Latest Foster flick morally bankrupt, discriminating

September 17, 2007 —

It's really a shame when good actors take crappy parts, but it's even worse when there doesn't seem to be any justification.

I can understand the idea of a role being fun or interesting to do, but what possible excuse is there for a role like that of Erica Bain by Jodi Foster? Mind you, I'm not a huge fan of Foster, but I admit she is a good actor. All too often, however, she seems to choose either a very similar or a very terrible role, or maybe those two things coincide.

This recent venture is a film called The Brave One, and Foster plays a woman turned vigilante after she and her fiance (Naveen Andrews of Lost) are brutally attacked (he dies). She slowly overcomes this tragedy and soon turns to exacting revenge on those of the likes that ruined her life. Terrence Howard shows up to play the detective in charge of she and her fiance's case, and then, of course, the case of this female vigilante - what a coincidence.

I can't remember the last time I saw a film so blatantly politically incorrect. Actually, I can, but it was a comedy. The Brave One is a drama and takes itself seriously. It's meant to be a morality tale questioning what real justice is, but in the end, Foster's character exacts this justice on, most often, minorities. This fact makes Andrews's and Howards's roles in the film seem more like a counterbalance than anything else. There is even a moment when an elderly woman with an unidentified past suggests that Foster's character is justified because of the terrible circumstances in a third-world country she used to live in. Are we meant to think that a single, white, female vigilante would right the social injustices of nations like this if given the chance?

What further takes away from any merit in the film is the contrite dialogue between its characters. At times, it seems as if the film is meant to be operating more as a darker, graphic novel-type film rather than a realistic tragedy and revenge tale.

Even worse, Foster's character justifies her actions several times throughout the film by attacking the media at one point and at another, somehow relates killing dangerous gang members to the war in Iraq.

Worse yet, people actually applaud her being a serial killer because she's killing "bad" people (ignoring the racism of this idea, the sheer ludicrousness of rooting for a serial killer almost makes you want to laugh at the pretense).

Then comes the long, drawn-out and inane scene between Foster and Howard where it is clear he knows who she is and she knows he knows, but the scene goes on and on with them referencing her vigilante endeavors in obscure, metaphorical, or non-referential ways without either of them ever coming out to say it. I suppose it was meant to add drama and suspense - "Oh, no! The cop knows!" It fails.

At the end of the day, what appears before you on the screen is a decent thematic with a poor plot, a terrible script and some leading actors that could have either done so much more with their roles or been doing other roles that would have been much more worthwhile.