harry, and a very special episode of Blossom.
Foster is Erica Bain, a New York City radio host living an idyllic life with her wonderful fiance' David (Naveen Andrews). All seems well with the world, but life never stays the same for too long. One night on one of their romantic walks in the park, the couple is attacked by three thugs with a taste for blood. They're so sadistic, one of them even films the assault. David is killed, and Erica is beaten within an inch of her life. I know, this all sounds terribly cliche'....and it is. But director Neil Jordan handles the subject matter pretty maturely, and it fortunately does not become ridiculously laughable. We feel for poor Erica as she now must cope with the loss of her man.
Once a personable and vibrant businesswoman and talk show host, Erica becomes a much different animal after the death of her fiance'. She can't leave the apartment. She can't sleep. She's a wreck. Then, she turns to the idea of vengeance. She want to go after the gang who attacked her. But first, she must conveniently witness a few crimes that only she can stop. There is a robbery and shooting at a convenience store. She takes the dude out. She's about to be raped on the subway, she takes the dudes out.
The media grabs hold of the story of a vigilante killer, and the public seizes on it. They begin to root for this mysterious hero. NYPD Detective Mercer (Terrence Howard) is assigned to the case. It would probably be unfair to divulge any more of the plot here. If you think this movie is your cup of tea, check it out. Just ignore the cliches.
This outstanding HD-DVD is presented in 2.40:1 widescreen and encoded at 1080p. Since its such recent source material, I was expecting nothing less than excellence, and I was not disappointed. The palette of colors is incredible, with blues being especially bold and vibrant. The film often tries to give a spooky mood, and it usually doesn't succeed, but thats not to detract away from the video quality, those are script problems. Shadow detail is spot-on, with great three dimensionality to the image. There are no imperfections- no blemishes, or obtrusive grain. Basically, the video presentation is perfect.
Coming in a close second is the audio. Presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround, this is by no means a standard-fare action movie. However, the mix is perfect for the film. The soundfield is accurate and perfect. Dialogue is incredibly crisp and clear. Surround are quite active, just not quite as much as in a war movie- but thats to be expected. Bass is deep and heavy, rocking your seat during the creepier scenes that try to set the mood and atmosphere. |
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Copyright (c) 2007 Rock Star Media Works, Inc. All rights reserved.
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