RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / The Brave One
The Brave One

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Brave One (2007)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
43 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:178

Fresh:77

Rotten:101

Average Rating:5.6/10

Consensus: Magnetic by between Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard can't quite compensate for The Brave One's problematic and unconvincing eye-for-an-eye moral.

Runtime: 2 hrs 2 mins

Genre: Justice, Thriller, Theatrical Release, New York City, Revenge

US Box Office: $36,765,734

Synopsis: For Erica Bain (Jodie Foster), the streets of New York are both her home and her livelihood. She shares the sounds and the stories of her beloved city with her radio audience as the host of the... For Erica Bain (Jodie Foster), the streets of New York are both her home and her livelihood. She shares the sounds and the stories of her beloved city with her radio audience as the host of the show "Street Walk." At night, she goes home to the love of her life, her fiance David Kirmani (Naveen Andrews). But everything Erica knows and loves is ripped from her on one terrible night when she and David are ambushed in a random, vicious attack that leaves David dead and Erica close to it. Though Erica's broken body heals, deeper wounds remain--the devastation of losing David and, even more overwhelming, a suffocating fear that haunts her every step. The city streets she had once loved to roam, even places that had been warm and familiar, now feel strange and threatening. When the fear finally becomes too much to bear, Erica makes a fateful decision to arm herself against it. The gun in her hand becomes a tangible way to protect herself from an intangible enemy...or so she thinks. The first time she shoots someone, it is kill or be killed. The second time is also in self-defense...or did she make a choice not to take herself out of harm's way? The fear that had once paralyzed her has been replaced by something else...something that drives her to reclaim the life that was taken from her that night...something that Erica does not even recognize in herself. Stories of an anonymous vigilante grip the city, and NYPD detective Sean Mercer (Terrence Howard) becomes increasingly determined to track down the killer. As he pieces together the clues, the evidence begins to point not to a guy with a gun...but a woman with a grudge. With Mercer closing in and her own conscience trying her, Erica must decide whether her quest for some form of justice, and even vengeance, is truly the right path, or if she has become the very thing she is hunting. Two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster ("The Silence of the Lambs," "The Accused") and Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard ("Hustle & Flow," "Crash") star in "The Brave One." The film is directed by Academy Award winner Neil Jordan ("The Crying Game") and produced by Joel Silver ("The Matrix" trilogy, "V For Vendetta") and Susan Downey ("Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang"). The main cast also includes Naveen Andrews (TV's "Lost," "The English Patient") as David, Erica's fiance; Nicky Katt ("Grindhouse") as Mercer's partner, Detective Vitale; and Academy Award winner Mary Steenburgen ("Melvin and Howard") as Carol, Erica's boss at the radio station. Jordan directed "The Brave One" from a screenplay by Roderick Taylor & Bruce A. Taylor and Cynthia Mort, story by Roderick Taylor & Bruce A. Taylor. Herbert W. Gains, Jodie Foster, Dana Goldberg and Bruce Berman served as executive producers. The behind-the-scenes creative team included Oscar-winning director of photography Philippe Rousselot ("A River Runs Through It"), marking his fourth collaboration with Jordan, production designer Kristi Zea ("The Departed"), Jordan's longtime editor Tony Lawson ("Michael Collins," "The End of the Affair"), costume designer Catherine Thomas ("Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2") and Oscar-nominated composer Dario Marianelli ("Pride & Prejudice"). "The Brave One" is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production. "The Brave One" has been rated R by the MPAA for strong violence, language and some sexuality. --© Warner Bros [More]

Starring: Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, Nicky Katt

Starring: Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, Nicky Katt, Mary Steenburgen

Director: Neil Jordan

Director: Neil Jordan
Screenwriter: Roderick Taylor, Bruce A. Taylor, Cynthia Mort
Story: Roderick Taylor, Bruce A. Taylor
Producer: Joel Silver, Susan Downey
Composer: Dario Marianelli
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • "Restricted" Trailer
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Brave One

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Powerful themes, intense emotions and a faultless performance from Jodie Foster are central to Neil Jordan's film, yet I have a fundamental problem with the story's morals, condoning violence, revenge and the protagonist taking the law into her own hands

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/05/07
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
10/19/07
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The performers, however, almost make us forget the problems with the script. Foster and Howard are a riveting pair.

Full Review Source: KPBS.org | comment Comment
09/07/07
Beth Accomando
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

Jodie Foster creates a symphony of raw emotions. A huge crowd pleaser.

Full Review Source: FilmsInReview.com | comment Comment
09/12/07
Victoria Alexander
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com

Kill 'em Jodie.

Full Review Source: Denton Record Chronicle (TX) | comment Comment
09/23/07
Boo Allen
Boo Allen
Denton Record Chronicle (TX)

[Jordan] presents the material with intelligence. Unfortunately, intelligence is not what this movie needs.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
09/13/07
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Didn't I just see this film two weeks ago with Kevin Bacon in Death Sentence? Terrance Howard is strong, though. Funny lines from Nicky Katt.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Report Card | comment Comment
09/15/07
Ross Anthony
Ross Anthony
Hollywood Report Card

Jordan je, koriste%u0107i svoj nesumnjivi re%u017Eijski talent, snimio film koji je istovremeno i staromodan i moderan

Full Review Source: Index.hr | comment Comment
04/10/08
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
Index.hr

The switch is flipped so quickly by Erica that I didn't root for her vengeance, I felt sorry for her.

Full Review Source: The Scorecard Review | comment Comment
03/03/08
Jeff Bayer
Jeff Bayer
The Scorecard Review

Foster convinces as the petrified victim turned vengeful killer and Howard is superb as the world weary detective. Together, they just about managed to save a frequently ham-fisted script.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
09/28/07
Bill Beattie
Bill Beattie
Sky Movies

At its best, this high-toned vigilante picture depicts a woman almost literally transformed by violence, first as a victim, then as a participant; she could be a cousin to one of the car-wreck victims in David Cronenberg's 'Crash.'

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
09/21/07
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Although it is bloody and at times brutal, it doesn't revel in the violence. There's more to the movie than initially meets the eye for an eye.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
09/11/07
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

It's lily-livered narrative cowardice, and I reject it.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
09/14/07
Amy Biancolli
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle

Even the masterful Jodie Foster can't manage to raise this sluggish vigilante yarn above other movies of its ilk.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
09/14/07
Kit Bowen
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com

We loved looking at the movie. The performances from Foster and Howard are absolutely terrific. What the hell any of it means escapes us.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
09/14/07
Liz Braun
Liz Braun
Jam! Movies

Too unpleasantly stern to be exploitation, and too bloodthirsty to be drama.

Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment Comment
09/21/07
Tim Brayton
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy

Foster's achievement is maintaining her humanity and keeping us on her side at all times.

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
09/11/07
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

Bull's-eye.

Full Review Source: Houston Community Newspapers | comment Comment
09/16/07
Gary Brown
Gary Brown
Houston Community Newspapers

Works as exploitation but fails at anything more socially relevant.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
09/19/07
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

Una película mediocre, sensacionalista y manipuladora filmada por un buen director.

Full Review Source: Uruguay Total | comment Comment
10/31/07
Enrique Buchichio
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Brave One

February 04, 2008: RT on DVD: The Brave One, Assassination of Jesse James Fire Onto DVD
It's a week of bravura performances among new releases, so pick your favorite headliner and go: Jodie Foster going vigilante (The Brave One), Casey Affleck turning traitor (The... More...

December 13, 2007: Atonement Leads Golden Globe Nominations
The nominations for the 65th annual Golden Globe Awards were announced this morning. Did your favorite films, stars, and songs make the cut? More...

October 10, 2007: Warner Bros. Responds to "No More Female Films" Rumors
It seems that reports of Warner Bros. president of production Jeff Robinov's misogyny were greatly exaggerated. More...

September 30, 2007: Box Office Guru Wrapup:Game Plan Rushes Past Kingdom For #1 Spot
In a fierce head-to-head battle, The Rock's family comedy The Game Plan upset Jamie Foxx's action thriller The Kingdom this weekend and became the first PG-rated film since June... More...

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

89% 89% Up in the Air 14/1
— The Tooth Fairy 14/1
— Bran Nue Dae 14/1

What’s Hot On RT

Inception Trailer

Inception Trailer

See the new trailer for Chris Nolan's latest

2010's Biggest Films

2010's Biggest Films

We preview all the new year's major releases

Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia

Go behind the scenes with this new clip

Producers Guild

Producers Guild

See which films topped the pre-Oscar US noms

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • George Lucas Talks Star Wars Source: Collider.com
18
  • Spider-Man 4: A Sequel in Search of a Script Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
74
  • Sam Mendes in Discussions for Bond 23 Source: Los Angeles Times
34
  • Christopher Lee, Heavy Metal Rock God Source: Videogum
5
  • Weekly Ketchup: Annual Ketchup Edition
74
  • Harold Ramis Discusses Filmography, Teases Ghostbusters 3 Source: Heeb Magazine
16
  • National Film Registry Adds 2009 Selections Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • New Moon Tops Moviefone's 2009 List Source: Hollywood Reporter
30
  • Star Trek Tops 2009's Most-Pirated Movies List Source: Hollywood Reporter
19
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
114
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Continues Its Run In 2010
231
  • Awards Tour: 2010 People's Choice Awards Winners!
177
  • Rotten Tomatoes Is Joining Forces With Flixster!
50
  • Weekly Ketchup: Annual Ketchup Edition
37
  • Awards Tour: The Hurt Locker Wins Big At National Society of Film Critics Awards
37
  • Five Favorites of the Five Favorite Films of 2009
36
  • Friday Harvest: Eclipse, Robin Hood, and more!
31
  • Awards Tour: Producers Guild Announces Nominees
25
  • Total Recall: Amy Adams' Best Movies
18
  • Awards Tour: Directors Guild Association Announces Nominees
5
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
76
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
22
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
24
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
16
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Brave One at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Brave One at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
40 Best Films of the 2000s
40 Best Films of the 2000s External Link

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

Competitions
Win Funny People on DVD
Win Funny People on DVD External Link

We're giving away copies of Judd Apatow's latest.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo
About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2010, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.