Director: Neil Jordan Screenplay: Roderick Taylor & Bruce A. Taylor Genre: Drama - Crime - Thriller Country: USA/Australia Certification: 18 Language: English Released: 11th February, 2008 (DVD)
MAIN CAST:
Jodie Foster (Erica Bain) Terrence Howard (Detective Mercer) Naveen Andrews (Dr. David Kirmani) Ene Oloja (Josai)
Erica, who works as a radio host, is happily preparing for her upcoming marriage to David Kirmani, a doctor. The couple are deeply in love, and appear to have a beautiful future ahead of them… until one night, out walking the dog, they are attacked by three men. The attack is so incredibly brutal and savage that David ends up dying from his wounds, and Erica is left unconscious for nearly three weeks. When she finally wakes up, it will be to discover that David is dead and that she missed his funeral. Devastated, she returns home to the flat she shared with David, and attempts to make sense of the nightmare she has been plunged into.
For the first time in her life, Erica feels fear. Where once she used to love the city and walk the streets without any fear whatsoever, she now feels only terror and anguish. Afraid that she'll be attacked again, she manages to purchase an illegal gun and keeps it with her at all times… which is fortunate, because one evening, when she enters her local shop to purchase something to drink, an enraged gunman enters the shop and kills his ex-wife (who is the cashier). Alone in the shop, a terrified Erica attempts to hide from the gunman, but when he hears a noise and realises that he's not alone, he goes after her. Knowing that he's going to shoot her, she has no choice but to shoot first. In a panic because she knows that she'll get into trouble for carrying an illegal gun without a permit, and that she'll be accused of murder, she runs from the crime scene before the police arrive. Following this incident, Erica begins to change, to harden, and when her life is once again threatened by two violent young men riding in an empty train compartment with her, killing them is no hardship whatsoever.
Jodie Foster is an incredibly talented actress - her movies are always guaranteed to be entertaining… except this one. To give her credit where it is due, the movie's shortcomings have nothing to do with her. The story is interesting, and her acting is sheer brilliance, but the writers and directors focused on the psychological aspect of the movie and this made it drag on, seemingly, forever.
The first 10 minutes of the movie are somewhat bland with Erica and David discussing their upcoming marriage, kissing and cuddling and walking the dog. I say 'bland', because there is no foreboding atmosphere, and, quite honestly, there were no sparks between Jodie Foster and Naveen Andrews… Jodie Foster just isn't good in the role of a woman in love. She excels as an actress because she is just so incredibly intense and volatile when playing deeply disturbed, fearless or courageous characters - but romance is not for her. Therefore, the first scenes with Naveen Andrews just didn't feel 'real'. When they are attacked, the tone of the movie flips to the dark side, and Jodie Foster excels at this, except that this dark-side-flip turns into a never-ending psychological feast that is only satisfying if you're starving. Time just seems to stand still while Erica Bain battles with her psychological demons while pacing the floor in her flat. At one point, you can't help but yawn and wonder if she's ever going to get out of that flat… she does… hurrah… but then she begins to wander the streets at night, and you're thinking; why? Is that a wise thing to do? Would a 'real' woman who has survived a brutal attack in 'real' life actually do that? Don't think so… which sort of leads to the viewer's disenchantment with the writers and the director who failed to notice that the movie had taken the path leading to the 'Twilight Zone'.
Fortunately, the movie gets back on track when Erica Bain turns ruthless vigilante, and her relationship with Detective Mercer is a comfortable one… a relationship that does not possess romantic overtures. This, in itself, is great because Jodie Foster just isn't a good sentimental actress. Her strength of character just doesn't allow for romance. This friendship is an interesting one because Mercer is a fan of hers, he respects her work as a radio host and truly likes her as a person… but as the movie progresses, he becomes suspicious of her - and that's where the tension begins to build because, having already ascertained that he's a really good detective and an equally good man, you can't help but wonder if he'll let Erica get away with murder… literally. What is equally interesting, is the fact that Erica isn't actually trying to get away with murder.. quite the contrary.
All in all, the final 30 minutes are thoroughly riveting… but that isn't enough to make up for the 92 minutes spent delving into the mind of a woman who is trying to overcome grief, fear and anguish.
Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard are brilliant… the movie isn't.
More details
Soundtrack
Weak
How does it compare to others by the same director?
Not applicable
Value for Money
Poor
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Film only
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