Una voce nella notte

"The Night Listener" tells the story of Gabriel No one a radio storyteller who finds himself living his most interesting yarn yet. He is given a book to review by his publisher and strikes up a telephone friendship with the troubled young author, Pete Logand. When questions come up about the sordid events of Pete's autobiographical work Gabriel sets out to discover the truth.

The film takes a steady, sober look at its characters which avoids the pitfalls of typical "suspense" films. The characters are believable and interesting, with Toni Collette delivering a particularly fine performance. For some reason though, the story simply didn't have much of an impact on me. If I had to hazard a guess why I would say that the relationship between Gabriel and Pete wasn't given enough time to breathe in this short 82 minute film. The early repartee between Robin Williams and Rory Culkin was some of the best material in the film. I think we needed a bit more of that to feel the sense of connection that Gabriel did and to understand the need that this relationship answered in his life. At one point he asks himself, "Why am I here?" Unfortunately, we cannot convincingly answer.

Interesting structure and story, and you can't really be sure what's the truth until mostly through. Slightly disturbing and interesting that the intensity of the initial story has an effect on our own perception of truth. But really, this isn't a film about deception, but about a troubled person and a sad man.

I think films I watch fit into four categories: (1) boring and difficult to get through (2) original and inspiring (3) action/fun but simple (4) a sunday film which has cliched elements but is interesting enough.

This fits into (4). So, recommended to watch, but probably forgetable after a year

"The Night Listener" is a creepy and unsettling movie, and it's pretty good as far as creepy and unsettling movies go.

It could have been much better, though. The true, raw material on which the film is based is really compelling: A famous author is contacted by an abused child dying of AIDS. As the relationship progresses, the author comes to wonder if the kid is real or a hoax.

The story is so fascinating that several television shows and print articles have been based on it.

The movie makes good, but not great, use of the story. The film has creepy, scary, hair raising moments, and moments that make you stop and think about trust, suspicion, and relationships.

But it never really breaks into the same territory as, say, "Vertigo," which treads some of the same ground.

Robin Williams doesn't really do much here. His relationship with his ex lover, Bobby Cannavale, is never believable. The two have zero chemistry, and never even move as two people who once shared the same house, never mind the same bed.

The relationship with the abused child is rushed. It's never given any poignancy. And, so, when Williams begins to suspect the relationship, there is less at stake.

Toni Collette, though, gives a terrific performance as a woman who may be a heroine, or who may be a very scary psycho. She's just so good.

The director manages to make Wisconsin in winter seem like a very ominous place. I never thought that fat, pale, working class Wisconsin residents could appear so menacing.

If the material appeals to you, give this film a try. It's not great, but it's not half bad.

I couldn't give this film a bad rating or bad review for two reasons: Robin Williams and Toni Collete. The film has the potential of being a thriller and there are some slight disturbing elements that lean to the psychological which was something the film could have focused a little on. Robin Williams plays Gabriel Noon, a storytelling night time deejay who is going through personal issues: his lover moves out and Gabriel is having what seems to be a case of storyteller's block. One day he receives and reads a story written by a dying 14-year old boy named Pete Boland (Rory Culkin). Pete tells the story of his life and the abuse he suffered at the hands of his parents. He lives with his adopted mother and social worker, Donna Boland (Toni Collette). Gabriel is fascinated and begins a friendship with Pete, but things seem strange when Gabriel attempts to meet him and discovers the possibility that Pete Boland may not even exist. I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil the film, but I will tell you this: it is quite predictable. Fascinating atmosphere for telling a story and good performances from Robin Williams and Toni Collette, who I thought was the film's key character. Collette is without question one of the most talented and loveliest actresses. Her ability to tap into the psyche and personality of the characters she portrays is very uncanny and I hope to see her win an Oscar (hell, I think she might pull off getting a Best Supporting Actress nod for this one if the script were a little better). The film starts off as a psychological thriller, but a predictable one at that. If your curious to know the film's ending and twists, then see the film otherwise I would rent another predictable thriller called "Hide and Seek".

Just who is that person on the other end of the line, in any virtual relationship that we may happen to engage? In "The Night Listener" a late-night NYC radio storyteller named Gabriel (Robin Williams) talks to, and corresponds with, a 14-year-old sick boy named Pete, and his adult guardian Donna, who live in Wisconsin. But Gabriel's partner becomes suspicious of Pete and Donna, which leads Gabriel to go to Wisconsin to see the boy, to whom Gabriel has grown attached.

It's an interesting and provocative idea. We make assumptions, and don't bother to check them out. If those assumptions are false, then we engage in self-deception. This story questions the nature of reality, in personal relationships carried on over long distances. As a mystery, the film is dark, and when combined with elevator background music, the tone is sleepy and somber.

The problem here is that, although it's an interesting concept, there's really not enough material to justify a full-length feature film. The plot contains many contrivances that extend the runtime, and even then, the film is only 81 minutes in duration. The pace is very, very slow.

Further, while I like and admire Robin Williams as a comedian, he comes across as boring, in serious roles and not just because those roles lack humor. In "The Night Listener", he pouts his way through, all doleful and morose. You get the feeling that he's going to burst into tears at any moment.

As we watch the film, clearly there is some mystery that we do not understand, some puzzle that must be solved. And yet, when we find out what the solution is, it's a letdown. There never really was that much to the puzzle, after all.

"The Night Listener" is mostly a Robin Williams cinematic vehicle, and he plays his part very, very seriously. The script, based on an intriguing concept, just does not contain enough significant plot points to make the film entertaining.