Directed by:
James GrayScreenplay:
James GrayCinematography:
Joaquin Baca-AsayComposer:
Wojciech KilarCast:
Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Robert Duvall, Antoni Corone, Moni Moshonov, Олег Тактаров, Alex Veadov, Danny Hoch, Tony Musante, Dominic Colón (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
What if your own family stood in the way of everything you worked for? Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) has forsaken his name to escape his family and their tradition in law enforcement to pursue his ambitions as a Brooklyn nightclub owner. As he turns a blind eye to the drug dealers around him, he comes face to face with the family he abandoned when his brother (Mark Wahlberg) and father (Robert Duvall) crack down on the club. Now Bobby must choose a side. Is he going to turn informant or will he help run the biggest crime ring in New York history? (Columbia/Sony)
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Reviews (14)
I enjoyed this old-school film in all ways. Maybe it was the fact that I still haven't had the pleasure of seeing The Departed, which many people compare We Own the Night to, but basically I saw a good film with a simple story that the director wrapped in a suitably rough and fitting coat. The actors were all great and I enjoyed Kilar's music and tastefully chosen songs. The atmosphere of some of the scenes (the "feather", the transfer - especially that - and the ending) was incredibly realistic, and for a film that lasts less than two hours, it went by very quickly. It’s too bad that it had no logic at times, though.
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The uncompromising and refreshingly straightforward path of personal transformation (the only point of contact with The Departed, the oft-cited similarity simply eludes me), which James Gray brings to an emotionally intense conclusion and demonstrates that gangsters are not, and will not be dead for a long time. The perfect atmosphere makes you feel on your own skin what it's like to have one foot on the right side of the law and at the same time scrape the bottom of a pit full of mud.
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There have been so many of these tough stories that it can't be counted, but this new release rides on the wave of the magnificent American Gangster, though unfortunately it doesn't measure up. If it wasn't for Phoenix, I wouldn't know where to look out of boredom. The family background doesn't have enough connection, and therefore some reactions are unjustified – or rather, you don't sympathise with the characters. The fault is in the the script, of course, not the actors – though, to be honest, good-guy Wahlberg’s performance is particularly good this time, and daddy Duvall can do better too. There are two scenes that are worth watching: the creatively conceived car chase with excellent camerawork, and the infiltration scene. The Russian accent is awesome.
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How did this gem escape my attention for so long? I happened to come across it recently and must admit that James Gray surprised me. We Own the Night boasts flawless stylization. The creators truly succeeded in capturing the 1980s retro atmosphere perfectly. Moreover, I can’t overlook the cast. Joaquin Phoenix was outstanding, but even Robert Duvall, as the father of the main character, contributed significantly with his years of experience in the industry. Surprisingly, I was also pleased with the story. I was genuinely expecting another tired, clichéd plot, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case. The screenplay played cleverly with the audience, like a cat with a mouse. And that chase scene, where the focus is solely on the sound of the windshield wipers with an unpleasant screeching in the background? A masterfully directed moment (and emotionally powerful). The raid on the drug den also had its charm (I was holding my breath there). The film truly offers a lot, and I can definitely recommend it. For me, it’s an 8/10.
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Quite a pleasant surprise in the end. James Gray has improved quite a bit, after the previous very boring, almost TV-like The Yards this is way better. At times pretty suspenseful (the visit to a drug den, the car chase in the rain), at times ridiculously theatrical; overall a better 3*. The bloodless Wahlberg is much neglected, Eva Mendes serves as mere decoration, basically the whole thing is pulled by a superb Phoenix, it’s a terrible shame that he plays in so few films.
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