I would agree with those who say that Jodi Foster is the redeeming factor in this film. I remember how much fun it was to pull for Charles Bronson in those Death Wish things (the early one's; not the silly sequels). How can one not empathize with her character. The thing is that it's easy for Hollywood to appeal to our baser instincts. This does and it wouldn't sustain long term interest if it was just anyone portraying the central figure. Of course, there are factors to face, like "if you set foot on the street, is there routinely someone out there that is just waiting for you"? But the cheap thrills are more than compensated for by Foster's masterful acting style and her incredible demeanor. While it stretches the bounds of credibility, once I set that aside, I was able to enjoy the ride. It's certainly cathartic if nothing else.

Police detective in New York City is befriended by a female talk-radio hostess who makes acerbic/introspective comments on daily life in the Big Apple; her past as the near-fatal victim of murderous street thugs connects in his mind with the current rash of celebrated vigilante killings...but if his hunch is right, will he be able to arrest someone he has come to admire? Despite a dreamy, somewhat disconnected narrative which gives the proceedings almost a surreal feeling, this violent urban thriller is absorbing and intriguing, if familiar. Jodie Foster is very capable in the role of this intense, mourning and benumbed woman who isn't quite sure what her feelings are regarding the low-life she kills, yet the character as conceived is tough for us to reach. Speaking in a low monotone (and grieving for her slain boyfriend in much the same way),Foster doesn't shake the audience up--and she doesn't propel the film forward. She is highly sympathetic and human, yet she seems to drift through this hellish jungle with a halo and a gun. Director Neil Jordan certainly stacks the deck against her, which should be enough to get viewers rooting for this modern-day "Ms. 45", however the picture remains aloof, detached. As the detective, Terrence Howard does well with an old-hat role, and the actors playing the punks are all quite convincing. There's a plot thread involving an i-phone recording of the beating Foster and her fiancée suffer which doesn't come off (it seems dropped in),and another scene with Foster saving a young woman from a pimp that feels sketchy. Still, the movie looks classy, has skillful editing and a satisfying wrap-up, and makes fine usage of Sarah McLachlan's song "Answer". **1/2 from ****

The Brave One casts Jodie Foster as an iconoclastic radio talk show personality kind of modeled on Allison Steele from the 70s and 80s who has a normal happy life with boyfriend Naveen Andrews and their dog. One night a gang of thugs in Central Park kidnap the dog, molest her and kill Andrews not necessarily in that order. The experience changes her into a Charles Bronson Death Wish type vigilante avenger.

After Foster buys a gun more as a feel good type of protection should she need it she has occasion to use it after she witnesses a murder and then kills the murderer. It gets easier each time as the cool ruler of the night air becomes a relentless stalker of the evil.

A rather stupid encounter at the scene of one homicide with the detective on her case Terrence Howard sets his investigative antennae in her direction. But Howard has an interesting agenda of his own and in the end all the loose ends are tied and Foster still has her own demons to deal with.

Second Amendment fans will no doubt cheer this film on just as they did with Charles Bronson's Death Wish series. Since the last century Foster has had some interesting personal projects, not as quirky as some of Johnny Depp's work, but still personal as in artistic.

The Brave One is personal, but hardly artistic. Enough blood and gore to satisfy action fans and a ringing feminist message for the female members of the audience. It won't be rated as one of Jodie Foster's best films.