The Night Listener (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'The Night Listener' (directed by Patrick Stettner) hits the air waves in a twisted psychological thriller that's based on a book by Armistead Maupin. Public radio storyteller, Gabriel Noone (Robin Williams), develops a bizarre phone relationship with a 14 yr. old named Pete (Rory Culkin) and his 'stepmom', Donna (Toni Collette), who had recently saved him from a life of sexual abuse. But with advice from some friends, including his ex-lover, Jess (Bobby Cannavale), Gabriel realizes that without seeing them in front of his face, yet noticing a similarity in their voices, Pete & his riveting sexual abuse story may not actually exist. The atmosphere of this film is dark, moody, and suspenseful. And while nothing overly exciting occurs, the movie keeps you hypnotized throughout.
Gabriel is in a mid-life crisis, of sorts. He can't write, the fiction he somberly spouts on his radio program is stale, and his boyfriend has moved out of their apartment. Looking for some meaning in life, Gabriel reads Pete's autobiographical manuscript and puts his current woes on the backburner. It turns out that Pete is an avid listener of Gabriel's show and the two of them ignite this intriguing phone relationship. Gabriel is mentor and inspiration to Pete. And Pete is the vehicle to keep Gabriel from falling off the deep end (career-wise & personally). But Pete is ailing and Donna often grabs the phone when Pete hasn't the strength to talk. Concerned, Gabriel flies to Wisconsin to meet Pete before his illness takes-over & to tell him how important the manuscript is. What does Pete and/or Donna want from Gabriel? But really, what does Gabriel want with Pete?
There's something very odd about these main characters. Why are they so co-dependent? All they know of each other are their voices through the radio/telephone. How is Gabriel to know if Pete even exists? If he doesn't exist, then what is Donna up to? Is she mentally ill? Then again, maybe it is Gabriel who doesn't exist? Is it HE who is sick? Is Gabriel concocting this whole dilemma as a distraction from his personal problems with Jess? Is Jess even real? Is anyone who they seem to be? Where's the line between fact and fiction? Never do we see the whole picture; we see fragments/moments that need to be put together.
Robin Williams is great in this film. His performance (like Insomnia & One Hour Photo) is subdued, inward, & pitiable. This - meshed with Donna's (Collette) ambiguous personality - makes for an interesting dynamic. In one scene, Donna asks Gabriel is he likes a sweater she is wearing. When he doesn't answer quickly enough, she flips. The raw emotion came out of nowhere and it made me say 'Whoa, where did that come from? Who IS this crazy lady? What is she hiding?', etc. The pacing & lack of 'thrills' in 'The Night Listener' is a detriment; there's too much restraint. But this film's hushed, low-key character development keeps you watching ... and listening.
Gabriel is in a mid-life crisis, of sorts. He can't write, the fiction he somberly spouts on his radio program is stale, and his boyfriend has moved out of their apartment. Looking for some meaning in life, Gabriel reads Pete's autobiographical manuscript and puts his current woes on the backburner. It turns out that Pete is an avid listener of Gabriel's show and the two of them ignite this intriguing phone relationship. Gabriel is mentor and inspiration to Pete. And Pete is the vehicle to keep Gabriel from falling off the deep end (career-wise & personally). But Pete is ailing and Donna often grabs the phone when Pete hasn't the strength to talk. Concerned, Gabriel flies to Wisconsin to meet Pete before his illness takes-over & to tell him how important the manuscript is. What does Pete and/or Donna want from Gabriel? But really, what does Gabriel want with Pete?
There's something very odd about these main characters. Why are they so co-dependent? All they know of each other are their voices through the radio/telephone. How is Gabriel to know if Pete even exists? If he doesn't exist, then what is Donna up to? Is she mentally ill? Then again, maybe it is Gabriel who doesn't exist? Is it HE who is sick? Is Gabriel concocting this whole dilemma as a distraction from his personal problems with Jess? Is Jess even real? Is anyone who they seem to be? Where's the line between fact and fiction? Never do we see the whole picture; we see fragments/moments that need to be put together.
Robin Williams is great in this film. His performance (like Insomnia & One Hour Photo) is subdued, inward, & pitiable. This - meshed with Donna's (Collette) ambiguous personality - makes for an interesting dynamic. In one scene, Donna asks Gabriel is he likes a sweater she is wearing. When he doesn't answer quickly enough, she flips. The raw emotion came out of nowhere and it made me say 'Whoa, where did that come from? Who IS this crazy lady? What is she hiding?', etc. The pacing & lack of 'thrills' in 'The Night Listener' is a detriment; there's too much restraint. But this film's hushed, low-key character development keeps you watching ... and listening.