ShowBiz Forum - messages #22690 .1

Prospero Blocks

Hot Celebrity Searches

'Grey's Anatomy'

Patrick Dempsey

'American Idol'

Sarah Jessica Parker

More Hot Searches

Chat Center

	Hot Movies Topic: Hot Movies
	The Drive-In Topic: The Drive-In

Board Folders

	Ask the Experts 1376 msgs in 79 dscns Latest: 5/5/09
	Industry News/... 5650 msgs in -132 dscns Latest: Nov-16
	Weekly ShowBiz... 4474 msgs in -101 dscns Latest: Nov-19
	Celebrity News... 11024 msgs in 550 dscns Latest: Nov-19
	TV/Movie Celebs 1961 msgs in 168 dscns Latest: Oct-10
	Music/Other Ce... 1316 msgs in 87 dscns Latest: Sep-14
	You Decide: Ho... 1322 msgs in 110 dscns Latest: Oct-18
	Movie Talk 6173 msgs in -71 dscns Latest: Nov-11
	Harvey Karten'... 2106 msgs in 803 dscns Latest: Nov-19
	World of Enter... 814 msgs in 121 dscns Latest: 9/18/08
	Home Video/DVD 1358 msgs in 234 dscns Latest: Oct-20
	Screenwriting 220 msgs in 31 dscns Latest: 5/10/07
	Theater & Music 834 msgs in 233 dscns Latest: Nov-18
	The Green Room 9445 msgs in 567 dscns Latest: Jun-2

Harvey Karten's Reviews

Review: We Own the Night

Print Discussion

#1 of 1 Posted 10/13/07 3:27 PM

From harveykarten Posts 744 Last Nov-19
To All [Msg # 22690.1 ]

WE OWN THE NIGHT

Reviewed for CompuServe by Harvey S. Karten
Columbia Pictures/2929 Productions
Grade: B-
Directed by:    James Gray
Written By: James Gray
Cast:   Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Robert Duvall, Antoni Corone, Moni Moshonov,
Alex Veadov, Tony Musante
Screened at: AMC Empire, NYC, 10/13/07
Opens: October 12, 2007

Say what you want about both genetics and environment, about the influence of biology vs. the pull of upbringing, and you’ll continue to be baffled by the way a pair of brothers can turn out so differently. In “We Own the Night,” the title taken from a slogan on a policeman’s shoulder-patch, New York’s chief of police, Bert Grusinsky (Robert Duvall) may have brought up his two sons in different ways, or maybe not, but only one turned out the way he’d have wished. His son Joseph (Mark Wahlberg), who kept the family last name and became a police captain, is contrasted with his other lad, Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix), who not only Anglicized his name to distance himself from his brother and dad, but stood on the opposite side of the law. While Joseph made a decent living with the police force, Bobby had loftier ideas, becoming like a son to the owner of El Caribe night club, Moni Moshonov (Marat Bujayev). While Joseph chased after drug lords, Bobby indulged in cocaine and the high life. Bobby’s attitude would undergo a radical change brought about when the boss’ nephew, Vadim (Alex Veadov) overextended himself with prejudice to Bobby’s family–against his brother and his father and ultimately himself.

“We Own the Night” is not like “American Gangster,” in that much emotion is spent over relationships within a family: Two brothers who have not spoken to each other in years, a father who dotes on one son and has contempt for the other, the artificial, Russian family into which Bobby is welcomed to take the place of his own--an adult version of teens’ joining gangs for similar reasons.   The movie includes quite an effective car chase in pouring rain (though the water is computer-generated and realistic). And kudos to the production company for filming largely in Brooklyn, where the story takes place in 1988, when Ed Koch was New York’s mayor, who has a small (but, thankfully, almost no speaking) role.

A few inaccuracies would not trouble most audience members. Most important, no disco club like El Caribe existed in Brooklyn, at least not in my time when the most famous night club, Ben Maksik’s Town and Country, was like a Montana gas station compared to this one. It’s no wonder that when Bobby, who had become ageing Russian mobster Bujayev’s chief adviser, suggested opening a second club in Manhattan, the idea was received with lukewarm enthusiasm because of the outrageously high cost of doing business in that borough.

Nor would you expect a police officer against orders to enter a burning field, designed to smoke out a criminal. When one cop is hit and his car blown up by what the force considers a professional job, it’s not likely that the victim would emerge alive.

Family connections aside, “We Own the Night” is conventional, with a predictable trajectory, featuring Robert Duvall’s usual proficient performance, Eva Mendes’s solid take on a beautiful woman who loves her man enough to warn himself strongly against joining the police force, and appropriate chemistry between Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg as estranged brothers brought together by tragedy.

Rated R.    117 minutes   © 2007 by Harvey Karten Member: NY Film Critics Online

Print Discussion

Harvey Karten's Reviews

Review: We Own the Night

Adjust text size:

Interest level:

Welcome, Guest

• Post a message

• New messages to you

Find messages


Advanced Search

Prospero Blocks

	Web Offers • Find: Astrology Chart
• Cosmetic Surgery
• Madonna's Music
• Kelly Clarkson
• Angelina Jolie
• Tom Cruise

Special Offers
Show me more info on:

Finding People

• Find a Date

• White Pages

• Reverse Lookup

• Cell Phone Numbers

• Unlisted Numbers

• E-mail Addresses

• Background Checks

• People Finder

• Fine Old Friends

• Family Tree

Cool Clicks!

• Unclaimed Cash

• Free Cell Phones

• Energy Boost

• Party Planning

• Photo Sharing

• Work From Home

• Video Games

• BloggingStocks

• Horoscope Updates

• Adult (18 & Over)

© 2009 CompuServe Interactive Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Legal Notices | Privacy Policy