- Actors: Adrien Brody, Yvonne Strahovski, Jennifer Beals, Campbell Scott
- Director: Brian DeCubellis
- Disc Format: NTSC, Widescreen
- Language: English
- Region: Region A/1
- Number of discs: 1
- Rated: R
- Studio: LIONSGATE
- Release Date: August 2, 2016
- Run Time: 83 minutes
Manhattan Night
has all of the elements of a good film noir, and while that is at times the
film’s greatest asset, it often makes for a predictable tale of pulp. The
atmosphere is spot-on, the acting is effective, but any knowledge of the genre
will make this watchable film equally forgettable. The resemblance to countless
other classic noir narratives works as a double-edged sword, much in the same
manner that The Force Awakens was
simultaneously praised for its nostalgic elements while being criticized for
its unoriginality. Those who enjoy the plot twists and backstabbing from the
original 1940s and ‘50s film noirs, or the added R-rated scenes of violence and
steamy erotica brought with the 1980s and ‘90s revival of neo-noir, will be
equally satisfied at the way Manhattan Night adheres to each. I’m afraid the
only problem is that filmmaker Brian DeCubellis doesn’t have anything new to
bring to this formula.
Adrien Brody
stars as Porter Wren, the glum protagonist and gravel-voiced narrator of our
seedy story. Wren is a cynical investigative reporter approached by gorgeous
young widow Caroline (Yvonne Strahovski), as the film’s obvious femme fatale
and scintillating screen siren. Despite being a (happily?) married man (with
Jennifer Beals as his wife), Wren is easily talked into bed with Caroline
shortly after agreeing to investigate the death of her husband, Simon Crowley
(Campbell Scott).
As it turns out,
Crowley was a
filmmaker with dangerously powerful friends. No sooner than Wren begins to
investigate his death, he finds himself approached and entangled in the secrets
of these powerful men. They are worried about what Caroline may have discovered
prior to Crowley’s
death and insist that Wren help them in this investigation. As is often the
case, there is a file of some sort that everyone is desperately trying to find
while becoming paranoid that others already have it. Trapped in the middle of a
dangerous game of secrets and blackmail, uncertain who is ultimately in control,
Wren must find the truth before he becomes a pawn in someone’s larger game.
There are many
darkly-lit night scenes with sorrowfully poetic dialogue between scenes of
seduction, sex, and sporadic violence. All of the elements are there, and well
done enough to make the viewing of Manhattan
Night quite enjoyable as a glossy guilty pleasure. Brody keeps the slower
scenes from dragging with a nuanced performance, and though Strahovski’s
character is used more than utilized, she is utterly captivating as the subtle
seductress. All of the elements come together quite nicely, however much this
still feels like a minor effort.
The Blu-ray
release of Manhattan Night includes a
Digital HD copy of the film, along with surprisingly expansive special features
included on the disc. The highlights of the extras are the commentary track and
director’s notebook, both of which provide insight into the filmmaking process.
The commentary track includes director/screenwriter/producer DeCubellis, joined
by actor/producer Scott, and cinematographer David Tumblety. The director’s
notebook comes with storyboards of the film’s more important sequences. Also
included are some behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew, a brief
featurette, and a collection of deleted/extended scenes adding over 17-minutes
of footage to the story. There is also a theatrical trailer.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6.5/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
Special Features: 7.5/10
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