We Own the Night

"It's better to be judged by twelve, then carried by six"

This film had alot of potential, Joaquin, Marky-Mark, even the great Robert Duvall, but however most of this talent goes to waste on a dull script and poor direction. Sorta like an opened can of soda that has been sitting in your fridge too long; you come back to a sip of refreshment and all you get is a flat dose of syrup and sugar.

That's kinda how this film was.

Pheonix plays Robert, the more rebellious of two brothers, who has decided to forsake his family and get into some illicit business (drugs, clubs, and the mob). His brother Joe (Mark Wahlberg) has decided to follow in his father's (Robert Duvall) footsteps and become part of the NY Police Department. When it is learned that a drug dealer has infiltrated into one of Robert's nightclubs, Joe will let nothing, not even his own brother get in his way.

The most annoyning thing about this movie is far and away Eva Mendes, who still hasn't shown anyone anwhere she can act (see these other Mendes classics now available to torment you: Ghost Rider, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and the Steven Seagal masterpiece: Exit Wounds). She spends most of the movie rolling around on beds, and putting everyone's life in danger because of her stupid non-chalant attitude towards the bad guys. Pheonix and Wahlberg are both good actors, but they aren't given really any range in this movie. Wahlberg tries to puff his shoulders up to make himself bigger, everytime Pheonix enters the room. Pheonix's character on the otherhand tends to make very large life-changing decisions with relative and unrealistic ease.

All the characters have to face choices that will not only determine the rest of their lives, but also their relationships with each other. Each character has to deal with the consequences that his actions may cause. Sometimes those choices can bleed over into the lives of your family...

Spoilerish warning:

The upsurdity of the New York Police Department making a known criminal an honorary officer, and then letting him run into a burning field to shoot at a criminal who they want kept alive is beyond apsurd. Also lettting Amada run around town doing whatever she wanted? Hello? Security? Wake Up!

******
6 out of 10 stars