The Brave One

Without doubt, the most powerful acting performance I have recently seen is Jodie Foster's portrayal of night owl radio host Erica Bain. Jodie was nominated for a Golden Globe Best Actress for the role, but why she didn't win is a mystery to me as is the fact the film didn't sweep the Oscars, including best actress! Possibly the film is a little too raw? I don't know... Anyway, to the important stuff. If you haven't seen the film already, you are in for one major treat! And I won't spoil the film by telling you how the story ends. It won't spoil your "experience" of this film if I tell you, Jodie Foster's character, Erica suffers a deeply traumatic event and we experience this event in graphic detail. Traumatic events change us. We are challenged. Our world is turned upside down and the trauma is deepened when the act or event that changed us is totally unnecessary cruel, brutality. When another person enters our life with the sole intent to victimize, injure or kill it is a shock. When that person enters our life totally unprovoked and devastates our world the shock is numbing. We see this numbing shock written all too clearly on Jodie's face as she brilliantly portrays Erica's sheer horror, grief and emotionally crippling pain. This is a painful film to watch, but if you stick with it you will experience your heart-wrenching sympathy for Erica turn to pride and to awe... We learn something about ourselves in this film. Jodie Foster's performance is so powerful, so brave, she holds a mirror to the face of humankind and we see how we can all dig deep in times of terrible trauma and discover a strength that will surprise us all. I heartily recommend this film.

Tim Rees
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