'THE BRAVE'

The Brave (1997)
- Johnny Depp took the director's chair in this fascinating character study which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 to positive acclaim. However, Depp was so insecure from the negative reviews from the American critics, that he refused to release the film in the United States. I had the pleasure of watching this film recently on youtube. The film was adapted from a novel by Gregory McDonald, who also wrote the novels for the films, Fletch and Running Scared. Depp not only directed it, but he also co-wrote the script with Paul McCudden (In the Name of the Father), and his maternal half-brother, D.P. Depp. D.P. Depp was the son of Johnny's mother's first marriage. Anyway, the film centered on a down on his luck alcoholic American Indian (Depp) named Raphael, who is recently released from prison and has to take care of his poverty stricken family (a wife and 2 kids). They live in a filthy trailer park and struggle every day to make ends meet. Raphael later discovers a sketchy flyer for a mysterious job listing and decides to head to the location where he finds McCarthy (great cameo by Marlon Brando) who is the leader of the job and gives him all the information. The job being Raphael taking part as a "victim" of a snuff film. To be beaten and tortured by a gang of rednecks. The reward being a price of $50,000 which would greatly help his family. He is given half up front and then is told to come back to the factory a week from then for the actual job. The film then takes a very slow turn as the rest of it revolves around the days leading up to "the day." Raphael continues to contemplate if this is really what's right for him to do. I don't want to give away too much, so I will not reveal how it ends. The major problem I had with this film is that it really started out excellent with some of the most intense opening credits I have ever seen on screen! And then once he leaves McCarthy's factory and everything leading up to the finale, it just dragged quite a bit. The story seemed to be going absolutely nowhere. There are fascinating elements here and there but for the most part, the film lacked a lot of action. Too many segments of Raphael pondering this decision. However, the acting on the other hand is impeccable. Depp is fantastic as Raphael and Brando's cameo is priceless. And the supporting actors are excellent too in their small roles. The rest of the film's cast include Max Perlich, Luis Guzman, Frederic Forest, Clarence Williams III, and Marshall Bell as the scumbag who pops up every now and then in the film to make sure Raphael is really going to show up. The main stand out, next to Depp of course, is Spanish actress Elpidia Carrillo, who plays Raphael's wife, Rita. She is absolutely fantastic. The scene that really caught my eye was when Raphael used the $25,000 McCarthy gives him up front in the beginning of the film, to set up a private amusement park in their backyard for his children. And the kids love it and everyones laughing and smiling, except for Rita. Rita slowly walks up to him and then immediately smacks him across the face, knocking him to the ground. The entire back to back acting between the two is magnificent. I need to see more of this actress. She really was incredible in this picture. This all being said, the film is certainly pretty damn good for a directing debut on Depp's part. I'll definitely give him superb credit and admire what he tried to do, cause there are definitely some great elements of filmmaking in this film. I just think the script needed more work. Way too slow. The story is there, I just think there was a lot more material that was burying the main idea and could have been trimmed down. Anyway, I do, however, recommend this film. Even just for Depp's performance, but if you really love Johnny Depp, find this film and give it a try. It's a shame he refused to release it in the states, because it really could have been a cult classic.






Sincerely,
FILMBOY - Chris von Hoffmann




ENTRY QUOTE:
"I was once described by one of my critics as an aesthetic fascist." - Alan Parker