We Own the Night

There have been so many of these tough stories that it can't be counted, but this new release rides on the wave of the magnificent American Gangster, though unfortunately it doesn't measure up. If it wasn't for Phoenix, I wouldn't know where to look out of boredom. The family background doesn't have enough connection, and therefore some reactions are unjustified – or rather, you don't sympathise with the characters. The fault is in the the script, of course, not the actors – though, to be honest, good-guy Wahlberg’s performance is particularly good this time, and daddy Duvall can do better too. There are two scenes that are worth watching: the creatively conceived car chase with excellent camerawork, and the infiltration scene. The Russian accent is awesome. (23/09/2008)

Quite a pleasant surprise in the end. James Gray has improved quite a bit, after the previous very boring, almost TV-like The Yards this is way better. At times pretty suspenseful (the visit to a drug den, the car chase in the rain), at times ridiculously theatrical; overall a better 3*. The bloodless Wahlberg is much neglected, Eva Mendes serves as mere decoration, basically the whole thing is pulled by a superb Phoenix, it’s a terrible shame that he plays in so few films. (01/02/2008)

Genre fans are extremely conservative creatures, so for a good experience, they need the same ingredients mixed in a similar ratio and spiced up with a drop of innovation in the form of a modified label on the packaging. Only the faces of the main characters change, the essence remains the same. We Own the Night draws inspiration from the trend of crime films focusing on the drug trade and the influence of the Russian-speaking mafia in the USA. Otherwise, it is a run-of-the-mill film of its genre with a predictable plot, stereotypical characters, and worn-out schemes. Of course, the family motif is not missing, as the main character wavers between loyalty to his family working in the police force and his friends from his personal life. We also get Eva Mendes portraying a sensual beauty. Genre fans can add any number of stars to the review, but a film where I can predict every move of the screenwriter and director in advance tends not to satisfy me. Overall impression: 40%. It's simply not Eastern Promises... (01/03/2009)

The uncompromising and refreshingly straightforward path of personal transformation (the only point of contact with Departed, the often mentioned similarity simply eludes me), which James Gray brings to an emotionally intense conclusion and demonstrates that gangsters are not, and will not be dead for a long time. The perfect atmosphere makes you feel on your own skin what it's like to have one foot on the right side of the law and at the same time scrape the bottom of a pit full of mud. (25/04/2008)

I enjoyed this old-school film in all ways. Maybe it was the fact that I still haven't had the pleasure of seeing The Departed, which many people compare We Own the Night to, but basically I saw a good film with a simple story that the director wrapped in a suitably rough and fitting coat. The actors were all great and I enjoyed Kilar's music and tastefully chosen songs. The atmosphere of some of the scenes (the "feather", the transfer - especially that - and the ending) was incredibly realistic, and for a film that lasts less than two hours, it went by very quickly. It’s too bad that it had no logic at times, though. (12/03/2011)