We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (A) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:22:54 PST

Yes, it's not necessarily always unique in what it seems to show, but in how it chooses to show it. Underneath the surface there is always a lot more going on than one would suppose. That's what I loved about it. How for example the heroine doesn't die but instead leaves the protagonist. Or how casually it is shown that she is responsible for the death of his father. And how his best friend turns out to be a traitor, but in the end a friend after all. On paper it doesn't sound very exciting or innovative, but in the film there is always one more twist to every story.

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (R6dw6C) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:35:58 PST

While I would disagree that the film is "totally unique" (there certainly are many "de ja vu" moments), it certainly is an amazing example of a spiritual police / gangster drama, full of surprising, pleasant subtleties, a pair of extremely complex and unusual leading characters, amazing form (the cinematography was stunning, imho) and a minimalist, but fine score by Wojciech Kilar and, to top it all, probably the best car chase in recent American cinema (those who have seen the film will surely know what I mean) which, altogether, made my decision to include it on my TOP 20 list of the year. This sujet definitely stood in the rain within the last few years and this finally was an effort which, to me, was easy to praise.
(This post may seem a little empty but I already had an extensive and exciting discussion with A and Matalo Matango)

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (A) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:54:01 PST

Really? I must say, I had a unique impression, and it still tops my Top Ten for 2008. I desperately want to see it again before the year is over, cause it seems to grow more and more in retrospect.
What other films did it remind you of, wpqx?

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (wpqx) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:06:02 PST

Saw the film today and I might agree it had great moments but something about the film just seemed run of the mill to me. Nothing I particularly disliked but just seemed like I had seen this type of film before.

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (arsaib4) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:23:26 PST

Now out on DVD (Sony). Extras include a commentary track by James Gray (which I can't wait to listen to), along with a trio of background featurettes.

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (arsaib4) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 03:37:57 PST

Looks like we won't have to wait another seven years for the next James Gray film. Two Lovers, starring, who else, Joaquin Phoenix, is scheduled for later this year.

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (arsaib4) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:43:42 PST

Here.

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (A) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:50:35 PST

I'll watch it on the big screen when it comes out. And this time, I'll even face the synchro.
Haven't read the piece by Tracy. Where can I find it?

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (arsaib4) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:03:49 PST

Well, you missed about the first 10 minutes, son. (How many toasts did you have? ) After that aborted erotic encounter (following the credits which delineated the origins of the title), Phoenix walks downstairs to the disco palace and mingles with the crowd. He is then seen at the residence of his boss, where they discuss future business ventures. And before they entered the police party, the duo shared a brief conversation in the car outside, which emphasized Phoenix's disregard for his family. (Academy screeners rule!)

Looks like We Own the Night will see the light of day in Germany on February 21. By the way, have you read the Andrew Tracy piece?

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (A) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:21:51 PST

No, no, no,

I missed the opening scene you so vividly describe, because I was hungry and wanted to eat a toast before the film. When i came in, Joaquin was sitting in the church, and the conversation with his family had seemingly just begun. In the end I thought i hadn't missed anything important, but now I believe I did miss the most important moment in the film.

Anyway, it was clear to me that he adored his girlfriend, and the emotions came through very well throughout the film imo. I completely agree with you, that he would have needed somebody like Mann. The biggest gaps or...

Re: We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (arsaib4) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:09:56 PST

Set to Blondie's "Heart of Glass," the opening scene featuring the glistening body of Mendes writhing erotically on the couch while being subjected to Pheonix's intense gaze was one of the cinematic moments of the year for me. Heck, I almost wish it had come later on in the film, but its placement was important since it enabled Gray to set various thematic dynamics in motion. However, that remarkable and harrowing car chase was what Gray still had in store for us, A. That scene was sound-edited to the rhythm of the windshield wipers which only ratcheted up the tension in such pouring downfall. Short yet heart-stopping. "Great individual moments" was part of my brief remark about the film and you seem to have come to the same conclusion. There were a few gaps in the narrative -- the police procedural elements didn't appear to be in sync at all times (I remember thinking while watching the film that how great it would've been if someone like Michael Mann was...

We Own the Night (James Gray / 2007)

feeds@kickapps.com (A) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:38:44 PST

What, no thread on James Gray's latest? After seven years, Gray has finally returned to filmmaking and his old themes we could already witness in his fine first two efforts from 1994 and 2000. I believe enough of us have seen this new film to warrant a new thread and discussion at this point, and some of us (I'm particularly thinking about arsaib) are familiar with all of his three feature films.

We Own the Night has reminded me that I should rewatch Gray's other two films, as it is already a contender for my Best of 2008 lists next year. I saw it in a Slovenian theater where an incompetent projectionist wasn't able to show the film in it's proper aspect ratio (i assumed 1.66 wasn't it), and what's worse, the frame kept shaking throughout the excellent two hours. That probably means I should revisit it without the heads cut off. Distribution in Germany starts in February, though I doubt they will release any subtitled...