Night Moves

| Release Date: May 30, 2014

7.0	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 64 Ratings

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rebaOct 29, 2014

If you know activists, as I do, these characters are not as flat as some have suggested. The quiet moments in the truck while rehearsing or reflecting on their plan, the lack of dialogue sometimes, seemed very realistic to me after seeingIf you know activists, as I do, these characters are not as flat as some have suggested. The quiet moments in the truck while rehearsing or reflecting on their plan, the lack of dialogue sometimes, seemed very realistic to me after seeing many young idealists convinced they are acting for the greater good and trying to be cool while doing it. I never knew anyone who went as far as murder, but you can see how the unchecked self-righteousness of people isolated from their families and the wider society and in a group-think situation could lead to unintended wrongdoing.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

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klea0721Dec 30, 2014

I wasn't sure what to expect with this film as I have mixed personal feelings about the subject. What I came away with is all life is sacred and even if intentions are good, actions always have consequences.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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IngkaSep 18, 2014

Not nearly enough material to make a full-length movie out of this. So extremely boring. The message of the movie is fine and the acting and directing is good enough as well, but quite frustrating to get through the whole thing, and I'mNot nearly enough material to make a full-length movie out of this. So extremely boring. The message of the movie is fine and the acting and directing is good enough as well, but quite frustrating to get through the whole thing, and I'm usually a big fan of laid-back slow movies.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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TVJerryJun 11, 2014

To have the word "moves" in the title is a misnomer, because the one thing this film doesn't do is move. This deliberately-paced drama features Jesse Eisenberg in almost every frame. He plays an organic farmer who sets out with Dakota FanningTo have the word "moves" in the title is a misnomer, because the one thing this film doesn't do is move. This deliberately-paced drama features Jesse Eisenberg in almost every frame. He plays an organic farmer who sets out with Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard to blow up a damn in an act of eco terrorism. Their careful operation occupies the first half of the story, then the inevitable complications add to the impact. Eisenberg works against his usual fast-paced, neurotic delivery with this sullen, serious performance. While it's mildly interesting, the low-key pace and quiet lack of energy make it an exercise in patience.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Eclectic_ListenOct 1, 2014

Holy cow, the critics are dead wrong on this one. Dakota Fanning is a bomb, even next to Eisenberg and Sarsgaard she is as flat as a board, it's a wonder she didn't bring those two down. The cinematography is redeeming, the shots are veryHoly cow, the critics are dead wrong on this one. Dakota Fanning is a bomb, even next to Eisenberg and Sarsgaard she is as flat as a board, it's a wonder she didn't bring those two down. The cinematography is redeeming, the shots are very well composed if not a little lacking in interest and prolonged. The plot tries to be full, but doesn't drag itself out of the hipster art-kid theme it sets up in the first act. Not worth watching.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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LowbrowCinemaJun 9, 2014

I adored Kelly Reichardt's first film OLD JOY. So subtle, obtuse and winning. OLD JOY displayed a true feel for the awkwardness of contemporary American life. Three films later and I'm realizing that I don't really care for her aesthetic.I adored Kelly Reichardt's first film OLD JOY. So subtle, obtuse and winning. OLD JOY displayed a true feel for the awkwardness of contemporary American life. Three films later and I'm realizing that I don't really care for her aesthetic. With NIGHT MOVES, everything that seemed so intricate and complex, comes across as banal and contrived. The first 40 minutes are quite terrific but then NIGHT MOVES becomes everything it seems to despise. I always feel saddened when a filmmaker is clearly losing their way and Reichardt is clearly lost but I'll keep hoping for her return. We need distinct voices in film but she has lost hers at least for now.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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stevlandSep 4, 2014

This film doesn't go anywhere. The characters are flat, the plot is thin and Night Moves ends up stalling in the driveway. Call a tow-truck before watching this one.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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ganserSep 20, 2014

All was good, I was willing to wait as the plot unfolded, and love that tension is built by what doesn't happen as much as by what does. My biggest disappointment is the ending, which is nonsensical, unbelievable and out of character, givenAll was good, I was willing to wait as the plot unfolded, and love that tension is built by what doesn't happen as much as by what does. My biggest disappointment is the ending, which is nonsensical, unbelievable and out of character, given how the lead actor's role is handled. Perhaps this is a flaw in direction, or in Eisenberg's artistic choices, but it spoils the film for me. It feels like a "then I woke up" ending.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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BroyaxJan 8, 2017

Des anarcho-écolos qui font péter un barrage pour le bien de la natuuure, pourquoi pas (au point où on en est...) encore faudrait-il en sortir un film correct au lieu de ce téléfilm minable qui se traîne à deux à l'heure pendant presque deuxDes anarcho-écolos qui font péter un barrage pour le bien de la natuuure, pourquoi pas (au point où on en est...) encore faudrait-il en sortir un film correct au lieu de ce téléfilm minable qui se traîne à deux à l'heure pendant presque deux plombes et dans lequel les acteurs se révèlent tout aussi minables.

Jesse Eisenberg est un tacheron sans envergure qui a la prestance d'un balai à chiottes et le charisme d'une poignée de porte. Dakota Fanning est une pouffe pas belle déjà fanée qui a l'allant d'une endive périmenaze. Le film se finit en eau de boudin, le scénariste étant sans doute à court d'idées et de bourbon. Et cette mise en scène pourrave, cette photographie terne n'aident pas non plus à sortir ce film merdique du cloaque où il semble si bien se complaire.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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SpangleApr 17, 2017

Night Moves is a the very definition of a slow burn thriller. It is not in a hurry to do anything and this both works to its benefit and to its detriment. Allowing it time to really milk tension, paranoia, and this sense of anticipationNight Moves is a the very definition of a slow burn thriller. It is not in a hurry to do anything and this both works to its benefit and to its detriment. Allowing it time to really milk tension, paranoia, and this sense of anticipation before the deed is done, Night Moves can often be quite tense. Yet, as a character-driven film, its slow pace only serves to highlight how poorly drawn out its characters are with the film relying on these hollow shells to really carry the film. Unfortunately, they are poorly equipped to perform the job and, as a result, the film often struggles. However, as a look at extremism, the war against pollution, and of the need to try and do something to help, Night Moves is a film about three wholly misguided individuals who opt to blow up a hydroelectric dam to make a statement. What that statement is, who knows. What is clear, however, is that this trio is poorly equipped to handle the ramifications of their actions.

The first half of this film is undoubtedly the stronger half with it depicting the lead up to the bombing of the dam. Pairing together Josh (Jesse Eisenberg), Dena (Dakota Fanning), and Harmon (Peter Sarsgaard), as three extreme environmentalists who plot to blow up a dam, the film's first half shows them getting ready. From buying a boat, fertilizer, and planning an exit strategy, Night Moves is filled with anticipation that is quickly converts to tension once they arrive at the river and at the dam. Refusing to use artificial tension via a score in these moments, director Kelly Reichardt largely relies upon situational tension. We know what they are doing, but nobody else does. As such, innocent small talk with a stranger and a parked car that could see their boat heading towards the dam are seemingly innocuous moments, but Reichardt drags these sequences out. They seem to take an eternity on their own, building anticipation and tension as we wait to see if the person will leave or will become suspicious about the intentions of the main characters. This is where the film's limited character development does not hurt it and its slow pace really helps a ton. By having the camera linger for a prolonged period of time, Reichardt makes us intensely uncomfortable and on the edge of our seats, as we wait to see if anything will happen at all.

It is in the second half where the film begins to struggle. With Harmon disappearing all together with the film opting to focus on how Josh and Dena cope with what they have done, the film just lacks the characters to make it work. Mostly predictable and forgettable in this second half, the film becomes quite dull. It feels too cold and distant with Eisenberg opting for a reserved and mute performance as Josh, refusing to ever show any emotion. This shtick works for his counter-part, Peter Sarsgaard, in many roles but it is an odd charismatic indifference that Sarsgaard presents. Eisenberg is just reserved and is a tough nut to crack. Worse yet, the writing makes no effort to develop his character in any meaningful way beyond him being an outdoorsy kind of guy who likes to grow vegetables and be a typical Oregon hipster. That is about all there is to him. Though he handles the events quite poorly, his response to Dena speaking up a bit is obvious and never really raises any eyebrows. In many ways, he just goes through the motions and tries to pretend as though nothing happened to the dam. Unfortunately, Reichardt takes this characterization to heart and just goes through the motions until the film ends. Contrary to the tense and unpredictable occurrences of the first half where the film litters unpredictable elements around its premise of blowing up the dam, the second half just floats on by and never tries to doll up its predictable climax. It allows the scene to come and go with Reichardt building it up as a huge moment with her camera lingering on Josh the whole time. Yet, we feel nothing. Anybody who has seen a film before knew this was coming and, unfortunately, Night Moves play it up to be some shocking event. Somehow, the dam being blown up - which is mentioned in the IMDB description of the film - is more shocking than how Josh responds to Dena's chatty nature.

After a tense, subtle, and smart first half, Night Moves descends into a pale and drab second half that may add to its themes, but is just too predictable and dull to actually work. Compared to the excellent first half, the second half bears little resemblance and feels like Reichardt quickly running out of road and trying to desperately find more to save the film from falling off a cliff. Unfortunately, when you have nowhere else to go, you have nowhere else to go.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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JLuis_001Sep 7, 2017

Accessible and at the same time not so much, this film requires attention, but not to delve into it with more difficult subjects than one might think, but to understand more easily what happens on screen, the film is not difficult to see, butAccessible and at the same time not so much, this film requires attention, but not to delve into it with more difficult subjects than one might think, but to understand more easily what happens on screen, the film is not difficult to see, but neither is it the kind of movies that you watch on whim.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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