We Own the Night  

For this weeks review I decided to go see a movie that I normally wouldn’t see in the theaters.  From the first time I saw the preview for We Own the Night, I knew this was going to be renter.  I’ve always felt like cop/gangster dramas can go one of two ways.  Either great – “Really wish I had seen this one earlier.”  Or bad – “Glad I didn’t waste $7.50 on this one in the theater.”  I’m sad to say, but not surprised, that this one is the latter.  Unfortunately I wasted the $7.50 this time.

 Set in Brooklyn in the 80’s the story follows Bobby Green, a successful nightclub manager.  He’s a man who has it all – a great job, great friends, beautiful girlfriend and a boss who loves him like a son.  He’s a triumph in everyone’s eyes except those of his police chief father and police captain brother.  All but estranged from his family, Bobby tells no one in his life about his father or brother.  But when his brother goes after a known Russian drug lord, Bobby’s life unravels.  In the end he decides to join his family and the police and take down this Russian mob.  Bobby’s decision cost him everything, his job, his friends and even his girlfriend.  We are supposed to be comforted by his lose by the fact he’s a better man now, a man his family can respect.  Honestly, he looked happier before. 

This movie had a couple of things really working for it, first the cast.  With credits including Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Walburg, Eva Mendes and Robert Duvall you’d think Oscar buzz for sure.  Another plus for the movie was the setting, Brooklyn in the 80’s.  I loved the music, the outfits and the hair – it really took me back.  But as great as these two aspects were they weren’t enough to save this film.  There is only one word to describe the downfall of this movie – SLOW.  The movie was slow to start, slow in the middle and even slower to end.  What’s more disappointing were the action scenes.  Yes, the gun play was okay, but the movies one car chase seemed flat and almost boring.  There is an argument scene between Bobby, played by Phoenix, and Amada, Eva Mendes, that was just awkward and hard to watch.  Poor camera angels just added to the lack luster pace of this film. 

 I should have stuck with my gut and waited for the DVD release.

We Own the Night earns a C- grade.