Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Member since:29.08.2002
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As the top boss of a huge New York club in the late 80's Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) seems to have everything going for him. He has a gorgeous girlfriend (Eve Mendes) and everyone loves him, including his Russian boss. He does however have one secret, his father (Robert Duvall) is the Chief of Police in New York and his brother (Mark Wahlberg) is one of the fastest rising officers in the force, having just made Captain and taken over an Anti drugs force. When Bobby finds out his family are a target for the Russian Mafia he must choose which side his loyalties lie on.
It would seem that the NYPD are the theme for a number of movies at the moment and while Hollywood keeps churning them out, I'll keep going to see them. We Own The Night however is a little different to the recent trend of movies. The main theme running through it is family conflict rather than an attempt at an all action film. This time round it relies on the development of the relationship between the characters and the way each character
is portrayed to you the viewer. It isn't all action but if you allow the characters to immerse you in there story it is just as addictive.
What director James Gray seems to have managed to do is create a movie that leaves the audience thinking throughout. It is at times a little tough going but I think that aids in keeping your attention focussed on the story. He uses some fantastic camera angles and apart from one scene during a car chase where the camera seems a little out of control his shooting methods work incredibly well. Using the right angles and lighting to create a very atmospheric film works in his favour and it's clear to see that the concept from script to finished product were all down to Gray himself.
While the plot is rather slow and doesn't have the heavy action edge you would expect the story ticks along nicely. Yes there is quite a bit of violence and these scenes are done very well indeed. There is also a reason behind each one and while the scene's themselves aren't too blood thirsty the implied violence seems to have equal effect. The movie has quite an intense edge to it and despite a run time of almost 2 hours it didn't really feel like it. The plot is incredibly thought provoking and while it at times has a depressing edge to it, Gray should be very pleased with the outcome.
Of course regardless of how good Gray's script had been he needed a good cast to really pull it together. It's here that Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg really play their part. The more I see of both these actors the more I like them and as the Grusinsky brothers they once again seem to really make the movie. Phoenix takes the lead role and his performance is particularly good. The character of Bobby Green is quite a strong one, but Phoenix's portrayal of the character seems to take the story onto a higher level. You really connect with his character and start to see things through his way of thinking as events unfold.
I didn't think Wahlberg's performance was quite in the same league as Phoenix but it was certainly impressive none the less. He seemed to have an excellent onscreen relationship with Phoenix that covers all aspects of Brotherly love and the pair work incredibly well together onscreen. It goes without saying that Robert Duvall's performance was as good as ever, taking on the role of the father in the scenario. The three of them had something special about them that really brought the characterisation and ultimately the story to live.
Overall this is a very good film. It takes a very complex script and, while perhaps not having the quickest pace to it, it delivers an enjoyable 2 hours of entertainment. Of course don't expect this to be the usual brainless cop movie, it does require a lot of concentration and thought, but perhaps that is the most appealing element about it. I'm not totally convinced this is a film for seeing at the cinema and perhaps watching it at home would have been the better option, I would however have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who likes a film that keeps the brain ticking.
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Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Dec 19th, 2007
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