Poetic Film Review: The Brave One (2007)

In Hollywood's first decade of the 21st century,
Political correctness reigned supreme, it's true,
Yet, a few experiments strayed from the left-wing line,
One such film was The Brave One, a crime-drama divine.

Joel Silver, famed producer of action-packed thrillers,
Joined forces with Neil Jordan, a master of art cinema,
And Jodie Foster, an Oscar-winner with talent that kills,
Together, they crafted a story that would leave audiences thrilled.

Charles Bronson, the missing star of the show,
A legendary actor with many iconic roles to bestow,
His most famous part, the fascist monster of Death Wish,
A character that today's "wokesters" would love to dismiss.

Paul Kersey, a pacifist intellectual turned vigilante,
A hero that made liberals and leftists irate,
His quest for justice and revenge on the streets of New York,
A tale of violence and retribution, a story that would rock.

Thirty-three years later, Erica Bain takes the stage,
A radio host and writer, a liberal intellectual engaged,
Her life shattered by a tragic, senseless crime,
She awakens from a coma to find her fiancé killed, a new path she must climb.

With a gun in her hand, she takes to the streets alone,
A new persona born, a "cleaner" of New York's dark unknown,
Detective Mercer, played by Terrence Howard with grace,
Investigates the murders, a solitary avenger in his face.

Though critics panned the film, some saw it as a failure,
A shallow excursion into exploitation's darker alley,
Enough creative energy infused to rise above the rest,
Jordan's direction, casting, and Howard's performance were the best.

Howard's portrayal of Mercer, a weary, scarred cop,
Carried the film on his shoulders, a character we could cope,
Foster's Erica, though complex and layered with care,
Fell victim to a script that tried too hard to be fair.

A tale of transformation, of justice and retribution,
A homage to the 70s and 80s, a genre that's pure and true,
The Brave One, a film that straddles old and new,
A story that satisfies, despite a pessimistic view anew.

(Note: The review in its original form can be read here.)

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