Memorable, crazy movie

From my favorite movies..

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

While I wasn't quite sure what to expect, THE NIGHT LISTENER turned out to be a dark and unnerving psychological thriller. Robin Williams plays Gabriel Noon(e), a radio talk show host who tells deeply personal (but often fictionalized) stories. After separating from his companion (Bobby Cannavale), he is given an advance copy of a 14-year-old boy's memoir by a publisher friend that recounts a childhood filled with sexual abuse. He also carries on a long telephone relationship with the boy. However, when the boy's existence starts to come into question, he starts an investigation that ends up creating more questions than answering them.What immediately struck me about this film was the disquieting mood created by the score and cinematography. Some of my favorite thrillers, regardless of narrative merits, have been able to hold my interest due to the atmospheres they create, and this is no exception. Robin Williams gives a wonderfully understated, yet nuanced, performance that ranks among his better, darker dramatic roles. Bobby Cannavale also does an excellent job, despite his limited screen time. However, the revelation was Toni Colette as Donna Logand, Pete's (Rory Culkin) foster mother. Her portrayal of a blind woman who may have some mental issues was effectively creepy and really got under my skin.Story-wise, I was almost gripped from start to finish. The first two-thirds were as good as any thriller I've seen recently, but the ending was a bit rushed in my opinion. The biggest theme tackled is about when the line between truth and fiction is blurred. This is first exemplified by the character of Gabriel Noon(e), who admittedly mines his own personal life for stories while leaving out all but the "shiny bits." This doesn't seem to bother him, except when he encounters it in another human being. It was an interesting topic for a movie, but I don't think that the film really delves into it the way it deserved. Overall, you end up with a decent psychological thriller that's well-acted but, at an anemic 80 minutes, could have been beefed up a little more.

I thought this movie would be a watch-once-and-discard, straight to DVD type video that I would probably regret watching. I got it for 99 cents at the almost empty Blockbuster that's going out of business on the corner, from the discount bin. Instead I was pleasantly surprised by a pretty good movie. It's not great by any means but it actually did keep me guessing, which I like because most movies are way too predictable. Because it's not a big Hollywood movie you know anything is possible, and you think you have it figured out but aren't quite sure. The acting is very good by everyone and especially Robin Williams who plays it pretty cool in this role. He is a pretty good actor in more dramatic and emotional stuff when he wants to be. This movie's worth seeing.

Robin Williams is "The Night Listener" in this 2006 film, based on an incident that Armistad Maupin wrote a novel about that apparently happened to him. Williams plays Gabriel No one, who does a radio show called "Noone at Night." He's having a hard time, not only professionally but personally. His lover (Bobby Cannavale) has moved out after 8 years and he has writer's block as far as material for his show.A book agent (Joe Morton) gives Gabriel that galley of a book about to be published. It's written by a 14-year-old boy named Pete (Rory Culkin) about the horrific sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his parents and his parents' friends. He is now living with a social worker (Toni Collette) and the two of them are in hiding. Pete is dying of AIDS. Gabriel forms a friendship with the boy over the phone. All is well until Gabriel's ex-boyfriend thinks there is a similarity between the voices of the social worker and Pete.People often complain about a film being too long; "The Night Listener" is too short. I felt as if I missed the first fifteen minutes as I watched the beginning. Also, Williams, a good actor, goes a little too inward; Gabriel needs a little more outward showing of mood.There are several stunning features of this film: the actual story, which had the potential of making this a great film rather than just a good one; the second is the performance of Toni Collette, a truly great actress who deserves to be up there with Meryl Streep. She has two problems keeping her from superstardom - she doesn't look like a star and she loses herself so totally in her characters that she's not identifiable as a star personality. But what an actress. Her portrayal of Donna, the social worker, is sensational. The third feature is the wonderful atmosphere created when Gabriel goes to Wisconsin to find Donna and Pete - dark, unfriendly, filled with suspense.Despite some problems, this is a movie that will really hold your interest. Unfortunately, while it is well directed, it's not brilliantly directed and the script needed a little tightening. A shame - this story is worth better treatment.

Gabriel, an author and radio personality has just ended a gay relationship that has left him wondering about many aspects of his life. The life he shared with Jess is over. Ashe, his boss, tries to interest in a manuscript written by a teenager, Pete Logand, who is suffering from AIDS. Gabriel contacts the youth, who confesses to have read his books, to give him a word of encouragement.Whenever Gabriel calls the young man, he also talks to a sister, Donna. After a while he realizes Pete's and Donna's voices sound alike. Gabriel decides to go to their rural Wisconsin community to meet the young man. As he gets there, Gabriel finds himself in a situation he didn't bargain for. The elusive Donna turns out to be a blind woman. After being found, Donna does everything possible to hide from Gabriel where his brother is being treated.There is a clue to Donna's real personality in the last sequence of the film in which someone is visiting a new housing development. We get a peek of why the mystery behind the figure of Pete.Patrick Stettner directed the film. Based on a screenplay by Terry Anderson and Armistead Maupin, it presents a complex situation about what is real and what is not. One thing is clear, Robin Williams is a better dramatic actor and keeps getting better all the time. This actor tends to go wild when not given tighter directions by the people at the helm of any project. Toni Collette, a welcome addition in any movie, doesn't make the best impression with her work here. It might be she didn't quite felt comfortable with the character she plays. Rory Culkin, Sandra Oh, and Bobby Cannavale are seen in minor roles.