HOW MANY WRONGS TO MAKE IT RIGHT?
NYC radio host Erica Bain (Jodie Foster) and her boyfriend (Naveen Andrews) are attacked in Central Park; he is beaten to death and Erica’s grief isn’t relieved until she buys a gun and shoots the first criminal she sees. Death Wish (1974) gets a modern and surprisingly effective remake in the hands of a very persuasive filmmaker. There are many similarities to the original, but the script treats the classic dilemma with greater intelligence; its final conclusion is hardly moral but it is interesting to see how this film reflects the problem with the “war on terror”. Foster brilliantly balances the roles of a victim and an avenger; Terrence Howard is also good as an almost equally damaged cop.
2007-U.S. 122 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Susan Downey, Joel Silver. Directed by Neil Jordan. Screenplay: Roderick Taylor, Bruce A. Taylor, Cynthia Mort. Cast: Jodie Foster (Erica Bain), Terrence Howard (Mercer), Naveen Andrews (David Kirmani), Carmen Ejogo, Nicky Katt, Mary Steenburgen.
Last word: “The movie is not about vengeance; I think it’s actually about rage. She loves this city but also hates it – in the way she loves this part of herself emerging that’s authentic and real but also despicable and hateful.” (Foster, New York Magazine)
