Jody Foster’s Gun Bubble

by John Hawkins | September 4, 2007 8:50 am

I’ve seen ads for Jody Foster’s latest movie, The Brave One, and thought it looked pretty good. Not go-see-it-in-the-theater good, but add it to my Netflix queue and watch it on video when it comes out good. My impression from watching the commercials was that it was basically a Death Wish copycat, but starring Jody Foster in Charles Bronson’s role.

The movie doesn’t debut for another 10 days, but the two reviews over at
Rotten Tomatoes[1] seem to confirm my first impression about the movie. In fact, both reviews actually mention Death Wish.

That’s why the following comments, highlighted by Newsbusters[2], seem so off-the-wall,

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: There’s a rallying moment in The Brave One when you stick a gun in a bad guy’s face and say, “I want my dog back.” How are you going to feel about the audience cheering on your character as she starts hunting people down?

JODIE FOSTER: It’s shameful, but that’s human and that’s who we are as human beings. There will be unsophisticated people who see a sophisticated movie. Just like there were in The Accused. And thank God I only went to one screening of that movie with an audience.

…EW: What do you think is the larger social commentary of The Brave One, which in some ways plays as a straight-up Dirty Harry revenge movie?

FOSTER: Here’s my commentary: I don’t believe that any gun should be in the hand of a thinking, feeling, breathing human being. Americans are by nature filled with rage-slash-fear. And guns are a huge part of our culture. I know I’m crazy because I’m only supposed to say that in Europe. But violence corrupts absolutely.

What a weird mixture of hypocrisy and disassociation that was!

Foster just starred in a movie where, judging by the previews and reviews, the hero is a gun wielding vigilante and yet she’s ranting about how horrible guns are and and sneering at the people who cheered her character for using one.

I mean, here’s a woman who says, “I don’t believe that any gun should be in the hand of a thinking, feeling, breathing human being,” yet, she spent months holding a gun in a movie that glorifies killing criminals with a gun.

Moreover, Foster grew up with bodyguards, undoubtedly armed bodyguards, who were protecting her from crazed nuts like John Hinckley, Jr. If you were looking for a celebrity who’s a perfect example of why people should be allowed to carry guns, Foster’s experience with John Hinckley, Jr would make her one of the first people you’d point towards.

In a way, you almost have to feel sorry for celebrities like Foster because they live in such a bubble that there probably isn’t anyone that they talk to on a regular basis that will have the courage to tell them that they’re spouting complete nonsense.