We Own the Night (2007)

57% of critics liked it
(145 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(253,885 ratings)

Set against the backdrop of the bloody battle waged between New York City cops and the Russian mafia in the 1980s, director James Gray's period drama tells the tale of an emerging club manager whose family ties to law enforcement make him a target for the city's most dangerous criminals. Bobby Green… More Set against the backdrop of the bloody battle waged between New York City cops and the Russian mafia in the 1980s, director James Gray's period drama tells the tale of an emerging club manager whose family ties to law enforcement make him a target for the city's most dangerous criminals. Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) manages one of Gotham's hottest clubs, but being in the club scene often means turning a blind eye to blatant criminal activities. Realizing that his career -- and perhaps his life -- could come to a sudden end if anyone discovers that his father, Bert (Robert Duvall), is the deputy chief of police and his brother, Joseph (Mark Wahlberg), is a rising star on the force, Bobby struggles to keep that sensitive information from everyone except his devoted girlfriend, Amada (Eva Mendes). Russian kingpin Vadim (Alex Veadov) is a ruthless criminal who is willing to permanently silence anyone who dares cross him -- regardless of whether the person is a stranger on the street or a lifelong member of the family. When the Russian mafia declares all-out war against the NYPD, conflicted Bobby is forced to choose between his life of luxury and the family that he has worked so fervently to separate himself from. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: James Gray
Written By: James Gray
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Oct 12, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Feb 13, 2008
Studio: Sony/Columbia

Critic Reviews

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
An intriguing blend of mainstream audience-pleaser and a more subtle, even intellectual agenda.
Bob Mondello, NPR.org
It's not surprising, but it's engaging enough that most patrons will likely cut the director some slack for the out-of-period details and convoluted plot contrivances that make the film seem at once sloppy and too neat.
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News
This one hangs on the notion of fate, and once you've figured out whose fate is the central issue, the outcome -- even with those clumsy plot twists -- is fairly predictable.
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
As flat-footed as writer-director James Gray's script often sounds, his cops-vs.-mob tale can be strangely mesmerizing.
(CNN.com) Paul Clinton, CNN.com
Time will tell, but from where I'm sitting this deceptively routine cop movie runs deep. In fact, it already looks like a classic. Cagney and Tracy would be proud.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
[With so many] plot twists and turns, it's almost like a bad parody of a Western.
Dave White, Movies.com
Director-writer James Gray makes it all seem more urgent than it has any right to feel, because he knows how to make tense, violent dramas that are soaking in mood.
Brett Michel, Boston Phoenix
This is a man's movie: gritty, macho, and lacking in grace.
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
If We Own the Night is flawed and somewhat choppy, it served notice that Gray, once he refined his technique, would be a force to be reckoned with in the cinema world.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Gray assumes rather than dramatizes the depths of his characters, scanning for gravitas where there are only rickety clichés
Jay Richardson, Future Movies UK
A generic thriller that aims for deeper resonance, We Own The Night is an intriguing feature, undermined by a plot that stretches credulity, yet which still manages to conform to predictable gangster flick cliché.
Adam Tobias, Watertown Daily Times
Although We Own the Night is never as suspenseful as it wants to be and can be a little formulaic, it never comes close to being boring, and that's something you can't say too often about movies these days.
Kevin McCarthy, WJFK-FM (CBS Radio)
(We Own the Night) was terribly written and just such a waste of great actors.
Richard Mowe, Boxoffice Magazine
The pace may be a shade plodding at times, and the dialogue frequently does disservice to the subject matter. Yet the performances lift it out of the rut...
David Stratton, At the Movies (Australia)
Lovers of good straightforward thrillers should find plenty to enjoy here.
Jeff Bayer, The Scorecard Review
It's a roller coaster, mainly because a good scene is typically followed by a bad one. For every thrill, there is a melodramatic moment that just doesn't work.
Paul Byrnes, Sydney Morning Herald
The drama gains momentum in the second half, so the film gets better, but it's never too far from cliche.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
These are some of the finest actors in America, so it's no surprise that they deliver the goods and create solid, complex and accessible characters we can understand.
Christian Toto, Washington Times
We Own the Night declaws the organized crime genre.

Read all 19 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Entertaining enough but ultimately it's forgettable due to the fact it's a 'seen it all before' movie. It's not the worst of its kind by any stretch, it's just pretty underwhelming but it is directed very well with a good cast. James Gray is no Scorsese… More
Entertaining enough but ultimately it's forgettable due to the fact it's a 'seen it all before' movie. It's not the worst of its kind by any stretch, it's just pretty underwhelming but it is directed very well with a good cast. James Gray is no Scorsese or Coppola yet but maybe in time...
Daniel P

Strangely polarizing film, among my friends, but I really liked this one. The acting is very good, and the story is searing, straight-forward good-brother/bad-brother stuff. Robert Duvall's turn as the brothers' father was excellent, and, (as he proves every year, now, it… More
Strangely polarizing film, among my friends, but I really liked this one. The acting is very good, and the story is searing, straight-forward good-brother/bad-brother stuff. Robert Duvall's turn as the brothers' father was excellent, and, (as he proves every year, now, it seems), Mark Wahlberg was born to play cops. The film wobbles as it approaches the end: some scenes are flabby, or unnecessary, or just too slow, and the climactic final shootout is a little bizarre. And yet, the whole thing was quite artful, walking the line between popcorn and noir. Stylistically wonderful, and generally a tense film, it sucks you in and your attention is rewarded. Gripping, entertaining film.
danny d

this is a very good movie, and at the same time it is completely disappointing. Disappointing because for some reason i expected considerably more from this one, but still very good and worth watching. consistency was the issue here. in some scenes the actors were great, in others… More
this is a very good movie, and at the same time it is completely disappointing. Disappointing because for some reason i expected considerably more from this one, but still very good and worth watching. consistency was the issue here. in some scenes the actors were great, in others they completely missed the mark. in some scenes the cinematography was mind blowing, in others it was dull and lifeless. the plot was top notch, but the story telling was awful. this is one of those films that i enjoyed very much and would recommend to anyone, while at the same time feeling like there was a lot that should have been done better. this film is on the border between 3 and 3 1/2 stars.
Chris W

This is a pretty solid and entertaining cop/crime drama. It may not be wholly original, or have any surprising plot twists, but ya know what, straight-forward no bullshit storytelling is passable when there's a lot of strong points even if nothing groundbreaking or a brilliant… More
This is a pretty solid and entertaining cop/crime drama. It may not be wholly original, or have any surprising plot twists, but ya know what, straight-forward no bullshit storytelling is passable when there's a lot of strong points even if nothing groundbreaking or a brilliant masterpiece. I liked that it was a period piece, but it was subtl making it seem timeless and not dated. I loved the location chooting, and the strive for realism with story, content, sets, props, etc, as well the realism with the violence and its impact. I have not seen any other film James Gray has done, but I like his style (or at least the style here if it differs from the rest of his stuff). The writing is serviceable, even better than half way decent, but not mind blowing. The direction is also pretty tight and strong as well. The movie overall may not be wholly innovative or unique, but I liked the car chase. If anything in this film stands out as not formulaic, it would be that. While I know it's popular to rag on Eva Mendeas because her looks outweigh her acting skills (which are a hair above mediocre at best), she is at least trying, is making an effort to get better, and I respect that she's at least in a variety of different types fo films. Of the main players, she is the weakest, but she's not just a prop either. She's does her best given the limits of the role/character, but she has a couple of scenes that I thought were pretty good. Maybe she just stands out because she's having to act against two Oscar nominess and a multiple Oscar nominee and winner. Next to the realism and the solidness of material, the acting is what this film excells at. Phoenix is quite good, and wisely underplays the some of the more emotional and famailar plot points. The character change is handled well, and he seems believable given what his chaaracter has to deal with. Wahlberg is also quite good, appearing far more restrained than he did in The Departed. Sometimes I forget that acting what not his original profession. And of course, Duvall is terrific as usual, and things don't feel as familiar as they probably could have been (and would be in less capable/talented hands. None of this is particularly fresh, but it doesn't feel that way, which is high praise and the true success of this film. B+.
KJ P

I liked this movie but it can be a little slow at times!
Dan S

A solid cop drama focusing on the lives of a straight-shooting up-and-comer (Wahlberg) and his partying, playboy brother (Phoenix) who are polar opposites, but once a devastating act is committed, they start to grow closer together. It's cut-and-dry cop movie material, with a cop… More
A solid cop drama focusing on the lives of a straight-shooting up-and-comer (Wahlberg) and his partying, playboy brother (Phoenix) who are polar opposites, but once a devastating act is committed, they start to grow closer together. It's cut-and-dry cop movie material, with a cop dad (Duvall in this case), and a son he's very proud of and one that he can't stand due to his lifestyle. I saw this film about two years ago, and after seeing "Pride and Glory" and "Street Kings" recently, this film still ranks as the best of the three. The acting is very good, and the movie does a good job involving twists that are risky to insert, but actually work well in developing its characters and plot.
♥˩ƳИИ &

What a great movie. Has a strong cast and was well done. The story is of two brothers who couldn't be more opposite. One is a respected police officer like his father, and the other is the occasional drug addict who runs a nightclub. They might as well be on different sides of… More
What a great movie. Has a strong cast and was well done. The story is of two brothers who couldn't be more opposite. One is a respected police officer like his father, and the other is the occasional drug addict who runs a nightclub. They might as well be on different sides of the tracks sort of speak. Mark Wahlberg plays a police officer investigating a drug dealer who is frequently at the night club runned by Joaquin Phoenix's charcter. He comes to his bother to make a deal with him in helping to set this Russian drug lord up. It all goes down in the worse way and Joaquins character ends up having to save his police famly from the Russian Mafia. Its really great action movie with good acting. Joaquin totally owns this movie. Just a really great job done by him.
Clintus M

There's plenty to like in this film, even though it is at heart, a conventional cop drama. It includes standout performances throughout, though Eva Mendes is capable of so much more than she's allowed here. Phoenix is terrific. The action sequences, likewise, shine through… More
There's plenty to like in this film, even though it is at heart, a conventional cop drama. It includes standout performances throughout, though Eva Mendes is capable of so much more than she's allowed here. Phoenix is terrific. The action sequences, likewise, shine through the predictable plot. The New York locations add needed realism. Go along for the ride, just do expect anything original or breakthrough.
xGary X

Joaquin Phoenix plays a nightclub owner approached by his brother who is a policeman in the NYPD to help him investigate a drug dealer. We Own The Night has the heavyweight names and artsy photography to trick the casual browser into thinking that it is an intelligent and insightful… More
Joaquin Phoenix plays a nightclub owner approached by his brother who is a policeman in the NYPD to help him investigate a drug dealer. We Own The Night has the heavyweight names and artsy photography to trick the casual browser into thinking that it is an intelligent and insightful piece of film making. Unfortunately, the cocktail of nasty Russian gangsters, dysfunctional cop family stereotypes and bedside vigils is straight out of a Steven Seagal movie. In fact Phoenix's shambling, mumbling performance even reminded me of the kung fu fatso, and by the end when the NYPD hands over a badge and a shotgun to a guy who serves drinks for a living it actually seemed even less credible. On the other hand, at least Seagal films can be so bad they're amusing, whereas this is just knuckle-draggingly DULL. Add fatuous dialogue and a mercilessly predictable plot and you have something with pretention to being high drama but is in fact a total yawn fest.
Al S

An incrediably powerful and absolutely unforgettable movie. Tremendous, stylish, shocking, heart-pounding and exhilerating. It's The Departed meets The French connection. A masterpiece. Director, James Gray crafts another remarkable crime film. A sizzeling and adreniline-pumping… More
An incrediably powerful and absolutely unforgettable movie. Tremendous, stylish, shocking, heart-pounding and exhilerating. It's The Departed meets The French connection. A masterpiece. Director, James Gray crafts another remarkable crime film. A sizzeling and adreniline-pumping crime drama that delivers full-on force that dosent let up. An explosive and yet rare film of the importance of loyalty and family and such the thin line they stand on. I loved this amasing movie. Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix give compelling, emotionally gripping and complex powerhouse performances. They set the screen on fire in every scene they are in. Robert Duvall is teriffic as always. Eva Mendes is surprisingly effective. A film in which dedication from the entire crew shows what a superb movie is all about. It's totally and utterly electrifying. It's riveting and exhilerating. Truly top-notch. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's very tense, exciting and filled with action and suspense at every corner.
Mason W

"We Own The Night" starring Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes, and Robert Duvall is a very good crime drama. A story about two brothers where one is a well respected police officer (wahlberg) and the other is on the wrong side (phoenix). When some very large… More
"We Own The Night" starring Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes, and Robert Duvall is a very good crime drama. A story about two brothers where one is a well respected police officer (wahlberg) and the other is on the wrong side (phoenix). When some very large drug dealers from Russia are out to get police officers for putting a drug raid on there club people will have choose which side of the law to be on.....this movie overall is a very good film worth seeing.
Luke B

Average cop thriller with a bit of greatness and much to be disappointed by. The film never really capitalises on the whole family aspect of the story. Not just with immediate family but also Phoenix's family with the club owner. Wahlberg is completely wasted. He shows up and… More
Average cop thriller with a bit of greatness and much to be disappointed by. The film never really capitalises on the whole family aspect of the story. Not just with immediate family but also Phoenix's family with the club owner. Wahlberg is completely wasted. He shows up and does literally nothing. DuVall is as good as he can be as the father who is stuck with stupid lines like "You don't marry an ape and complain about the smell of bananas". It's left to Phoenix to hold the film together but his character jumps into being a cop so quickly he never seems conflicted enough. Mendes' fate is left hanging and the film seems unfinished. Many of the scenes are handled excellently. The car chase moment is brilliant, showing from just one point of view though the windshield rather than a lot of meaningless cuts. It gives it that extra impact the whole film is in need of. The undercover drug hide-out scene is also brilliant and seems very real with the tension and confusion over who is who building to an unbearable moment. The finale though is over all a bit sudden. In short the focus was in the wrong place.
Summer W

Good. Not magnificent, but solid. Joaquin excels at borderline over-emoting, but in all fairness some really crappy stuff happens to him.
paul s

a very claustrophobic feeling film taking place in the 80's in NYC. Two brothers, one who followed in his father's footsteps, the other more of a free thinker, get caught in a tangled web, mostly of the cop brother's making. Robert Duvall plays the father who, while… More
a very claustrophobic feeling film taking place in the 80's in NYC. Two brothers, one who followed in his father's footsteps, the other more of a free thinker, get caught in a tangled web, mostly of the cop brother's making. Robert Duvall plays the father who, while angry at his "other" son, still tries to protect him. The screenplay plays a bit formula, but there are some interesting insights; how the cop brother envies his brother for his freedom, and how that freedom is systematically stripped away (where the claustrophobic feeling comes in). There is an overall feeling of hopelessness to the film, even in the closing scene where Juaquin Phoenix's charactor becomes a cop and he receives applause for his work he realizes that all that he had before, the good lifestyle, the loving girlfriend, and loving father, are all gone; replaced by the badge and his brother's love - probably a poor exchange in the long run. The cinematography is excellent - there is a car chase scene that takes place in the rain, shot mainly through the wiper streaked windows that is spectacular and again, very claustrophobic.
Red L

A story about a family of cops on one side, a underground bar on the other side, and a brother (Joaquin Phoenix) who walks the fine line between the two. It does feel like it has been done before and could have ended much more tragically.
Dean M

Hard-boiled thriller and possiblitily the best car chase I ever watched. Joaquin Phoenix makes a marvelous performance on his character who must choose a side between cop and gangster.
Craig S

Directed by: James Gray. Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Alex Veadov. << "Remember. It's better to be judged by twelve people, than carried by… More
Directed by: James Gray. Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Alex Veadov. << "Remember. It's better to be judged by twelve people, than carried by six." >> The story follows two brothers who have chosen different paths. Ones a New York nightclub manager. On the rise, hes in talks to manage another club and the drugs are available to him where ever he goes. The other is a cop, who has followed in his fathers footsteps. After he raids his brothers nightclub for a Russian Thug, things start to spiral out of control when a hit is put on one of the brothers. The plot idea really has the potential to be something great. A powerful tale of brotherhood and the complexities of the crime syndicate that went on in the late 1980's...unfortunately this film doesn't reach that. What pulls this film down is James Gray's undeveloped and weak script. As a director, he is impressive. The film has amazing production values and is competently told with his keen eye for visuals, but the script really starts to lose things after the decent first act. The characters go by the numbers, going through the motions and being there for every silly setup to create conflict in the story. Mark Wahlberg's character especially is horribly undeveloped after a great start. I sat there wanting to see what he could do from the corner he is pushed into. But it isn't just about the characters though, James Gray squeezes in too many dramatic moments and silly dialogue that really pulls the film down after many great scenes, especially the shootout between the cops and the Russians that really is intense and shocking. The performances are actually quite acceptable, considering what they are given. Joaquin Phoenix is rather underrated by many and needs to be seen as more of a powerhouse actor. He inhabits the characters attitude with flair and battles through what he has to work with. Mark Wahlberg is acceptable and is better here than what we have seen of him in the last 2 years (post-Departed)...and Eva Mendes delivers her better performance as the girlfriend fighting an internal battle to keep supporting her lover. We Own The Night had major potential to be seen as a classic crime thriller...but it falls short. For the most part it stays above what we see nowadays with some solid performances and impressive direction by James Gray, who shows a decent portrayal of 1980's New York accompanied with some great scenes...but it fails at being anything more because of way too many unnecessary moments to create conflict and overall bland characters that don't give anything. Its worth a watch, even though I felt frustrated...but my attitude by the end of it was simply...meh.
E.J. B

It's not a great thriller, but it's entertaining.
Gordon A

Well made but slightly underwhelming cop/mafia saga. The performers are fine but Phoenix can't carry the drama like Pacino would. Gray set himself a real challenge entering the cop genre with so many classic films preceding and sadly this falls in their shadow.
Khris N

Yeah I really liked this drama... a family cops, with a dad, a good son and the black sheep. Its been done before, but not as nitty gritty as this. We go back to 1988 and the NYPD are on the brink of a drugs chaos... and the only way to stop it is to stop the source. The Chief and… More
Yeah I really liked this drama... a family cops, with a dad, a good son and the black sheep. Its been done before, but not as nitty gritty as this. We go back to 1988 and the NYPD are on the brink of a drugs chaos... and the only way to stop it is to stop the source. The Chief and his son Joseph plan to bring down the supply and dealers by striking at the clubs providing the venues to peddle the evil trade. There is one obstacle... their brother and son, Bobby, who manages one of the biggest clubs in town and has links to the Russian mob. The two opposite sides of the law and family clash as night and day, black and white... until Bobby learns that his family is marked for death and he makes the life changing decision to help them, putting himself and his girlfriend in the line of fire. Now... this movie really runs on performances.. which I loved. Everything about 1980's NY was down, including the Bowery accent of all the actors. It was authentic, which I loved, I dig realism of the environment. Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix are two actors I like, and Duvall is inspiring. Eva Mendes is hawt... and thats all I have to say about her really. it was realism down to the last detail. No mock up or special computer effects, it was old school film making, a serious actors movie as relationships and emotions are explored and tested to the limit, drugs, violence mixed with love and loyalty... It was interesting to watch how Bobby dealt with everything going around him, and realizing his destiny and future deep down inside, and knowing that blood is thicker than water, and his love for his family will never change. Its a great crime story, an interesting vision where the focus is on family and loyalty, not just vengeance or the law, but it begs the question: When the chips are down, who will you side with? who will you defend? Where does your heart lie? Watch it for the ace performances.