We Own the Night (2007)

Director:

James Gray

Writer (WGA):

James Gray (written by)

Release Date:

12 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Two brothers on opposite sides of the law. Beyond their differences lies loyalty.

Plot:

A New York nightclub manager tries to save his brother and father from Russian mafia hit men.

Plot Keywords:

Russian | Club | Drugs | Russian Mafia | Nightclub

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix	...	Bobby Green
Eva Mendes	...	Amada Juarez
Danny Hoch	...	Jumbo Falsetti
Alex Veadov	...	Vadim Nezhinski
Oleg Taktarov	...	Pavel Lubyarsky
Dominic Colon	...	Freddie
Joe D'Onofrio	...	Bloodied Patron
Yelena Solovey	...	Kalina Buzhayev (as Elena Solovey)
Moni Moshonov	...	Marat Buzhayev
Mark Wahlberg	...	Joseph Grusinsky
Maggie Kiley	...	Sandra Grusinsky
Paul Herman	...	Spiro Giavannis
Robert Duvall	...	Burt Grusinsky
Antoni Corone	...	Michael Solo
Craig Walker	...	Russell De Keifer
Tony Musante	...	Jack Shapiro
Claudia Lopez	...	Claudia
Katie Condidorio	...	Hazel
Edward Shkolnikov	...	Eli Mirichenko (as Ed Shkolnikov)
Katya Savina	...	Eli & Masha's Daughter
Matthew Djentchouraev	...	Eli & Masha's Son (as Matthew Djentchouraen)
Scott Nicholson	...	Nat the Cop
Robert C. Kirk	...	Sergeant Provenzano (as Robert Kirk)
Al Linea	...	Portly Cop
Teddy Coluca	...	Uniformed Cop #1 (as Ted Coluca)
Frank Girardeau	...	Police Chaplain
Joseph Coffey	...	Uniformed Cop #2
Jose Edwin Soto	...	Latino Man (as Jose E. Soto)
Greg Wilson	...	Poker Player
Edward I. Koch	...	Mayor (as Ed Koch)
Fred Burrell	...	Commissioner Ruddy
Michael Massimino	...	Hospital Guard
Edward Conlon	...	Hospital Guard #2 (as Ed Conlon)
Sharon Wilkins	...	Nurse
Ross Brodar	...	Tattooed Man (as Ross Broder)
Francis Toumbakaris	...	Slavic Youth
Hoon Lee	...	Emergency Services Driver
Barbara Ann Davison	...	Neighbor Lady
Irwin Gray	...	Neighbor
Luigi Scorcia	...	Luigi
Miriam Cruz	...	Amada's Mother
Doug Torres	...	Schneider
Tony Guida	...	Vitt the Guard
Robert McKay	...	Riker's Desk Guard
Blaise Corrigan	...	Uniformed Police Officer
Karl Bury	...	Random Cop
Coati Mundi	...	Himself
Joe Forbrich	...	Guard
Robert A. Pennacchia	...	Guard (as Robert Pennacchia)
Richard Petrocelli	...	Tough Looking Cop
Nik Pjeternikaj	...	Albanian Drug Lord
Jamal Weathers	...	Parabolic Engineer
Elliot Santiago	...	El Caribe Bouncer #1
Jeff Ward	...	El Caribe Bouncer #2
Christopher Place	...	El Caribe Party Patron #1 (as Chris Place)
Samantha MacIvor	...	El Caribe Party Patron #2
Bob Colletti	...	El Caribe Party Patron #3
Aaron Vexler	...	El Caribe Party Patron #4
Victor Tatarkin	...	Vadim's Goon #2
Patrick M. Walsh	...	Eli Bodyguard (as Pat Walsh)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Salvatore Inzerillo	...	Police Reporter
Douglas J. Aguirre	...	Bobby Green's Bodyguard (uncredited)
Ashley Avis	...	Vadim's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Edwin J. Birmingham	...	ESU Officer (uncredited)
Robert Bizik	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
John Borras	...	Riker's Prison Guard (uncredited)
Dominick Cicco	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
J.W. Cortes	...	Bouncer Cortez (uncredited)
Erin Deighan	...	El Caribe Party Patron (uncredited)
Tony Devon	...	Body Guard (uncredited)
Andrew Ginsburg	...	Vadim's Henchman (uncredited)
Turi Haim	...	Nightclub dancer (uncredited)
Philip E Jones	...	Strip club visitor (uncredited)
Edward M. Kelahan	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Nina Lisandrello	...	Bobby's Friend (uncredited)
Bernadette Lords	...	El Caribe Party Patron (uncredited)
Robert Myers	...	Graduation Attendee (uncredited)
Robert Nardi	...	TNT Cop in shootout (uncredited)
Karen Nazarov	...	Slavic drug packager (uncredited)
Tyler Noble	...	Bobby's Friend (uncredited)
Loukas Papas	...	El Caribe Party Guest (uncredited)
Marilyn Salisbury	...	Mourner (uncredited)
Aaron Scotti	...	El Caribe Party Patron (uncredited)
Richard Shankman	...	TNT Detective - Joseph's Unit (uncredited)
Sybelle Silverphoenix	...	Club goer (uncredited)
Christopher Stadulis	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Stream	...	El Caribe Party Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
James Gray

Writing credits (WGA)
James Gray		(written by)

Produced by
Marc Butan	....	producer
Mark Cuban	....	executive producer
Anthony Katagas	....	executive producer
Joaquin Phoenix	....	producer
Couper Samuelson	....	co-producer
Mike Upton	....	co-producer
Todd Wagner	....	executive producer
Mark Wahlberg	....	producer
Nick Wechsler	....	producer

Original Music by
Wojciech Kilar

Cinematography by
Joaquín Baca-Asay		(director of photography) (as Joaquin Baca-Asay)

Film Editing by
John Axelrad

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Ford Wheeler

Art Direction by
James C. Feng		(as James Feng)

Set Decoration by
Catherine Davis

Costume Design by
Michael Clancy

Makeup Department
Margot Boccia	....	makeup artist: Ms. Mendes
Milton Buras	....	department head hair stylist
Mary Cooke	....	hair stylist (as Mary Cook)
Kelly Gleason	....	makeup department head
John James	....	key makeup artist: second unit
Craig Lindberg	....	key hair stylist: second unit
Craig Lindberg	....	makeup artist
Donald Mowat	....	makeup artist: Mr. Wahlberg (as Donald J. Mowat)

Production Management
Isabel Henderson	....	post-production supervisor
Anthony Katagas	....	unit production manager
Peter Phillips	....	post-production supervisor
Janice Williams	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Craig Haagensen	....	second unit director
Brian Kenyon	....	additional assistant director
Patrick Mangan	....	first assistant director: second unit
Patrick Mangan	....	key second assistant director
Patrick McDonald	....	additional assistant director
Les McDonough	....	additional second assistant director (as Leslie McDonough)
Les McDonough	....	second assistant director: second unit (as Leslie McDonough)
Francisco Ortiz	....	second second assistant director
Doug Torres	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Tara Boccia	....	additional set dresser
Kyung W. Chang	....	assistant art director
Krysten Childs	....	additional props
John J. Ciccimarro	....	co-construction coordinator
John J. Ciccimarro	....	key carpenter
David Cooney	....	storyboard artist
Robert Currie	....	property master
Justine Dolan-Coates	....	set dresser
Jeffrey L. Glave	....	scenic chargeperson
Shelly Goldhar	....	graphic artist
Gavin A. Holmes	....	carpenter
Michael Kall	....	carpenter
Bill Kolpin	....	set dresser
Sarah E. McMillan	....	assistant set decorator
Eric M. Metzger	....	assistant property master
Lissy Morcheles	....	assistant art department coordinator
Jeff Naparstek	....	set dresser
Robert Noonan	....	art department production assistant
Morgan Pitts	....	assistant property master
Kevin L. Raper	....	graphic artist
Scott Rosenstock	....	lead man
Pierre Rovira	....	construction coordinator
Mark Simon	....	set dresser
Peter von Bartheld	....	set dresser
Brianne Zulauf	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Christopher Barnett	....	assistant sound editor
Chris Barron	....	digital sound transferer (as Christopher Barron)
John Countryman	....	digital sound transferer
Caoimhe Doyle	....	foley artist
Kim Foscato	....	first assistant sound editor
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Kenneth Gilbert	....	adr recordist
Alex Glenn-Murray	....	apprentice sound editor
Jonathan Greber	....	digital sound transferer
Chris Gridley	....	assistant sound editor
Samuel H. Hinckley	....	sound effects editor
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Anna Malkin	....	foley recording assistant
Marilyn McCoppen	....	dialogue and adr editor
Teferra McKenzie	....	sound utility
Douglas Murray	....	sound designer
Douglas Murray	....	supervising sound editor
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
Jonathan Null	....	adr editor
Sam Perry	....	boom operator
Paul Pouthier	....	sound utility
Lenny Rabinowitz	....	adr recording engineer
Gary Rizzo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Shoup	....	sound effects editor
Kent Sparling	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thomas Varga	....	sound mixer
Karl Wasserman	....	boom operator
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Eric Taylor Williamson	....	adr recordist
Marshall Winn	....	adr editor
Marshall Winn	....	dialogue editor
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle	....	adr editor

Special Effects by
Drew Jiritano	....	special effects coordinator
Drew Jiritano	....	special effects coordinator: second unit
Andrew Mortelliti	....	special effects technician
Ian O'Connor	....	special effects coordinator: visual effects unit
Neil Ruddy	....	special effects
Andrea Swistak	....	special effects foreman: second unit
Louie Zakarian	....	prosthetic application and design
Josiah Patrow	....	effects camera assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Eric Adkins	....	director of photography: visual effects unit
Radoslav Bakalov	....	digital effects artist (as Rado Bakalov)
Jamie Baxter	....	digital compositor: Custom Film Effects
Scott E. Baxter	....	digital effects artist: Digital Domain
Ryan Beadle	....	digital I/O
Brian Begun	....	digital compositor: Digital Domain
Alicia Bissinger	....	digital rotoscope/paint artist: Digital Domain
John Bozzalla	....	manager of production services
Steve Caldwell	....	digital compositor: Custom Film Effects
Chad E. Collier	....	scanning and recording operator: Digital Domain
Lee Croft	....	digital compositor: Digital Domain
Janelle Croshaw	....	digital compositor
Sam Dabbs	....	digital compositor
Alan De Castro	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title
Eric Deinzer	....	digital rotoscope/paint artist: Digital Domain
Mark Dornfeld	....	visual effects supervisor: Custom Film Effects
Sven Dreesbach	....	digital artist
Mark Duckworth	....	digital rotoscope/paint artist: Digital Domain
Scott Edelstein	....	3D integration lead: Digital Domain
Jenn Epstein	....	digital paint & rotoscope artist: Digital Domain
Michele Ferrone	....	visual effects producer
David Geoghegan	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title
Navjit Singh Gill	....	technical assistant
Joanna N. Goslicka	....	digital rotoscope/paint artist: Digital Domain (as Joanna Goslicka)
R.J. Harbour	....	digital compositor
Ian A. Harris	....	digital rotoscope/paint artist: Digital Domain
Ronald D. Herbst	....	digital texture painter: Digital Domain
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor
Shaina Holmes	....	digital coordinator
Christopher Holsey	....	scan record supervisor
Melissa Huerta	....	digital artist: Digital Domain
Steven Hur	....	technical assistant
Dag Iversay	....	digital compositor: Digital Domain (as Dag Ivarsoy)
Hilery Johnson	....	lead digital rotoscope/paint artist: Digital Domain (as Hilery Johnson Copeland)
Nicholas Kim	....	digital compositor
Paul Kirsch	....	digital compositor: Digital Domain
Lawrence Klein	....	visual effects editor: Digital Domain
Cristian A. Kong	....	digital compositor
Paulina Kuszta	....	visual effects coordinator
Jeremy Lang	....	head of information technology: Custom Film Effects
Julian Levi	....	visual effects producer
Kent Lidke	....	CG effects artist: Digital Domain
Robert Liscombe	....	digital rotoscope/paint artist: Digital Domain
Jo Lockman	....	scanning and recording operator: Digital Domain
Jake Maymudes	....	compositor: nuke, Digital Domain
Lori C. Miller	....	digital art director: Custom Film Effects (as Lori Miller)
Colleen Murphy	....	digital producer
Mike Ocoboc	....	digital compositor
Marlo Pabon	....	digital compositor: Digital Domain (as Marlo J. Pabon)
Bradley Parker	....	visual effects supervisor: Digital Domain (as Brad Parker)
Iva Petkova	....	visual effects supervisor
Tom Piedmont	....	dustbuster
Darren Poe	....	digital compositor: Digital Domain (as Darren M. Poe)
Kelly Port	....	visual effects supervisor
Laurie Powers	....	digital art director: Custom Film Effects
Matthew Rundell	....	visual effects producer: B2 Post
Olivier Sarda	....	compositing supervisor: Digital Domain (as Olivier P. Sarda)
Todd Sarsfield	....	digital compositor: Digital Domain
Christopher Savides	....	color grader
Mark Sawicki	....	digital compositor
Jarom Sidwell	....	visual effects coordinator
Linda Tremblay	....	digital compositor: Digital Domain (as Linda Tremblay-Geibel)
Mike Uguccioni	....	visual effects supervisor
Ed Ulbrich	....	visual effects executive producer
Douglas Wilkinson	....	digital compositor: Digital Domain
Amani Williams	....	digital compositor
Howard Cabalfin	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Amanda Hampton	....	pipeline engineer (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Mitch Paulson	....	digital colorist assist (uncredited)

Stunts
Damian Achilles	....	stunt driver
Damian Achilles	....	stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunt driver
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunt driver
Chris Barnes	....	stunt driver
Mike Burke	....	stunt driver
Mike Burke	....	utility stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunt driver
Bob Colletti	....	stunt double: Joaquin Phoenix
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunt driver
Roy Farfel	....	stunt rigger
Angel Fraguada	....	utility stunts
Christopher Jon Gombos	....	stunts
Gene Harrison	....	stunt performer
Cort Hessler	....	stunt driver
Pete Klein	....	stunts
Samantha MacIvor	....	stunts
Sean J. McHugh	....	stunts
Chazz Menendez	....	stunt rigger
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunt driver
Christopher Place	....	stunts
Thomas Place	....	stunts
Stephen A. Pope	....	stunts
David Shumbris	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator
Erik Solky	....	stunt double: lead
D.J. Surgent	....	stunt driver
Aaron Vexler	....	stunts
Anthony Vincent	....	stunts
Patrick M. Walsh	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Becchio	....	assistant camera
Nicole Brait	....	electrician
Stephen Consentino	....	Steadicam operator
Joe Donohue III	....	dolly grip
Greg Finkel	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Jay Fortune	....	gaffer
Raymond Fortune	....	electrician
Max Frankston	....	second video assist operator
Christopher F. Graneto	....	grip
Craig Haagensen	....	director of photography: second unit
Brian Harnick	....	assistant camera: additional photography
Elizabeth Hedges	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
James Heerdegen	....	grip
Susan Heller	....	electrician
Anne Joyce	....	still photographer
Rachael Levine	....	camera operator
Dennis A. Livesey	....	first assistant camera
Brian McClean	....	best boy electric
Mark Melendez	....	lighting technician
Wayne Paull	....	additional camera operator
Andrew Peck	....	additional loader
Melvin Pukowsky	....	second grip
Frank Rinato	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Erik Shirai	....	grip
Susan Starr	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Fernando Vallejo	....	assistant: director of photography
Jason Velez	....	electrician
Wesley Hodges	....	additional camera loader (uncredited)
J. Dan Wright	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Shawn Edward	....	extras casting associate
Stephanie Holbrook	....	casting associate
Meredith Jacobson	....	extras casting
Adam Vincentz	....	extras casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Denise Andres	....	costumer
Debbe DuPerrieu	....	costume supervisor: second unit
Debbe DuPerrieu	....	set costumer
Eileen Goh	....	set costumer
Barrett Hong	....	key set costumer
Lisa Kisner	....	production assistant: costume department
Joseph La Corte	....	first key costumer
Evelyn Mejia	....	wardrobe production assistant
Cassidy Mosher	....	wardrobe production assistant
Marcia Patten	....	costume supervisor
Brianna Patterson	....	costume assistant
Andy Plovnick	....	wardrobe production assistant
Laura Steinman	....	costume supervisor
Adam Watt	....	wardrobe production assistant

Editorial Department
Tom Cross	....	additional editor
Bob Fredrickson	....	color timer
Josh Olive	....	colorist: video dailies
Kiran Pallegadda	....	assistant editor
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor
Steve Bowen	....	digital intermediate colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Rick Kline	....	score mixer
Rafal Paczkowski	....	score recordist
Aleksandra Rojek	....	soloist: oboe
John Roome	....	score music
Angie Rubin	....	music editor
Dana Sano	....	music supervisor
Christopher Spelman	....	music consultant
Libby Umstead	....	music coordinator (as Elizabeth Umstead)
Antoni Wit	....	conductor

Other crew
Tara Anderson	....	assistant: James Gray
Ronald Arceneaux	....	production assistant
Michael Bartol	....	assistant: Anthony Katagas
Justen Bennett-Maccubbin	....	payroll assistant
Brian Bergdoll	....	stand-in: Joaquin Phoenix
Peter Brogna	....	additional set production assistant
Dennis Buckley	....	location production assistant
Joseph Coffey	....	consultant: NYPD
Wendy Cohen	....	rights and clearances
Sarah Crofts	....	location assistant
Jacq Donegan	....	assistant production coordinator
Logan Wolfe Edler	....	key production assistant
Kerin Ferallo	....	production coordinator
Scott Ferlisi	....	location assistant
David Fitzpatrick	....	police technical consultant (as Detective David Fitzpatrick)
Amanda Foley	....	location coordinator
Marta Forns-Escudé	....	production assistant: first team
Lowell Freedman	....	set production assistant
Rebecca Fulton	....	script supervisor
Samuel Glen	....	armorer
Julia Granacki	....	assistant: Eva Mendes
Steven Guerry	....	assistant: Nick Wechsler
Lauren Guilmartin	....	set production assistant
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative
Robyn Heath	....	assistant: Marc Butan
Michael Hekmat	....	production assistant
Erik Hodge	....	assistant: Nick Wechsler
Christina D. King	....	production secretary
Dawn Knox	....	assistant: Mark Cuban
Mike Lane	....	client services
Harry Lapham	....	production assistant
Chris Leonidas	....	location assistant
Stewart Maclennan	....	consultant: Russian language
Kristyn Macready	....	set production assistant
Larry McHale	....	assistant: Joaquin Phoenix
Staci Mitchell	....	assistant: Todd Wagner
Mario Nila	....	production assistant
Angel Oquendo	....	voice-over artist
Amy Ostrower	....	post-production accountant
Jarret Palmer	....	intern
Harley Pasternak	....	personal trainer
Andrew Poppoon	....	unit location assistant
Jimmy Price	....	location scout
Guillaume Renberg	....	remote head technician
Justin Rosini	....	location assistant
Kathi Scharer	....	production accountant
Drew Schofer	....	production assistant
William Sepulveda	....	craft service
Christopher Spelman	....	consultant: filmmakers
Eugene Stamos	....	additional craft service
Patrick Stegall	....	production assistant
Daniel Tresca	....	location scout
Mimi Turner	....	assistant location manager
Gayle Vangrofsky	....	location manager
Eva Vedock	....	key craft service
Isaac Wayton	....	production assistant
Jamal Weathers	....	assistant: Mark Wahlberg
Eric Weinstein	....	assistant: Mark Wahlberg
Jeffrey Zaks	....	assistant: Marc Butan
Rennie Cowan	....	projectionist: dailies (uncredited)

Thanks
J.J. Abrams	....	thanks
Bryan Burk	....	special thanks
Lorenzo di Bonaventura	....	special thanks
James Gunn	....	special thanks
Mark Romanek	....	special thanks
Mike Spera	....	thanks
Mike Uguccioni	....	special thanks (as Michael Uguccioni)

Production Companies

• 2929 Productions
• Industry Entertainment

Distributors

• CDI Films (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (2007) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Movie-Eye Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2007-2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Viva International Pictures (2007) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Discovery Film & Video Distribution (2008) (Croatia) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Pinema (2007) (Turkey) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2007) (Finland) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)

Special Effects

• Digital Domain (special visual effects and digital animation)
• Custom Film Effects (visual effects)
• Pacific Title and Art Studio
• B2 Post

Other Companies

• Camera Service Center  cameras
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• EFilm  digital intermediate (uncredited)
• Footsteps Post-Production Sound Inc.  foley recorded at (as Footsteps)
• FotoKem Laboratory  answer print (as FotoKem)
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• K.A.S. Lighting  location equipment (as K/A/S Lighting New York City)
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Magnum Photos  photographs
• Manhattan Transfer  adr facility
• Polish Radio Studios, The  music recorded at
• Production Resources  rights and clearances
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• Studio Sonoria  score recording coordinator
• Technicolor  dailies (as Technicolor - New York)
• Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra  music performed by (as Warsaw Philharmonic National Orchestra of Poland)
• Widget Post Production  ADR recording facility

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, drug material, language, some sexual content and brief nudity.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:18A (Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #43553) | Ireland:15A | Norway:15 | Finland:K-15 | Philippines:R-13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Taiwan:R-18 | Brazil:16 | Sweden:15 | France:U | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R16 | Italy:VM14 | Singapore:M18 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:13 | Japan:PG-12 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

2929 Productions

Trivia:

Christopher Walken was originally cast and set to co-star as Chief Albert Grusinsky, but had to pull out due to scheduling difficulties. Robert Duvall was brought in at the last minute to play the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: IN the chase/ambush scene the Chevrolet Bobby is in has hubcaps (which are in a close up) then at the height of the chase has no hubcaps, and then when the cars are stopped in the street the hubcaps have returned.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Joseph Grusinsky: [whispers] I love you very much.
Bobby Green: [a beat] I love you too.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-10-13)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Ural Rowan-Tree

Strong start and dumb finish

On the whole I think James Gray's movies benefit from his smooth directing, no rushed and furious MTV editing. This leads to a good deal of leniency from the part of critics (as with Night Shyamalan before it became too obvious he was shooting the same narrative structure over and over), a kind of prime for directors who don't harass the viewer with images + sounds but let the camera roll and the actors do their jobs, the story unfold and so on.

We Own the Night starts very well, the exposure is excellent. Even though the brother confrontation is definitely not new Joaquin Phoenix is so good you just get into the story and beg for the plot to become more complicated. Oops. The problem is the story becomes a one-way highway of the same old/same old. Joaquin Phoenix is ever so good you don't care too much until it becomes way way too much. In that respect (and lack of respect for the movie-goer) the movie ends in a lame way, rushing an happy and clean and tidy and moral conclusion.

The last lines (see the so-called "memorable quotes") say it all. It perfectly reflects that a smooth director may be too smooth on writing. Bringing sentiments before the camera is miles away from shooting scripted sentimentalism and I think James Gray has a problem with his characters' emotions since he is only able to play on pathos and good acting.