The Night Listener
Miramax Films | Release Date: August 4, 2006
5.0
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 33 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
9
Mixed:
16
Negative:
8
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
8
MichaelL.Aug 6, 2006
Was this the best movie I've seen this year? Not at all. Is it well worth seeing? Certainly. I feel sorry for people who can't apprecaiate a taught, psychological drama unless it's doused in blood, gore, or non-stop "boo!" Was this the best movie I've seen this year? Not at all. Is it well worth seeing? Certainly. I feel sorry for people who can't apprecaiate a taught, psychological drama unless it's doused in blood, gore, or non-stop "boo!" moments. This quiet gem features a perfect performance by Collette, and great work from Culkin and Williams. It's Hitchcockian in structure (I suspect The Master would have loved this film), and though the "twist" is obvious, it's a fun ride watching it fully develop. Go see this film--but don't expect The Descent (another excellent summer treat); expect a cerebral, bloodless exploration of tortured minds, and how they (and we) manage to survive in the harsh world.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
SueAug 9, 2006
Blah. Would rather have spent my time reading the novel.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
MichelB.Aug 3, 2006
it could have been better..but it was quite good ..good performance by robin williams and bobby cannavale..and the ending was not so convincing. but to be enjoyed and a good summer movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
ChadS.Aug 4, 2006
The way Donna(Toni Collette) is first introduced in a phone conversation Gabriel(Robin Williams) has with Pete(Rory Culkin) confuses me. We should just hear her voice. It's a mistake to show her because Gabriel only had a picture of the The way Donna(Toni Collette) is first introduced in a phone conversation Gabriel(Robin Williams) has with Pete(Rory Culkin) confuses me. We should just hear her voice. It's a mistake to show her because Gabriel only had a picture of the budding young writer. From what we know of Donna's condition later in the film, the way she looks is how Gabriel imagines her. Well, whatever. "The Night Listener" is a must-see for every person who saw "RV" and thought that Robin Williams should be put to sleep. It's his best outing since "Awakenings", and his first good role since "Insomnia". "The Night Listener" is a thriller that's understated, perhaps a bit too understated. But at least this indie didn't end with a Hollywood bang like "One Hour Photo".… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
VickiW.Sep 14, 2006
I love Robin Williams' films, but this was extrememly dissappointed. I was expecting to enjoy the power of the old Hitchcock movies, but no way! It was over almost before it started! The ending was sorry and left me thinking, is that I love Robin Williams' films, but this was extrememly dissappointed. I was expecting to enjoy the power of the old Hitchcock movies, but no way! It was over almost before it started! The ending was sorry and left me thinking, is that all there is? Take my advice, don't bother!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
JenK.Feb 26, 2007
This was ok, but was very mundane and boring. I'm glad I got it at a redbox...1.08 is about all it's worth.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
SashaT.Aug 5, 2006
I saw the sneak preview Wednesday night in Columbus, Ohio and I wanted my 75 minutes back.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
RayR.Aug 7, 2006
I always think a movie is good when it makes you think. This film does that . . . Do we really live around people like Dona? This film haunts and questions the human experience.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
KristianM.Sep 19, 2006
I quite enjoyed this film because it is possibly something that could happen in the future. It doesn't rely on crappy computer effects or loud explosions and action scenes with a mega budget to tell it's story. No it is not a I quite enjoyed this film because it is possibly something that could happen in the future. It doesn't rely on crappy computer effects or loud explosions and action scenes with a mega budget to tell it's story. No it is not a groundbreaking film you will watching in years ahead but enjoyable to watch anyway.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
CaryM.Jan 28, 2007
This is one of the worst movies Robin Williams ever played in not only does this movie indulge in the gay lifes of two males. But there was no plot to this movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
CablesFeb 18, 2007
Not a bad movie. Very well acted. Unfortunately, it ends without any satisfaction. It's too short and not developed well enough.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
DaveD.Aug 18, 2006
nothing more than average and not so impressive.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
BlakeJ.Mar 11, 2007
Short enough to swallow. Toni Collette proves that she can act, and she does a fine job. Notice how I didn't say anything about any of the other actors, thats because there is nothing to say.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
smiyamotJun 5, 2016
Why the low scores? I wasn't sure if this was a mystery, or a redemption movie, or a crime drama. That kept me guessing and made it more interesting. We find a man who is having personal drama in his life, when he is given a book to readWhy the low scores? I wasn't sure if this was a mystery, or a redemption movie, or a crime drama. That kept me guessing and made it more interesting. We find a man who is having personal drama in his life, when he is given a book to read by a friend. This starts him on a path, maybe a quest. This is based on an actual event in someone's life so sometimes it doesn't make sense, just like real life.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
tiparAug 10, 2018
Good effort a very interesting cast but at the end, it is not that Thrilling or Mysterious, enjoyable, though.
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5
DawdlingPoetNov 28, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a rather intriguing movie in one sense and a rather tired and muddled one, so to speak, in another. It seems that Robin Williams has been keen on starring on movies such as this over the last decade or so, this being a psychological drama/thriller, where 'all is not what it seems'. That may be being a little dramatic as its hardly a movie in which you'll find yourself shocked and gasping at any regular interval, instead its a rather dark movie set in the murky world of possible half-truths and that questions the motive of someone who has perhaps alot to gain from a book deal.

In the scene where 's friend/housekeeper explains that she thinks the mother could have a particular medical condition which is similar to Munchausen Byproxy, I could hear myself almost finishing her sentence as the Munchausen name reared its head *again*. I sometimes wonder if there isn't some specific fascination with the media, in TV and movies regarding this condition - I mean how many documentaries, dramas and the like have you seen that have some element, or an episode with a plot including something to do with someone with Munchausen or suspected Munchausen Byproxy syndrome? I feel like this is starting to become tacky almost, somehow. Its not to say that it isn't a genuine condition but in a way its perhaps a little like memory loss, how often are there convenient storylines involving people who wake up in hospital or someplace else and they can't remember who they are? in reality, from what I've been led to believe, its very rare for people to suffer complete memory loss like this - it tends to be that people suffer a more temporary short term memory loss and a longer memory loss in terms of events happening right before whenever they were knocked out or whatever caused the concussion and memory loss, from the little I've seen or read about this.

Of course I can't say what the outcome of the movie is and it would be unfair to say that the entire movie is about somebody who is outed as having Munchausen, indeed that term is only mentioned once in the movie and during the movie, there's surprisingly little in terms of people really interacting with the mother let alone diagnosing her. Really the outcome is left to the viewer, ultimately you have to, I suppose, be like Gabriel and come to your own conclusions. It should be said that at both the start and the end of the movie there's some text shown which, somewhat proudly I'd imagine (if text can be proud - I can almost imagine if they could, the filmmakers would add below 'don't blame us for how confusing and dark this is'), informs the viewer that this is a movie based on real events. At the end, its reaffirmed with a little more information, stating that such such a relationship was extablished with who was thought to be a 14 year old boy that all contact was lost from and that they would now be 28 years old.

In a sense, it makes me think about people that I've been in contact with through the internet, infact I'd be surprised if there isn't anyone who regularly uses the internet to meet and talk to people living far away, who haven't lost touch with someone or who at some point, wondered about what they had told them, wondered about this other person and whether to take at face value what their being told. I don't think that its necessarily fair to write everyone off (ie as being liars or someone completely different to whom they claim to be) so to speak, of course and again I'm not saying that I'd even agree with Gabriel thinking that Peters situation is all in the mother's head but then again I suppose I like to believe in things more than others maybe(?) if you know what I mean.

If you take things at face value then you could be confused by the fact that at the start of the movie, there are the inevitable scenes showing both Gabriel and Pete during telephone conversations which wouldn't have been possible when Gabriel reaches his ultimate conclusion - but just because we're shown those scenes then, as viewers, I suppose it doesn't totally write off the possibility that things weren't as they seemed then.

I felt this movie was quite dark and sad and ultimately there isn't the conclusive outcome that I suspect most, if not all, viewers are waiting for - hence why, some people aren't too happy with it. I agree that it leaves you wondering, its a rather unsatisfying movie if that makes any sense, although in a way perhaps its a relief that this is a Hollywood movie without that obligatory Hollywood ending - it maybe depends on what you prefer, whether or not your going to like this. I apologise if you feel like I've given away too much of this movie but there again, I think it should help give you a better idea what the movie is about and if you don't like the sound of where the plot goes (and spends most of its time trying to determine) then you'll know to steer clear of it.… Expand
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