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intereact!Actors: Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Mendes, and Robert Duvall
Rated: R (Restricted)
Retail Price (not our price): $28.95
Release Date: 2008-02-12
Theatrical Release Date: 2007-10-12
Studio: Sony Pictures
Run Time: 117 minutes
Format: Array
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Discs: 1
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com
In We Own the Night, Joaquin Phoenix, whose eyes burn with sullen anger even when he's looking at the woman he loves, plays Bobby Green, a nightclub manager in the 1980s who gets caught between his blood family he tried to leave behind--a long line of police officers--and his chosen family of friends and business partners, who turn out to be drug dealers. His father (Robert Duvall) and brother (Mark Wahlberg) want Bobby to help their investigation, but Bobby resists--until the conflict takes a brutal turn. Writer/director James Gray wears his influences on his sleeve; he's clearly seen every movie that Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola ever made and aspires to follow in their footsteps. The familiarity of the movie's territory dilutes its impact, but the plot of We Own the Night remains unpredictable, the performances have a clean vitality, and Gray's moody visual style brings some life to the genre. Phoenix (Walk the Line) dives into his role, sifting through layers of guilt and familial resentment; Wahlberg and Duvall play parts they've essentially played a dozen times, but do so with commitment and integrity. Also featuring Eva Mendes (Ghost Rider) as Bobby's devoted girlfriend, who questions just how much she'll have to give up for him. --Bret FetzerBeyond We Own the Night On Blu-ray Original Soundtrack Stills from We Own the Night (click for larger image)2) Product Description
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?
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5
1) A Disappointment [Rating: 2 out of 5]
This was a very disappointing film. The actors involved are all very good, and Phoenix and Duvall have been excellent in roles previously; however, the actors got lost in a predictable and boring plot. There really were not any new ideas here. This is a 2 1/2 star film. It is okay to watch, just don't expect to be impressed.2) Excellent Cast, Routine Plot... [Rating: 3 out of 5]
James Gray's 1980s paean of a NYC family of cops vs. the Russian mob, "We Own the Night" refreshingly doesn't portray policemen as crooked or amoral, but, despite the star power involved, never achieves greatness, either. Sadly, the plot is predictable, and the climax, contrived.This is not to say the film hasn't merit; Joaquin Phoenix, as the 'black sheep' son who dabbles in 'the dark side' before becoming an 'avenging angel' cop, is superb, as is Eva Mendes, who, for once, is allowed to show more depth than her usual 'window dressing' roles. Robert Duvall demonstrates a restraint in his 'father' role that has been missing in most of his recent work, losing the Southern twang for the crisp diction reminiscent of his earlier films. Surprisingly, Mark Wahlberg, in a more 'straight arrow' variation of his character in "The Departed", has little to do, and is completely upstaged by the flashier Phoenix, as well as by his Russian counterparts, the kindly father figure with a secret life (Moni Moshonov), and his ruthless drug lord nephew (Alex Veadov).The film starts promisingly, with a flashy vision of Manhattan club life of the late 80s, run by the Russians, who are taking control of drug trafficking, and hold the NYPD in contempt and disregard, juxtaposed against the simpler, traditional world of New York's Finest, celebrating achievement, duty, and service to others. Phoenix, as the 'adopted' son of the Russians, and the actual son of a cop, is at the nexus of what might have been great drama, as he straddles both worlds. Yet when the film's first major climax occurs, the opportunity is lost, as he makes a decision that channels the film along a predictable path that offers few surprises. Still entertaining, but far less than it might have been, "We Own the Night" is a good film that could have been great...3) Falls off a cliff in the 2nd half [Rating: 2 out of 5]
For the first half of the movie, I found it to be quite good. Up to that point it had a good story, good characters and fine acting. Then, after the pivotal scene of the movie, the story looks like it's written by a couple of high school drop outs. It's really amazing how dramatic the fall off is. At that point it is so bad, I still was able to enjoy it a bit because I could laugh at from that point on.4) Star studded, but slow!!! [Rating: 2 out of 5]
Although this movie was star-studded (Robert Duvall, Joaquin Phoenix, etc) the movie is a bit slow, it's as if we started the movie in the middle of the characters lives; consequently, you feel as if you needed the back story. For instance, why did the brothers dislike another so much? Which son did the father identify with and why? At the very least, these questions needed to be asked and answered before establishing the central plot issue. And if you can get past that the movie's not so bad. Robert Duvall gives his requisite on target performance and Eva Mendes is as always soft on the eyes.5) Good Rental Movie [Rating: 3 out of 5]
I wouldn't buy this movie. But for the $1.49 rental fee, I enjoyed it. I agree with some of the other reviews in that the actors didn't get enough of a chance to show off their talent. Overall it was decent.