Another shockingly underrated film from Gray- I hate to admit it but the French (who adore Gray) are certainly correct in anointing him as a major auteur even when the MC critics (59 score) misevaluate him
The cast is wonderful- Duvall is just one of the many nods at Coppola and the Godfather again from Gray
The film’s narrative is really like a reverse version of the godfather – instead of Pacino, who is straight, getting pulled into the family business of crime—Phoenix plays the sketchy night-club guy who gets pulled into the family business – being a Cop. It’s shockingly similar
Another brighton beach/Brooklyn gray film
A film of alternative patriarchs – certainly Shakespearian
Gorgeous lighting and sumptuous set design
Amazing work from Phoenix- his bloated face from drug use and bloodshot eyes
Gray is indeed an uncompromising auteur- apparently the film was delayed years and cost much more money because he refused to shoot in Toronto instead of real locations
50’s and 60’s music for the cop scenes and 80’s pop for the bad guys
One amazing set piece after another but the car chase is what many critics, even the ones here who underrate it, had to admire
Fantastic intro montage of black and white photos of cops
The finale- like the car chase- owes a lot to the French connection
[…] We Own the Night – Gray […]