PopSyndicate.com

This gripping family crime drama expertly blends action with emotional appeal.

We Own The Night was not what I expected. With Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix – two of my FAV young male actors – I thought it would be a shoot-‘em-up film, with blood, guts and gore, and the obligatory T&A necessary in today’s R-rated flicks. 

What I got was something unexpected – and even better than I expected. Not only is the film beautifully pieced together, but it offers up a gripping emotional family drama that draws viewers in more than any action-packed Godfather wannabe could.

Joaquin Phoenix plays Bobby Green, the troubled son in a family of cops. His brother (Mark Wahlberg) is moving up the ranks as the hard-partying Bobby moves up in Brooklyn’s drug-infested 1980s club scene. But Bobby soon has to choose between the life he knows and his family, and come to terms with the inexorable pull of blood ties.

The title is derived from a phrase first coined by a real street crimes unit. The director and set designers took great pains to continue that authenticity with vintage clothes and carefully-plotted filming to portray Brooklyn in the 1980s. Paying such close attention to even the tiniest detail creates a vacuum that sucks viewers in from the beginning; the acting keeps them glued to their seats until the very last second.

The acting rocks. Period. Phoenix, Wahlberg, Robert Duval and Eva Mendes shared this symbiotic chemistry that’s tough to find in the cookie cutter actors of today. They brought the script and carefully-orchestrated 80s style to life. By concentrating on the emotions of these characters, We Own the Night offers up an intriguing story that surpasses the gun-toting tough guys – and girls – we see so often in these types of films.

*SLIGHT SPOILER* There is one scene about an hour into this two-hour film where the characters get into a deadly high-speed chase. This scene is a turning point for Bobby, and filmmakers shot it in a way that was totally riveting. They somehow blended the movement and Bobby’s fears to create the most memorable scene in the movie. If you don’t want to watch the whole film, you need to watch just this scene. I have never seen such a blend of action and emotion used to personalized a simple car chase. Incredible.

The extras are definitely worth the watch. “Tension: Creating We Own The Night” includes actor interviews and insight into writer/director James Gray’s vision for the film. You can also listen to Gray’s commentary throughout the film – worth it if you want to watch it a second time. “Police Action: Filming Cops, Cars and Chaos” offers up techniques and twists to pulling together films like We Own The Night. 

This movie is appealing to a wide audience, including those craving mob-style violence, police dramas, or films with emotional appeal. It’s gritty, stylish and takes you straight into the heart of the characters in a way that current cop films and TV shows don’t. You won’t regret the two hours you spend watching it. 

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