Beyond We Own the Night

On Blu-ray

Original Soundtrack

Stills from We Own the Night (click for larger image)

We Own the Night

• American Gangster (2-Disc Unrated Extended Edition)
• Michael Clayton (Widescreen Edition)
• Gone Baby Gone
• No Country for Old Men
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
• The Brave One (Widescreen Edition)
• I Am Legend (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition)
• In the Valley of Elah
• 3:10 to Yuma (Widescreen Edition)
• There Will Be Blood

Gray says that while he has to spend extra time with Phoenix, the results are superb. It's excellent film. His chilling coldness and suave assurance play well to his final bloody moments. Gray recounts how one of the final scenes where Bobby emerges from a fire was shot as thunder boomed in a darkening sky. She shares in the DVD extras about how she felt like a real partner in creating the role with James Gray & playing the scenes with Phoenix. When Phoenix showed on set wearing it, Duval razzed him about it, perfect for the characters' conflict.

I like the character-based drama. Oleg Taktarov who plays in many Russian films does a great job as the protective bodyguard Pavel Lubyarsky who distrusts Green. Enjoy. The harrowing violence that swirls around their relationship becomes too much for her.

Phoenix recently had an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line" as well as earning a Golden Globe. Robert Duvall plays their father Bert Grusinsky with his trademark stoic intensity. Both "The Yards" & this film show a gritty realism that is fashioned by Gray's guiding hand. Phoenix keeps meticulous track of the story line as shots are filmed out of sequence. It was interesting to hear in the DVD extras how Gray finds Phoenix difficult to work with because he wants to know in such detail what is motivating the character. Of Gray's four films, three star Phoenix. About 30 seconds after Gray yelled cut, the sky disgorged a deluge, perfect timing that Gray relishes as his favorite moment on the shoot. Danny Hoch plays Green's best friend Jumbo Falsetti.

I recently watched director James Gray's previous film The Yards that teamed Joaquin Phoenix & Mark Wahlberg. It is so steamy that even though the pair mostly keep their clothes on, we feel like we've intruded on a very personal moment in their lives. Joseph Grusinsky. Phoenix shares how when he talked to the costumer, he wanted to wear things that were sure to upset the father.

Eva Mendes plays Bobby's girlfriend Amada. Mark Wahlberg plays Bobby's brother, Lt. While Hoch has paid his dues in a number of smaller roles on screen, he blossoms here as the pudgy buddy whose friendship is conditioned by opportunism and spiced by betrayal. I decided to rent "We Own the Night" and remembered as the first frames fluttered that I'd seen this as a theatrical release. While Wahlberg doesn't achieve the depth, he is versatile in handling the anger, jealousy & love for family. The DVD extra on filming the car chase was quite interesting. Although there is plenty of action, the story is moved by seeing how it affects the characters.

Jack Shapiro. Wahlberg also contrasts his style of show up & shoot to Phoenix's studied approach. I found the film extremely affecting.

It's riveting to watch. The suggestion of an earring seemed perfect.

While she was in "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," she blossoms in this role, showing great depth as an actress. Tony Musante who was also in "The Yards" does a journeyman's job as police Capt.

The very understated ending where each brother whispers to the other that they love each other while on a stage receiving commendations is as underplayed as it is powerful. As Bobby Green, the film begins with a torrid love scene with Eva Mendes.

Phoenix maintains his intensity throughout. In smaller roles, Alex Veadov who was in "Return of the Living Dead 4" plays the Russian drug czar Vadim.

The confrontation scene between Bobby & Jumbo was shot outdoors in 9 degree weather, with Gray sliding in a secret direction to Hoch to play belligerent, which set the fuse of Phoenix's anger. Moni Moshonov that I saw in a great foreign film Late Marriage plays Marat Bujayev who owns the Cafe Caribbe where Green works and turns out to put special additives into the furs he imports into the country.

"We Own the Night" is a solid cop/gangster movie with a nice vintage feel; although set in the 80s, it reminded me of gritty 70s cop films. Director James Gray once again pairs Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg, seven years after he directed them in "The Yards." This time, they play brothers on opposite side of the law in 1988 New York City.

These two worlds, though, will soon collide. Wahlberg tries to bring down the Russians and solicits the help of Phoenix, who turns him down, preferring the money and drugs that come along with his current position. There's nothing novel about the plot, but there are some terrific scenes, especially an exciting rain-drenched car chase.

Wahlberg is a straight-arrow police captain who follows in the footsteps of their successful father, Robert Duvall who is a Deputy Chief, whereas Phoenix runs a hot nightclub for some Russians who deal in the drug business. However, I'd definitely prefer to watch "We Own the Night" than most other overblown recent gangster movies, such as "Blow" or "American Gangster." . The story is small-scale, which allows for character development.

Unfortunately, the movie loses credibility in the last half hour with some unbelievable plot twists and a few melodramatic scenes.

One of my top movies, Joaquin gives a life time performance. If you're a Mark Wahlberg or Joaquin Phoenix fan, a must see.rent it or buy it. The story, about two brothers, working from two sides of the law, coming together to beat the bad guys.

Just never came close to hitting home with me. Acting & production was up to par for a movie of today's caliber, which is why I give this movie more than one star. The entire plot, on the other hand, has been so overdone throughout the years, that creating a movie of this style today would require more imaginative writing. This movie was predictable at many points, and beyond that, did not give me any "Wow, I never saw that coming." moments. Glad I watched it on PPV as the 99-cent special, rather than paying to see it in a theatre.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: From the Secret Files of Harry Pennypacker. Eva Mendes co-stars as Phoenix's girl friend. Joaquin Phoenix stars as the manager of a Brooklyn nightclub, owned by the Russian Mob. Druxman, author of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Phoenix, initially refuses, but after the cops raid the club and, subsequently, Wahlberg becomes the victim of an assassination attempt, he agrees to go undercover for the police. It's filled with an array of complex characters, terrific performances and exciting action scenes, particularly a shoot-out in a "stash house" and an auto chase that redefines that kind of sequence. WE OWN THE NIGHT is a riveting cops-and-robbers thriller that deals with the Russian Mob in New York and Brooklyn during the 1980s. Shadow Watcher. Nobody Drowns in Mineral Lake.

© Michael B. He stays uninvolved with any illegal activities that may be going on under his nose, until his brother (Mark Wahlberg) and father (Robert Duvall), both high-ranking cops, approach him to help bring down a major drug dealer operating out of the club. When it comes to gritty big city police dramas, it appears that director James Gray is going to be the natural successor to both Sidney Lumet and Martin Scorsese.