SHE MADE ME WATCH THIS! The Jodie Foster Edition

After the outtakes I checked the beginning again and I think it's funny that Lori doesn't even say "It's the Jodie Foster edition" after all :-)

Nice commenting and I like your use of quotes of other reviewers. Especially the negative ones (Who cares?). I liked the movie and thought it was entertaining. It did bother me a little that it's not very original but the good acting made this a good movie anyway.

... best.shirt.ever.

Did you plan it out with Jill Bennett?! ;)

First off, Lori your shirt, has Jill Bennett started her own clothing line? lol

And now onto some serious talk... I am stunned at how on opposite ends we are on some of the elements of this vlog. I loved The Brave One, Jodie Foster was so damn good. The woman can talk to me until death follows for all I care. Her voice is something else entirely, one thing we agree on she does have a great voice for radio. Now, that love making scene intertwining with the violence sequence I found absolutely beautiful and I loved how Neil Jordan edited it. At no moment did I thought it was sexualizing violence. To me and how I saw it, was Erica (Foster) remembering and mourning her lover that she deeply loved interchanging with what took him away from her. I thought it was beautifully done. Your comments on how the crowd was cheering with each of the killings surprised me because I had the opposite reaction from the crowd I saw this film with. No one cheered in fact it was dead silent, you could have heard a pin dropped. This film rose some conversation within the group of people I went to see the movie with. Holding a gun does empower a person and that is a scary thought. When you've gone through such a horrible ordeal like the main character's been through, I'm not surprise she felt she needed a gun, and acted the way she did.

I loved the film and being the die hard Jodie Foster fan that I am I will be going to see it again in theatre and I will purchase the movie once it is released on dvd.

Now as the worst Jodie film goes, my vote goes to Five Corners, my god I wanted to shoot myself in the eye during that film. I've tried finishing it, without any success. Dreadful. Best movie? The Brave One is definitely on my top five, along with The Silence of the Lambs, Nell, Little Man Tate AND yes ladies The Accused. Jodie delivered a remarkable performance in The Accused. Though the rape scene was very disturbing, for that period in time I think it was necessary. I also LOVED Taxi Driver, that movie is a classic. Again she pulled one of those amazing performances, so young and being so damn talented.

Darn it I should have taken notes, I know I forgot some stuff I wanted to point out. Oh well.

I had absolutely no intention of seeing that movie... but I think I'll have to, now. Jodie looks absolutely amazing in it!

My favorite Jodie Foster movie is Nell, but I think that may be because it's the first one I remember seeing. I watched it with my mom when I was 12, and fell madly in love with Jodie. Only, I didn't realize it at the time.

I think I'm going to start every sentence like that, cause that was genius.

And just to add my voice to the masses... that is a freaking awesome shirt. 

I agree with Lori.I don't listen to critics,but you guys are the exception to that rule.I wanted to see what you thought of the movie before I went to see it.So my friends and I will be seeing it tonight.

I have to say this.This site is the best thing to happen to lesbian since Dental Dams(yeah right). But really I work with a Lesbian youth group and I turned them on to(no pond intended) AfterEllen and a lot of them tell me that they get what they don't have at home.Acceptance and somewhere they feel they belong.All of you should be PROUD of yourself we are.

GREAT JOB!!!!

firstoff I have to say I absolutely laughed out loud when I saw Lori's shirt even before I started watching the vlog.....

y'all cross-promote between vlogs?! Karman and Jill mentioned yours since y'all have the cool, neat and sparkly croll and music and now Lori's shirt. am absolutely loving it.

also great lil star wars comment by Lori inserted ever so slightly into the vlog.

these AfterEllen vlogs are definitely better than anything thats on tv over here. keep it up, I'd miss y'all terribly.

you have some awesome, hot and gorgeous ladies working for ya Sarah. Plus you're dating an awesome hottie as well. sux to be you I guess - NOT :P

but how can you NOT LIKE TAXI DRIVER???? *shock* granted it isnt as great as everyone is making it out to be, but still a very good movie...........art is subjective ;)

the outtakes are awesome. Lori, you have an infectuous laugh (and I mean that in a good way!).

keep on keeping on.

I think professional critics often get way too technical in their reviews, so I don't really pay attention to them. I don't really watch with a technical eye or in context of film history. I mean, I don't really care how many times something's been done if it's pulled off well.

No one seemed to like Beloved with Oprah either, I think for the same reason. It leaves you feeling unclear who the hero is and whether or not you should be rooting for them. Beloved is much darker though because you can't rationalize what the main character does...not even a little. Buy I like movies like that...where it doesn't give you answers on a silver plate. It just makes you have a reaction and sometimes makes you question the reaction. I mean, how do you like a movie that makes you feel guilty?

It's weird that people have such opposite reactions to this kind of violent stuff. Lots of people cheer Dark Willow on Buffy at the end of Season 6...but I found it thoroughly disturbing and upsetting when Willow killed Warren. To me, it's always a tragedy when someone loses their humanity.

And how 'bout that double standard? Men are often portrayed as being one step away from a complete animal. I mean, god, there are a gazillion "you killed my family, so now I'm going to hunt you down and kill you" movies. But if you think about it, that's not very complimentary to the male gender. It seems to imply that men are weaker at fighting primal impulses. Yet...they make it seem like a strength...

I haven't seen The Brave One yet because Finland sucks... I'm giving this country the "This Sucks" bunny more times than I care to admit!

But I will say this. Being the avid Jodie Foster fan that I am, I cannot wait to see the film and I also have a good feeling when it comes to the Academy Awards. There's nothing I want to see more than to have her take that golden statue home once again. The trailer and the few clips that I've seen have completely broken my heart into little pieces. The amount of emotion she can get through to you with her eyes and voice only, is a thing of great beauty.


Thanks for the brilliant vlog, ladies. I'll listen to you anytime over any critic - even when I don't agree with you :D

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Loved the T-shirt Lori, but I always do. You and Bad Machine have a bet or deal?

"Bad jokes are us, ur me."

I totally agree with Lori. I may actually have to go watch this film just to see Jodie in that leather jacket :P

I haven't really seen many Jodie Foster movies, but I'm really liking her atm. Maybe since I found out she's almost definately a lesbian, lol. Yes it's true, I actually did not know this :O 

Save the cheerleader, save the world.

Haven't seen The Brave One yet but definitely planning on it whenever it comes out here...anyway, great vlog, LOVE the outtakes! Lol!

Hey Sarah and Lori, thanks for liking my username (I like it too), and for choosing my comment.  Like I said, I love Jodie, have for a long time, but the tone of the film bothered me.  I don't approve of random killing or vigilantism.  However, "The Brave One" is an entertaining film.

New York is one of the safest cities in the world, so it doesn't deserve the bad reputation it gets in movies.  Although, no New Yorker in their right mind goes into Central Park at night, unless you have a death wish.

Best Jodie film:  "Silence of the Lambs".  Worst:  "Maverick".  Random:  "The Hotel New Hampshire".

And Lori, I have to ask, where did you get that amazing shirt?

First, The Brave One topped the box office.  EOnline.com has a good article about how this movie ended the year-long male dominated winning streak of other movies. 

The full article can be found here: http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=65da7f39-3ed0-4231-aadd-d365fa198990&sid=fd-news

 People like Jodie Foster, and I'm down with that.

Second, I liked Taxi Driver.  It was cinematically groundbreaking when it came out.  Perhaps, it is the Citizen Kane of the 70's.  People tend not to know why Citizen Kane is the best movie ever because it doesn't play to today's audiences.  They have a point, but it does have a place in cinematic history.

Last, I'm an outtakes junkie and appreciate their placement at the end of the vlog.

 Well done ladies!

Don't I get any love for suggesting a Jodie edition (August 25th SMMWT)?.

 ...I even called Sommersby!

(...sits in corner, hangs head and pouts...)

(OK, still loved it though)

Hey, was Candleshoe the one where Jodie got into a wrestling match with another girl? If so, I caught a bit of it a couple of years ago and that scene raised my eyebrows. I think I must have seen that as a kid and it started my Jodiecrush.

I was so happy to see this vlog today! I thought we'd have to wait until next Saturday.

My rankings:

Best Overall: Silence of the Lambs [haven't seen Brave One yet]

Fave ChildJodie: Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (or Candleshoe)

Fave Random: Panic Room

Worst: Sommersby (HM to Catchfire)

Fave That I Am Loathe To Watch Again: The Accused

P.S. Sarah & Lori, did y'all do something with the lighting? Looks great!

I'm going to watch it tomorrow, and feel bad that I haven't seen it yet... Just because I don't really know what you are talking about.

I agree with The Accused. It's an amazing movie and I have it on dvd (just like practically every movie Jodie did:p) but it's a tough movie to watch, although it's very good. Agree on Sommersby too I guess... altough I haven't seen all her early work. Don't agree on Maverick, I think that movie is awesome!! Flightplan I liked, but definitely not a favourite. Taxi Driver is a tough movie too, and yes a little boring... Contact is one of my favourites! Don't like Matthew either , and Tom Cruise!! Glad someone finally agrees! They just bother me for some reason.

So, that was my summary of opinions:p

Jodie thinks The Brave One is her best movie (thinking of her recent interview at Letterman) so now I can't wait to finally see it, I've been looking forward to it for months! I really like the fact that when a Jodie movie comes out, everyone seems to be talking about it:p What a power she has;)

Oh, and best t-shirt ever Lori!:p And keep the outtakes, they're fun! LOL

I am a scifi buff myself. I love the movie Contact. I never saw the movie Flight Plan, but I saw the previews which is normally the movie these days. I already predicted it would be boring, and my X said it was good so I new it was awful movie.

Personally...I loved the Outtakes! And the t-shirt too! Is AE going to have an online store anytime soon?

Best overall movie: The Hotel New Hampshire (as noted on my personal info it IS my all time favorite movie!) Okay as noted below in someone else's comment, one reason is the kiss between Jodie and Natassja Kinski. The first time I saw the flick was during spring break 1984 and I made my friend hide in the bathroom at the movie theatre with me so we could sneak in and watch it again. After the second time through that particular scene, my friend pokes me in the arm and whispers "so can we go now?". She was straight, but VERY accommodating...

Fave childhood movie: Freaky Friday (later on when I was in HS, I totally loved that she played field hockey too!)

Fave Random: Um....er....Candleshoe I think...must be the baby dyke look that got to me.

Worst: geeze...I think there was this one that takes place in Mexico or something and her part is teeny tiny and I think she supposedly kisses some woman. But honestly, I don't remember and I can't remember the name of it either...(looking on IMDB...oh yeah...Siesta)

Fave I won't watch again: it used to be Silence of the Lambs until a TV channel showed it recently...with some scenes modified I think... (I originally watched it right before the Oscars with a date on VHS and my date wondered what was wrong with me as I was radiating HEAT...the FEAR kind) Other than that, maybe The Brave One once I actually see it the first time. I'd put The Accused, but I just fast forward through the rape now because I enjoy watching her work with Kim Basinger (I got the impression in one of the last scenes that they kind of broke character as they looked just a tad too into each other...just my humble psychologist opinion).

BTW...IMDB has Jodie not only working on Nim's Island but also another film, Sugarland, both due in 2008. Yea! More Jodie!!!

They're idiots, the lotofthem! lol. Critics may have hated it, and I think you're right on that apparently they were too stupid to form their own opinions and wanted a neatly packaged morality tale - "Killing is bad. Gotcha."

Anyhow, I saw it, liked it a lot (SOTL is still better, IMO). It did have its problems, it ain't perfect, but how many movies really are? Most people who bothered to watch it seem to overwhelmingly love it too. Its Rottentomato score is more than 30 points higher than the critics, and it has a solid B at yahoomovies.

On a side note, even if you're not a Jodie fan, you gotta admire the woman. She consistently only plays strong, non-stereotypical versions of women. Plus, just as with Flightplan, TBO is the only movie that a female actress has managed to carry to #1 during the entire year. Kind of a sad state of affairs, huh?

Really enjoyed this week's edition btw!

I agree with your review of the movie.  I loved it even though there were some flaws and thought it was Jodie Foster's best performance.

Loved Lori's shirt and the outtakes were great.

The best random Jodie Foster film...."The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane" 1976  She was like 14 and carried a thriller....Excellent....definitely check it out!!

Unfortunately The Brave One doesn't open until september 27th in Germany, but I'm totally going to watch this. I would have done anyway, but all those leatherjacket comments of yours made me want to see it NOW. We seem to share a common Jodie-tanktop-powersuit-leatherjacket-obsession :D

Important random movie you missed: Nell. Which I totally enjoyed. And I have to say I loved contact, it's one of my favorites.

And no, Flightplan and Sommersby were not that bad. It's always strange to see her with a man, but the latter one had me crying nonetheless :( The Flightplan story.. yeah weak. But ohhh that visual stimulation :D I just enjoy watching her. Hell, I'd even pay to see her watching the grass grow.......

Stealing Home is not only one of my favorite Jodie Foster movies, but one of my favorite movies in general. I loved the relationship portrayed between her and the boy: how it started as one thing and changed and grew as they grew. Even in death, she helped him find his way home to who he was. She was always able to be that grounding, guiding influence for him, but she could never find it for herself.

Stealing Home was a good example for me of "don't listen to the critics, go to what you think you will like." I found it very real and moving and much better than the critics described. Good call, Sarah! And in just the opposite sense of that, I will go see The Brave one based on the Sarah and Lori rave review, even though it is typically not the kind of movie that I would see.

Thanks for the fun site! :)

 I think the bad reviews stem from people expecting this movie to be an action movie, when it reality, it is a study in the psychology of one driven to vigilanteism.  

Erica is not the typical movie vigilante either.  For starters, she is a woman.  As it was said in the movie, women don't normally kill strangers.  They kill husbands, and lovers, not strangers.   But she's also different because she doesn't choose a bad guy, and then hunt him down; she walks the streets, and lets the bad guys come to her.  

And therein lies her conflict; "Do the situations find her, or does she find them?" 

I found her transformation incredibly compelling, and I felt as though we went on the journey with her.  As she knows what she is doing is wrong, so do we.  But just as she cannot stop herself from pulling the trigger again, we cannot stop cheering when she does.  She knows it is wrong, and so do we, but none of us can stop.   Erica's neighbor speaks of how the boys in her home are given guns to kill their parents, just to prove that anyone can be a killer.  We are given Erica Bain and our cheers to prove that any one of us can at the very least, want to be a killer.    

I'm off on a tangent here, and could go on forever, can you tell?   Bottom line, I thought this movie was so much more than a vigilante movie, and those who see it as one, will surely miss the best parts of it. 

Lisa

I get Lori's concern about The Accused potentially giving people ideas, but I think she should see it before making that judgment. That movie probably saved women from rape. I was in the Air Force when The Accused came out, which I only mention because, well, military men . . . reputation deserved. I saw The Accused with a large group of military men & women in their late teens/early twenties and it had a major impact on us. The women modified their behavior when out partying, not that women should have to. Yeah, we were a bunch of teases before seeing that movie. Even better, many of the men admitted to seeing a little too much of themselves in that movie and were ashamed of that.

Worst movie: Mesmerized

Best movie: The Accused

Fave childhood movie: Foxes and Freaky Friday

Fave random movie: The Hotel New Hampshire

Fave Jodie Foster style movie: Nell (kidding)

Fave that I am loathe to watch again: Silence of the Lambs

"The actress is often reported to be in a relationship with the production co-ordinator Cydney Bernard, a woman she met in 1993 on the set of Sommersby."

A snippet from the an interview with Jodie Foster today in the Irish Independent Newspaper. This is the first time I've seen a bald statement like that in a mainstream paper.

Regardless of any socio/pychological flaws, all lesbians should see this film. "This is the closest Jodie has come to portraying a lesbian feminist." This the conclusion a friend of mine came to after seeing it last night.

My take on the scenes where the violence is intermixed with the sex had more to do with capturing the damage done to the physical bodies than sexualizing the violence. I recall that the series started after the two bodies were rolled into the hospital and is setup in flash back mode. My thoughts while watching it revolved around how a body is put to extremes and how the same body that experience pure joy can also experience pure hell. That theme was the context in which I watched the rest of the film.

Overall, I thought it was a good film. It made me think and feel.