We Own The Night (DVD, 2008)

Crime Melodrama 'We Own the Night' releases a moody Director-Driven Crime Saga., while a classic, 'Godfather'-esque vibe informs Writer/Director James Gray's evocative portrait of Family Loyalty, Law Enforcement, and New York Mobsters (in this case, Russian ones).
'We Own the Night' has much to recommend., starting with Joaquin Phoenix, in his first movie since his Oscar-Nominated turn in 'Walk the Line'. As Bobby Green, he is the fast-living manager of a Brooklyn Nightclub circa 1988. You'd never know it by his law-flaunting, drug-using lifestyle., but he's the son of revered Deputy Police Chief Burt Grusinsky (Robert Duvall) and the brother of "By-the-Book" Cop Joseph (Mark Wahlberg).
Bobby has so distanced himself from his Law Enforcement Family (even taking on his mother's maiden name) that no one, except his Puerto Rican "party girl" squeeze Amada "The Always Stunning" (Eva Mendes), knows of this connection - the better to consort with the various thugs, dope dealers, and lowlifes who help Bobby work the nightclub game. He especially needs to keep his cover around Boss Marat (Moni Moshonov); an elderly, Russian family man - and the club's owner - who treats Bobby like a son.
Mayhem breaks loose, though, when the Local Police; (led by Joseph), decide to get tough on drugs and target Bobby's Nightclub for a surprise bust. Marat's Nephew, rising Drug Kingpin Vadim (Alex Veadov), feels the heat most and puts out a hit on family man Joseph.
It's at this point 'We Own the Night' (named for the motto of an actual 1980s NYPD Street Crime Unit) kicks into "High-Gear" and becomes a tense, engrossing tale of redemption as Bobby switches sides, going 'Undercover' to help the Police blow open Vadim's clandestine operation.
Gray manages to envelope two bravura setpieces that distinguish the film from all its predecessors. The first, a car chase in a CGI-Enhanced Rainstorm, is one of the most effective and unusual of its kind, brilliantly shot (by Joaquin Baca-Asay) from Bobby's terrified point of view. The other is a harrowing sequence (reminiscent, in the best way, of Wahlberg's drug-related encounter with Alfred Molina in 'Boogie Nights') in which Bobby, carrying a police-wired cigarette lighter, tours Vadim's spooky drug lair under the guise of helping him sell a major new shipment.
Also, without providing any spoilers....the finale is visually compelling, and screams of daunting credibility.
Phoenix and Wahlberg (who also co-starred in Gray's 'The Yards') are intensely believable and committed as the Estranged Brothers who eventually find common ground. Duvall is excellent, as always, as the tough; yet fair widower dad. And luridly sensual, (no surprises here either) is Mendes, who does all she can as the "suffering girlfriend," a slightly underdeveloped role.
'We Own the Night' is pure bravado that is a true, serious adult Crime Yarn you simply don't want to miss.
Highly Recommended !! Won't Fail You !!

CRIME DRAMA & THRILLER----- not a child or teen film. Language, nudity, violence, Rated R, breif masturbation in film, very strong content entire film.

Widescreen format, Region 1, CC, English, Spanish & French, subtitles (English, French & Spanish), 117 minutes, Color, DVD case.

CAST----- Joaquin Phoenix as Robert Green----- Eva Mendes as Amada Juarez----- Mark Wahlberg as Capt. Joseph Grusinsky----- Robert Duvall as Deputy Chief Albert 'Bert' Grusinsky----- Alex Veadov as Vadim Nezhinski----- Dominic Colon as Freddie----- Danny Hoch as Jumbo Falsetti----- Oleg Taktarov as Pavel Lubyarsky----- Moni Moshonov as Marat Buzhayev----- Antoni Corone as Michael Solo.

Family has cops one side and criminal other side. One nightclub will bind this family but not together apart. Clashing, murder & lies will not mix with loyalty, love & harmony. A father and son will come to true lines delivering powering role between Duvall & Phoenix.

Cocaine snorting, continuous arguing and fighting, throat slicing, suicide, nudity, rampage profanity, death, blood, topless dancers, betrayal & much more. 117 minute film, 4**** rate. Film has to much of everything to get 5*****, R= rated R+.

What lifts the film and lights it like a beacon is Phoenix’s superb central performance. In his first role since his extraordinary turn as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, Phoenix negotiates a character arc that would leave lesser actors foundering. We meet him as Bobby Green, a nightclub manager with big dreams and a smile that dazzles like a mouthful of diamonds. If Bobby is the king of his little world, his queen is Amada (Eva Mendes), a Puerto Rican beauty who charms the nightclub VIPs by draping herself around them like a mink coat. But Bobby has a secret: his father (Robert Duvall) and brother (Wahlberg) are cops. And as his father grimly points out, they are about to find themselves on opposite sides of a drugs war.

It’s a war that has casualties. And when the Russian mob strike at the heart of his family, Bobby is forced to act to defend them, sacrificing his glittering lifestyle for a series of grubby motel rooms and an airless, joyless existence in witness protection. Amada wilts, an exotic flower plucked from her hothouse. But Bobby has earned the one thing he never admitted he needed – the respect of his father.

It’s quite a sentimental film, in a manly, square-jawed kind of way. Bobby may have lost everything he cared about by the end of the film, but at least he can stand shoulder to shoulder with his brother without feeling like the kid about to be sent to the headmaster. But while Gray works hard to create the emotional register, he’s careless about other details. There are several plot holes and a couple of glaring implausibilities. And although the film is set in 1988.

OVERALL
8/10

A MUST SEE MOVIE!

Bobby Green manages a hot New York City nightclub, while his estranged brother, Joseph has followed in their policeman father's footsteps. But the two are reunited by dealings with the Russian mafia, which has a foothold in Bobby's business. As Joseph puts pressure on the mob, its members turn the screws on Bobby.

Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Eva Mendes

What do you think of when you think of Joaquin Phoenix? Besides the odd name, I mean. You probably think "intense". He is a very intense actor. The problem is, that's ALL he is. Even in his current reincarnation of Andy Kaufmann, that's all he is. Frankly, it gets a bit stale after a while. This movie goes stale as soon as Mark Wahlberg's scenes dwindle. He's the real actor here, along with Robert Duvall. You believe those two could really be the characters they're playing. With Phoenix, he's always playing the intense young actor.
This movie has a very typical plot; setup, conflict, violence, revenge. Only it proceeds more slowly than most. Eva Mendes is is wasted, as she usually is, as just a pretty face. The movie is competently made in a technical sense, but artistically? It's a waste of time.