WE OWN THE NIGHT — CANNES 2007

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Cannes, France — File this cop family drama movie under films-we-never-need-to-see-again.

Writer/director James Gray ("Little Odessa") pastes together anachronistic cliches to build a wobbly story about a Brooklyn police family ripped apart by Russian gangsters in late ‘80s New York.

Joaquin Phoenix plays successful nightclub manager and party boy Bobby, a moody black sheep who strayed from the straight-and-narrow path of his police chief father (Robert Duvall) and cop brother Joseph (Mark Wahlberg).

Bobby keeps his intimate police connections away from his Russian boss and cocaine-friendly customers.

But when local drug lord Vadim (Alex Veadov) attempts to assassinate Joseph, Bobby goes undercover to join his father and brother in bringing down the ruthless gangsters.

Apart from a truly impressive car chase in the rain, "We Own the Night" is an overwrought sleepy-eyed affair with a ridiculous ending.

As a side note, Joaquin Phoenix acted a fool at the press luncheon I attended at the Carlton Hotel with he and Eva Mendes. Just one big embarrassment on top of another.

Ms. Mendes, on the other hand, was a complete professional.

Rated R. 118 mins.