Brothers In Law
We Own the Night
Review by Ross Anthony

Okay, let's start with the good. The acting is pretty strong (I like these stars), the direction passionate, some of the writing interesting and the late 70's/80's NY period makes a nice choice of time frame and it's effectively conjured for this cops vs. drug-dealers tale.

The film on the whole is bleak and laborious. At its core, the picture endeavors to tell the story of two brothers -- one a stern cop, the other a partying club manager and their chief of police father. There's some very serious drama winding these three together despite an energy to tear them apart -- I bought in. But, because of either unbelievable or undeveloped progressions in the telling, I lost my suspension of belief and instead was left with only a stripped down version of suspense to draw me along.

I simply do not "buy," the police letting a notorious bad guy escape from their custody when this bad guy had been killing cops and even threatened to kill the chief of police personally. I don't buy it. Among other difficult things to swallow, I don't think technology was advanced enough to put a microphone, batteries, and a transmitter inside a working cigarette lighter. And even then, simply carrying it in a pocket would only create a muffled inaudible sound.

Nonetheless, if you like a slow brooding suspense film, maybe you'll like this one. The title "We Own the Night" was the motto of the 1980s era NYPD street crimes unit.

thnight

-- Book Contest --


  • We Own the Night. Copyright © 2007.
  • Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Robert Duvall.
  • Written and Directed by James Gray.
  • Produced by Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin, Nick Wechsler, Marc Butan at Columbia/2929

Grade..........................C+ (1/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Thursday, 11-Oct-2007 09:31:00 PDT