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WE OWN THE NIGHT Send This Review to a Friend
The screenplay strains credibility, but at least the action is there. In writer-director James Gray’s New York police tale, the Russian Mafia is the villain, increasingly so these days. But the story is on the clichéd side, with two brothers in conflict with one another, one an honored cop, the other a civilian who cavorts with seedy characters. Pop is a police honcho who tells the problematical son that eventually he’ll have to decide which side he’s on.
Mark Wahlberg plays Joseph Grusinsky, the good son, and Joaquin Phoenix plays Bobby, his brother. Robert Duvall, always in top acting form, is their father. The three performances are fine, but much is predictable. You know there’ll be a price to pay, and you can take bets that Bobby will come around to the right side. Eva Mendes has an uninteresting role as Amada, Bobby’s girlfriend who fears for his life but otherwise doesn’t have much of a defined character.
The aim is to catch ruthless drug dealers in a deal that is set to occur. Count on plenty of action, firepower, hit men, a car chase and the ultimate showdown. Also count on improbabilities. A Columbia Pictures release.
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