We Own the Night (2007)

Posted : 10 months, 2 weeks ago at Dec 29 12:12

I happened to catch this movie last night on one of my off days after missing it in theatres and curiousity to see how the movie was. I had just finished watching American Gangster and this movie gave me the same kind of feel; a carless drug and alcahol induced club full of fun and dancing with smiles across the floor. After the manager's brother busts in with his drug task force, Bobby Green is dragged out and humiliated in front of his his paying guests; leaving him very pissed off and full of charcoal and ink. Leaving the precinct fresh out of a fight with his brother, then shortly after finding out his brother has been shot; Bobby puts aside all the petty bullshit and decides to join his father and set up the drug lord responsible for the attack and hospitialization of his brother. Den...Read more

Rating : 6/10

Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago at Jul 1 14:47

We Own The Night's script was truly phenomenal for an American production, because, let's face it, more than half the time American movies are made of lousy script-writers: there are usually a whole lot of flaws, or reactions/attitudes from characters are totally unrealistic or just plain stupid. This film's main theme is not new. But the way the script was written - up until 1h30 into the movie, anyway - is accurate, and makes a whole lot of sense. The characters' reactions. Their expressions. The dialogs. Unfortunately after 1h30, the script deviates into nonsense, nonetheless leading to a pretty decent ending. Why else watch this film? Why, a wonderful cast of course! Wahlberg and Phoenix are truly amazing as two brothers. And Robert Duvall as their father is simply amazing, but isn...Read more

Rating : 7/10

Posted : 1 year, 9 months ago at Jan 30 18:20

We Own The Night isn't just another standard cop drama; at the films heart is a fascinating study into how people react in extreme circumstances. It's family loyalty versus trust in your friends. As always blood runs thicker than water.

Thanks to James Gray's directing style and a trio of deft performances from Messrs Phoenix, Wahlberg and Duvall things are just as substantial above the surface as they are under the hood. If you're an eighties kid then you're sure to the love the soundtrack too.

Rating : 8/10