Before you say nighty-nite tonight, I invite you to take reading proprietorship on my film review of Director James Gray's police drama "We Own The Night". Gray's grayscale directorial techniques were impressive in helming a film on two brothers subdivided by the arm of the law in a crime-ridden New York society. Joaquin Phoenix does stellar work portraying Bobby Green, a rebellious club manager who bickers with his police captain brother and deputy chief father due to the fact that the club he manages is run by a Russian mafia even though Bobby does not deal in criminal activity with those White Russians. Mark Wahlberg is cool as an iceberg as Bobby's aforementioned po-po brother Captain Joe Grusinksy. Wahlberg seems to excel in roles that call for him to play the fiery law enforcement official as he did in his Oscar-nominated performance in "The Departed". I think Mr. Dirk Diggler himself digs to be typecast in that role! Robert Duvall pops it up as Bobby and Joe's po-po papa Deputy Chief Bert Grusinsky. Eva Mendez rounds out the "We Own The Night" role call lineup as Bobby's Latina girlfriend Amada Juarez. The gray areas that James Gray nocturnally takes us into in "We Own The Night" are suspenseful, enthralling, and familial. Gray's takes on society's perception on law enforcement and commitment to the family system are well-enforced throughout the narrative's continuing plot developments. The only cinematic citation I have for Gray's effort would be on his mechanical action-flick screenplay in reference to the characters' dialogue; even though the plot structure was not worthy of an arrested development. Nevertheless, "We Own The Night" has plenty of night fever for it to warrant a lawful recommendation. **** Good

I saw this movie at a special screening in LA. There were lots of folks there from all walks of life and all ages - the movie seemed to go over very well with everyone in the room. The move is filled with some very tense moments and excellent performances by Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall and Eva Mendes. Phoenix and Wahlberg work well together as the troubled brothers and Robert Duvall is perfect as always. I've seen some real stinkers at the movies recently (I won't bother you with the list because it's too long) so it was refreshing to see that movies can still be well made with characters you can care about and root for. Since the movie wasn't finished at the time I got to see it, I look forward to enjoying the movie again at local movie theater..

I caught a recent screening of this film and as a fan of thrillers I was more than impressed. The film creates a handful of true white-knuckle scenes but also accomplishes telling a story that has weight and depth. I love when a film takes its time to develop real characters and not repeats of what we've already seen. The crime genre is so full of clichés already. This film pays homage to classics such as French Connection while breaking new ground in its family/police drama. Phoenix, Wahlberg, Duvall and Mendes are all superb. Eva Mendes deserves a particular mention, as she has not yet been seen this way before.

I saw that We Own The Night received a standing ovation at the European critics screening and premiere at Cannes. Well, I can tell you at the preview screening I saw a while ago in the US, the audience applauded enthusiastically as well. The audience was totally into this movie in a way you don't usually see anymore. Not just grooving on it, but engrossed. Reminds me of The Godfather not just the movie, but the way the audience enjoyed it. Only reason I didn't give it a 10 was I don't give most movies at 10 unless they're like The Searcher or Vetigo. Again I don't want to give away too much about the movie because I hate now how everyone knows everything about a movie's plot before it opens. Let's just say it's both a crime movie and a family drama. A socially conscious melodrama and a cop story. And it has a couple of great action scenes. The acting was top notch by Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg (better than in The Departed), Robert Duvall (always good) and especially Eva Mendes who I've never seen like this before. 9/10

Helden der Nacht - We Own the Night (2007) is a powerful film based on a dark atmosphere, literally and figuratively. First of all, many, if not most, scenes are shot at night with an obvious aesthetic sense. Then, the topic deals with the violent conflict between the Russian underworld and the NYPD, within the Brooklyn of the 80s. It's an ultimate film noir: crime, treason, jealousy and fatalism are themes adroitly developed by James Gray and marvelously interpreted by an awesome cast. Robert Duvall is a honest and accomplished policeman, a wise and protector father, Eva Mendes is a deliberately inflammatory woman, Mark Wahlberg is the ideal son and then Joaquin Phoenix is the 'second' son with a slightly tortured mind and who seeks his own place in the shadow of his family. In my humble opinion, this movie is clearly underrated. As a synthesis: 8/9 of 10.