We Own the Night

You own $10 and shouldn't spend it on this clumsy cop drama

By Matt Pais

Critic's Rating:

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Photos:

Reckless nightclub manager Bobby (Joaquin Phoenix) doesn't mind hanging with drug dealers and skirting the law until his clients try to harm Bobby's brother Joseph (Mark Wahlberg) and father Burt (Robert Duvall), both cops. So Bobby assists the police in their pursuit of a merciless Russian mafia man.

Big question: Can tough, reliable actors elevate this material into a throbbing tale of family bonds?

Skip it: Bobby seems shocked and horrified that his illegal operations would have any consequences, and he transitions far too smoothly to being a stand-up guy. The club also practically disappears from the movie after Bobby bails, which is as suspect as a sweetheart like Amada (Eva Mendes) putting up with a jerk like Bobby for so long.

Catch it: If you want to find an easy way to double your money. As Joseph demonstrates, all you have to do is rip it in half!

Bottom line: Nearly all of "We Own the Night" is shoddily done, with inept direction from writer James Gray ("The Yards") that results in seemingly unintentional shots like Phoenix and Mendes' heads placed behind a lamp during their most emotional scene. The movie would seem ripe for TNT, but action this unexciting can't even compete with "Law and Order."

Bonus: Burt offers a great one-liner about why people should know what to expect when dealing with criminals: "You marry an ape, you can't complain about the stench of bananas." But can we complain about the stench of the ape?