We Own the Night

Movie about how even if you are a loser, you can eventually become an honorable citizen, even to the extent that you will be on the side of good, specifically the police. Joaquim Phoenix shows what he's made of, unfortunately the script of this film is not groundbreaking and only gives us a glimpse into the issue, which was better portrayed in the film "American Gangster" and even better in various other mafia movies that the film industry is full of. It tries to be "new" in the sense that it shows us a slightly different story of a person, not a downfall but rather growth, which ultimately leads to the viewer feeling the weight of the pathetic effort to create an overly positive hero. Mark Wahlberg had enough room not to offend, which is typical for movies with him. "The Fighter" relied more on Christian Bale's performance, although it is true that Wahlberg also had enough space here. Sometimes he can be quite unbearable, as in "Ted". The film "We Own the Night" doses him just right. It tries to be a drama, which works in some places, but to be a truly great drama, it is too unoriginal. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/05/noc-patri-nam-voda-pro-slony-posledni.html (18/02/2013)

From the first scene, it is clear that Bobby likes having matters in his own hands. That certainty, which sharply diminishes from the first plot twist (to the point of notably wandering through smoke), reflects the doubtfulness of the United States at the end of the 1980s. Though, in the spirit of the Cold War, the villains are Russians (Soviets), nationality ceases to be a determinative, distinguishing feature for the emerging multicultural melting pot. The important things are attitudes, politics and, in particular, relationships. Relationships within families and “families”. The law is an obstacle. Only two things connect Bobby with the much more scrupulous Joe: the authoritarian character of their father and religion. In order to find the way to his brother, Bobby has to reassess his attitude toward both. The primary attraction of We Own the Night is not one and a half action scenes, but rather the thought processes of the well-drawn protagonists. The actors and the confining environment that envelopes them make watching their change in behaviour an absorbing experience. Crime is everywhere around them; only tight-knit families are safe. From the film’s long sequences, you sense something bad coming and you know that what is supposed to happen is going to happen. This fatalistic “givenness” of everything that occurs gives the film elements of ancient tragedy, including suffering in slow motion. Only a few dim-witted moments have a detrimental effect on American mainstream attitudes to the notably slow, sad and penetrating crime story (a moment ago you were almost a drug dealer, but now we’ll let you be a cop, because you have to pay your debt). Otherwise, I recommend watching Gray’s preceding film, The Yards, which elaborates a similar theme and with its cast (Wahlberg, Phoenix) also has a lot in common with We Own the Night. 75% (27/03/2018)

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. (02/02/2008)

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)

We Own the Night is smaller and less original, but more open and emotionally relatable than the similar American Gangster. Excellent actors, hard-on-inducing Eva Mendes, and a breath-taking car chase that will make the blood freeze in your veins. Very good job, folks! (19/02/2008)