I don't need any more guns in my life, that's for sure. But you should have one to be safe. It's better to be judged by twelve than carried by six

Hello I am the movie encyclopedia and if no one else will see it, I will.

Every year hundreds of movies are released. They all range from genre to genre but sometimes unless you have the most original idea ever, your film could fall through the cracks. One of those films that fell through the cracks was We Own the Night starring Eva Mendes, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall and the newest member of suicide watch Joaquin Phoenix (im not jokin he should be). This was Phoenix's third to last movie before he quit, with only two movies following this one. Why did it fall through the cracks? Well its among the masses of cop dramas. Cop dramas are either really good or mediocre. So with not a lot to back this movie besides one brothers good the other one is bad, its hard to determine if this movie is really good or mediocre.

Personally I am on the former side of this argument. While not the most original story it is delivered in such a way that is really tense and compelling.

Phoenix is Bobby, a nightclub owner and friend to the Russian mob (especially when it comes to drugs) is the black sheep of the Grusinsky family. He chose a life of crime, sex, drugs and money. Maybe he did this to spite his dad and brother, two decorated police officers who wanted Bobby to join the buisness. Bobby is apathetic towards everything except money and his girl (Mendes) and you can see it in his face. Whenever he does show up to support the family it usually ends up in arguments or embarrasment.

On the other side of that coin is Joe (Wahlberg). Joe is a straight laced, by the book cop. He loves being the police captain and loves his family...including his brother. But that doesnt stop Joe from raiding Bobby's club, arresting him and getting in a fight with him. It all revolves though around one man: Vadim, the russian drug lord. But when an accident puts Joe out of action, Bobby steps it up for the family and goes undercover.

The story seems formulatic on paper but when you describe it, its really not. Mix that with the gritty, dark tone and the off the chart tension in the movie and you get a genuinely good movie.

All the performers do a good job. Wahlberg plays his usual badass self but almost in a more subdued way, which must be really tough for him. Phoenix plays the anti-hero great, making you dislike his choices but sympathizing with him all the way. Duvall and Mendes give good supporting roles and really help fill out story gaps and provide excellent dialogue.

Overall it is probably one of the better cop dramas out there. So if you like that kind of movie I suggest seeing it.

MY VERDICT: SEE IT