>>REVIEW
THE NIGHT LISTENER
STARRING Robin Williams and Toni Collette
DIRECTED BY Patrick Stettner
Opens Friday, August 4
Check listings
Robin Williams hasn’t had the best luck recently with his dramatic role choices. Unfortunately, The Night Listener doesn’t get him back on track.
Based loosely on the true tale of a popular late-night talk show host who befriends a 14-year-old fan, the film comes across as more of a glorified TV movie-of-the-week than a Hollywood feature film.
Williams plays Gabriel Noone, a gay radio celebrity in the throes of a midlife crisis. When he’s not pillaging and embellishing his own life for the entertainment of others, he pines for his much younger lover Jess (Bobby Canavale), who has just left him.
Gabriel finally finds something else to occupy him when he receives a manuscript, written by Pete (Rory Culkin), a young, sexually abused teenager.
While he has no reason to question Pete’s identity at first, Gabriel finds things aren’t always as they seem as he grows closer to the boy and his foster mother, Donna (Toni Collette.)
The Night Listener attempts to be a psychological thriller, but the tension never seems to reach a satisfying peak. Director Patrick Stettner sets an anxious tone much too early in the film and it never quite changes. As well, a successful pot-boiler usually puts the protagonist in real, palpable danger. While Gabriel gets himself into a few hairy situations, the viewer is by no means concerned for his safety, nor particularly worried about the outcome. Another problem is pacing. At 85 minutes, it’s not a long film, but it does its best to drag along even during the climactic scenes.
The Night Listener’s only saving grace really is the cast. Williams is actually very good as Gabriel, giving an understated, thoughtful performance. Collette – who very rarely takes a misstep – is also enjoyable to watch, although her blind weirdo shtick is slightly clichéd. Sandra Oh – who plays Gabriel’s smart-ass best friend — is a refreshing jolt in this otherwise bland, glum movie.
It’s too bad they didn’t have a better script to work with. |
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.