We Own the Night (DVD)

Being a fan of films involving mobsters and crime syndicates, We Own the Night was a definite must see for me. The film itself will never be considered a classic mob movie, but I did enjoy most of the feature.

First off, I must mention that the casting of the movie was superb. I won’t hid the fact that there were some instances where I felt that several characters were under developed, but overall I was satisfied with the outcome. Joaquin Phoenix in particular, who played the lead role of Bobby Green had definitely put on one of his most convincing performances thus far in his career.

The plot of the film was your basic gangster type material. As with films such as Scarface, the Godfather, and Heat, We Own the Night focused primarily on the glamorization of the mobster lifestyle and the consequences that come along with it.

The most disappointing part of the film for me had to be its finale. After all the suspense leading up to the climax, I was pretty disgusted with the conclusion. My reviews never detail the outcome of film, but I will mention that the final moments were just too predictable and abrupt in my opinion to satisfy.

Synopsis:

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 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 Burt is the deputy chief of police and his brother Joseph is a rising star on the force, Bobby struggles to keep that sensitive information from everyone except his devoted girlfriend Amada. Russian kingpin Vadim is a ruthless criminal who is willing to permanently silence anyone who dares cross him – regardless of whether they are 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, or the family that he has worked so fervently to separate himself from. Source: Moviefone