We Own the Night is a crime drama film written and directed by James Gray and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes and Robert Duvall. It is the third film directed by Gray, and the second film to feature Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg acting together, the first being The Yards, which was also directed by Gray.
The film premiered May 25 2007 at the Cannes Film Festival. It was released October 12 2007 in the United States and Canada. It was released in the United Kingdom on December 14 2007 and was released in Australia on February 28 2008.
The film originated at Warner Brothers and was briefly acquired by Universal.
Director James Gray (I) refused to shoot the film in Toronto where it would have been much cheaper. This is one of the reasons why it took so long to make the movie.
Sony bought the film for a reported $11 million.
According to an interview with Mark Wahlberg (I), Joaquin Phoenix would get into character by hurling insults at Robert Duvall (I) between takes. This upset Duvall greatly and Wahlberg had to restrain him.
