THE NIGHT LISTENER
RYAN: We just saw “The Night Listener.”
CAROLINE: And for the first time in a long time, I can say that the
trailer was better than the movie.
RYAN: Well, I would agree. I expected it to be better for a couple
reasons – first of all, I interviewed the writer of this film a couple
of days ago. And also, the trailer was incredible so my expectations
were very high. And you’re in for a rude awakening when you enter a film with really high
expectations.
CAROLINE: True, but the trailer was so riveting and so suspenseful,
and then the movie…like, I felt suspense for maybe a few minutes. But
the best thing about it was its brevity, clocking in at 82 minutes,
and the wunderbar chemistry between Bobby Cannavale and Robin
Williams.
RYAN: Yes, they were great. I loved seeing an interesting dynamic
in a gay couple. And of course, Toni Collette – I can’t get
enough of her. She’s so good in this. Oscar-worthy, again. Now this is one of the most terrifying films I’ve ever seen
because not only is it something that could happen, it actually did
happen and it could happen again. We’ve all met people who turned
out to not be who we thought they were. And it’s never a happy experience.
CAROLINE: Um, I’m not sure terrifying is the word I’d use, but I agree
up to a point. I know that what happens in the movie actually
happened to the writer and I’m sure it was haunting and terrifying,
but it didn’t translate into a film. I don’t think Toni’s performance
was Oscar-worthy and I don’t think this was the best thing I’ve ever
seen her in by far. I was on edge for a minute and then what might
have been an interesting twist –
RYAN: Wait a minute –
CAROLINE: Did I say I was done? As I was saying, what might have been
an interesting twist was revealed like, half an hour into the movie.
RYAN: But how can you say that Toni Collette is not Oscar-worthy in
this? I thought she was riveting!
CAROLINE: She was fine.
RYAN: She played a blind woman and her intense moments – phenomenal.
CAROLINE: She was good but this is not an Oscar-caliber film.
RYAN: But I believe her performance was.
CAROLINE: Fine. I don’t.
RYAN: Well, I’m trying to change your mind.
CAROLINE: I was disappointed in this and bored at the end.
RYAN: I’m surprised because the film is so short, it’s like Disney-animated-length, but it did kind of lag. And it had those long “Broken Flowers”-esque transition moments. Whenever Robin Williams was
traveling, in the car, on the plane, it was too long; I was like, “over it.”
CAROLINE: The phone rings a lot in this movie.
RYAN: So what’s your bottom line here?
CAROLINE: I can’t recommend this. Although it was nice how short it
was, I found it not very interesting. Again, it’s a fascinating
real-life story, maybe if the author was telling it right to me over
dinner. But watching it in a movie, I just didn’t care.
RYAN: Well, I have a different bottom line. I do recommend it. If
you like scary movies that are scary for the sake
of –
CAROLINE: Ok, this movie isn’t scary.
RYAN: It’s totally scary! It’s the kind of stuff that gives me nightmares.
CAROLINE: God, it’s not like he was hurt or maimed in any way.
RYAN: Fine, but it’s intellectual and emotional terrorism.
CAROLINE: Ok, Sally Sensitive.
RYAN: Whatev, Holly Heartless.