[Model Citizen]

Jodie Foster, Terence Howard, Naveen Andrews.

Foster, some people hate her, myself, I think she is probably the greatest actress alive at present. I can't think of anyone else who could have passed of this role with the same emotion.
She plays Erica Bain, not a DJ, but a lady who works for a radio station doing a show called 'I walk the streets' where she records the sounds of New York and basically tells stories to them on air.

One night, Bain and her fiancee (the Middle Eastern guy from Lost, Naveen Andrews) take their dog for a walk in the park, carefree as they discuss the upcoming wedding.
Things of course go badly and he is killed whilst she is hospitalized in a brutal attack.

The story that follows is basically another Death Wish. It is done superbly though. Terence Howard,as the detective assigned to the various vigilante killings that follows, plus Fosters own performance, make this one of the best films I've seen this year.
Neil Jordan, the director, who I'm not very familiar with, has got the pace of the film perfect. Not once do you think the film is dragging as it focuses on Fosters weakness after the initial attack in the park. You get a very real sense of this womans story, without the need to have her say "I am feeling...' every 5 mins. It's really refreshing to watch a film where your not spoon fed narration but instead watch the characters faces to learn how they feel. It takes a certain level of actor too to accomplish this.
As the story progresses to the finale you see inevitably arriving you almost wish it would'nt. Perhaps just another 30 mins of Foster's street justice. But it is a very satisfying ending. It could be seen as a bit unbelievable, but with the charaterisation it feels spot on.
What's a good rule of thumb for a good movie? One that leaves you thinking 'what happened to him', 'was she OK', 'what happened next'. In other words, characters that stay alive after the credits roll. This has it.

Blu Ray picture and sound are top notch. Sarah McLachlan's vocals on the soundtrack are beautifully crystal clear.
2 hours that flew by.
Rated 5 out of 5

[Antonio_M_S]

I'm awaiting for this to arrive on HD-DVD. I've heard mixed reviews on it but it itself really intrigues me. I've liked what I have seen of it and certain reviewers who I like have loved it so am hoping it finds the right charm with me.

In fact the more and more I hear about it from people like yourself, the more I want to see it. Thanks for your thoughts.