Review: ‘We Own the Night’

Zac:

This cop drama is pretty much standard fare across the board story board with nothing we haven’t seen before. I think one thing that took a bit away from me on this movie was that the preview gave way too much away. But anyways, the lead, Joaquin Phoenix, does some great work here and is a character you can easily get behind and relate with. Wahlberg also turns in a subdued and under the radar performance as well and it’s nice to see him play something other than the tough guy badass role for a change. Eva Mendes also looks pretty like she is supposed to and does some pretty good work through out.
Robert Duvall on the other hand just got on my nerves, I feel like he dialed in his performance, and it’s the same one he as been doing for years. But his acting isn’t what holds this movie back, not by a long shot. What holds this movie back is that about halfway through the movie, nothing is happening for a reason, it is just happening because it has to, to move the story forward. Some characters also take some drastic turns in thought, that aren’t all that believable either, but oh well. The movie remains engaging despite these short falls, and is entertaining, with the highlights being the drug house and the rain chase. It’s just not the greatest movie; good, not great.
If you like any of the acting leads, you will find something here to like, and if you like a stereotypical cop story, again you can’t complain, but if you are looking for something remotely different and original, you might want to look elsewhere.

[rating: 3.5/5]

Review: ‘Michael Clayton’

Zac:

This is the kind of movie we need more of, intelligent thrillers, that keeps you guessing, constantly engages you in the picture, and doesn’t take the audiences knowledge for granted.
Tony Gilroy, writer of the Bourne movies, makes his directorial debut here and does a fantastic job and he made his job a lot easier by getting an amazing cast. George Clooney leads the way and is absolutely fantastic as the title character.
Clooney plays the character perfectly and we believe his struggles with all of the aspects of his life. The title character is such a breath of fresh air because he isn’t just a one note song, there are layers to this guy, and we don’t just deal with only one problem in his life, we see everything that is going on with his life over the course of the four days of the film and each story is equally engaging and Gilroy’s script weaves them all together so well.
Tilda Swinton also does some good work here as the executive that might be a bit in over her head but willing to do anything for the company from losing the class action law suit that the movie revolves around.
Sydney Pollack also has some great work, and a couple of good one liner’s, as the Firm CEO that is in the middle of all of the drama unfolding on all sides. For a director he is one pretty good actor as well.
Tom Wilkinson is also fantastic as the defense attorney that loses it and sets all of the events in the film into motion. He plays a great sympathetic crazy man that starts to seem not so crazy as the movie progresses.
I can’t reveal much without giving things away, but Gilroy’s script is deliberately paced and engaging, which weaves in and out of itself very easily while remaining clever and thought provoking. And the movie finishes on one of the best notes in a movie in a while, just a fantastic ending.
Anyways, if you’re looking for a great movie to go see, this is it. A great, adult drama that is well worth your 8 bucks for two hours.

[rating: 5/5]