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List Price: $14.94 | | Label: Sony Pictures
Salesrank: 4448
Released: February 12, 2008 |
| Our Price: $2.82 |
| Used Price: $0.24 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
What if your own family stood in the way of everything you worked for? Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) has forsaken his name to escape his family and their tradition in law enforcement to pursue his ambitions as a Brooklyn nightclub owner. As he turns a blind eye to the drug dealers around him, he comes face to face with the family he abandoned when his brother (Mark Wahlberg) and father (Robert Duvall) crack down on the club. Now Bobby must choose a side. Is he going to turn informant or will he help run the biggest crime ring in New York history?
Description of We Own the Night:
In We Own the Night, Joaquin Phoenix, whose eyes burn with sullen anger even when he's looking at the woman he loves, plays Bobby Green, a nightclub manager in the 1980s who gets caught between his blood family he tried to leave behind--a long line of police officers--and his chosen family of friends and business partners, who turn out to be drug dealers. His father (Robert Duvall) and brother (Mark Wahlberg) want Bobby to help their investigation, but Bobby resists--until the conflict takes a brutal turn. Writer/director James Gray wears his influences on his sleeve; he's clearly seen every movie that Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola ever made and aspires to follow in their footsteps. The familiarity of the movie's territory dilutes its impact, but the plot of We Own the Night remains unpredictable, the performances have a clean vitality, and Gray's moody visual style brings some life to the genre. Phoenix (Walk the Line) dives into his role, sifting through layers of guilt and familial resentment; Wahlberg and Duvall play parts they've essentially played a dozen times, but do so with commitment and integrity. Also featuring Eva Mendes (Ghost Rider) as Bobby's devoted girlfriend, who questions just how much she'll have to give up for him. --Bret Fetzer
Beyond We Own the Night
On Blu-ray | 
Original Soundtrack |
Stills from We Own the Night (click for larger image)
We Own the Night Reviews:
A hidden gem 
2009-11-23 - I was surprised how much I like this film; it's a modern classic. It's suspenseful and sometimes subtle, and the acting is phenomenal. If you're a fan of dark drama, of the family or organized crime variety, then you'll like it.
This Movie owned to much of my night!! 
2009-10-10 - This movie was ok, But it reminded me of a democrat how they flip flop so much!!
Typical cops vs. gansters flick, but I still like it 
2009-09-25 - It's sometimes clear that We Own The Night lacks some originality. There are some elements that are borrowed from other films like The Departed and even Mean Streets. But while this crime drama is a bit unoriginal, I can't help but like it. It's one of the better films I've seen in 2007, and it's got a whole lot of things in store. First off, it's not your typical Hollywood atmosphere, where there are quick shots and loud background music. It's a very violent and sometimes eerie setting, and it's almost perfect for late 80's Brooklyn. The orchestral music is tranquil, which is a break from all the loudness and bombast from other Hollywood action music. The pace is slower, which is a good thing since you're able to absorb and understand the characters, and why they are the way they are. The action is never in-your-face, mainly because the story is the main focus here, not the action. The only flaw I found in We Own The Night is the climax. I expected a more satisfying final confrontation, but it didn't really turn out as I expected it to be. Still, it's a very good film. It's got a fascinating plot and some memorable performances from Phoenix, Wahlberg, Duvall, and Mendes. I can look past the unoriginal elements, and enjoy the film from beginning to end.
A crime saga on the same level as Michael Mann's HEAT, superbly told and rich in scenery and authenticity.
2009-08-20 - A crime saga on the same level as Michael Mann's HEAT, superbly told and rich in scenery and authenticity.
A well told and gritty story without gratuitous violence, the transparency of 1970's New York City and the burgeoning Heroine culture is told through the perspective of a Police Chief and his two sons, the prodigal son and police officer played by Wahlberg is a strong character who concedes nothing to his bar manager brother played by Joaquin Phoenix.
The cinematography does for the story the way Friedkens To Live & Die In LA told details unseen in American cinema, We Own The Night accomplishes the same with everything from a nail biting car chase shot in the rain to the finale which deserves viewing instead of spoiling.
We own the night is a long movie which doesn't feel long, the sub plots and seemingly unrelated characters are given just enough play to make their significance pertinent, Dennis Hopper's performance is the courageous lead with human flaws and likeable characteristics that he uniquely delivers.
The story is rich in detail and tempts the viewer to watch it repeatedly and focus on their attention on a dimensional level for the goal of digesting the film in layers.
AMAZING CRIME DRAMA
2009-08-06 - Great acting. Great story. Great sets. Great attention to detail. What can I say this movie is great.
