Gray takes the generational melodrama of the gangster epic and applies it with interesting dramatic effect to the cop drama. The density of family and city history and tense, matter-of-fact procedure/gruesome violence of the milieu are all there but permeated by a moody patience and sensitivity in the rhythm and photography that would feel at home in this kind of movie in the 70s, and perfectly capture the grueling, painful experience of Bobby being forced to betray his chosen family for his blue-blooded one. Phoenix is an absolute marvel to watch as his features shift from scene to scene; it's tragic seeing his smiles & warm colors literally drained out of him simply because he wants a loving family and was instead born into…

a deeply sad film, one ingrained in tragedy and loss, both of loved ones and of identity. all bobby wanted was a family, to love his girlfriend and feel important by doing well in his own life, by making a name for himself away from his father. and the world tore all that away from him, strapping him in a cycle of pain and deconstruction, till he's left with nothing but memories of the time before everything went to shit and regret. in the end, he lost what mattered most, not his life, not his freedom but himself and the woman he loved. phoenix sells every scene perfectly as to be expected, he's stupefying here, crafting one of the finest…

We Own the Night has one of the coolest car chase scenes ever filmed. It’s raining cats and dogs, and it features an intense high speed pursuit, bullets blazing, shotguns exploding and tragic consequences. Through research, I’ve discovered the scene was filmed on a sunny day, and the rain was added. I can’t decide if the digital alteration takes away from the beauty of the scene. The purist in me wishes the scene was filmed in actual rain. However, the naked eye can’t tell the scene isn’t real. 

I’m probably one of the biggest Marky Mark fans on Letterboxd. He’s my fella. I wish I was a member of the Funky Bunch. His role is of the supporting nature. The…

The Curious Case of James Gray: This director has made numerous nearly-great movies, and I consistently seek out his work because there are always standout scenes that make the experience worthwhile. I remain hopeful that Gray will still create his masterpiece.

“We Own the Night” is heavily influenced by the works of Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, particularly “The Departed” and “The Godfather.” However, Scorsese doesn't hold a patent on moody crime dramas centered around family, and I don’t mind a slightly derivative film in a genre that is often very satisfying.

The standout scenes in “We Own the Night” include the intense drug bust where Joaquin Phoenix is undercover (“Why do you have matches AND a lighter?”) and…

When you watch some of the most recent films by James Gray like Ad Astra or The Lost City of Z, you in a million years would have never thought the same director wrote and directed this movie - mostly because for a man who ADORES his slow burn films, this action thriller feels like a complete departure, in a good way.

I loved how the poster subtly tells audiences whose the star of the film by highlighting placing him at the forefront, cause the truth is this is first and foremost a Phoenix vehicle and as to be expected, he delivers. His story arc feels a bit rushed, especially when it comes to his transformation.

The direction is really…