The Night Listener (2006)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Patrick Stettner

Writers (WGA):

Armistead Maupin (screenplay) &
Terry Anderson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 August 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Listen for the truth.

Plot:

In the midst of his crumbling relationship, a radio show host begins speaking to his biggest fan, a young boy, via the telephone. But when questions about the boy's identity come up, the host's life is thrown into chaos.

Plot Keywords:

Wisconsin | Radio | Airplane | New York | Blind Woman

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Toni Collette	...	Donna D. Logand
Robin Williams	...	Gabriel Noone
Joe Morton	...	Ashe
Bobby Cannavale	...	Jess
Rory Culkin	...	Pete D. Logand
Sandra Oh	...	Anna
Rodrigo Lopresti	...	Young Man at Party
John Cullum	...	Pap Noone
Lisa Emery	...	Darlie Noone
Guenia Lemos	...	Female Neighbor
Marcia Haufrecht	...	Pant Suited Woman (as Marcia Halfrecht)
Nick Gregory	...	Flight Attendant
Ed Jewett	...	Mail Clerk
Becky Ann Baker	...	Waitress
Billy Vann	...	Taxi Driver

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some disquieting sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:81 min (DVD version) | USA:91 min (Sundance Film Festival) | USA:82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #42175) | Ireland:16 | UK:15 | Singapore:M18 | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:M | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Montgomery, New York, USA

Company:

Hart-Sharp Entertainment

Trivia:

At 5 minutes and 58 seconds into the film, Armistead Maupin's real-life husband, Christopher Turner, appears playing Jess's (Bobby Cannavale) friend that Gabriel (Robin Williams) refers to facetiously as "Lucifer" (Jess corrects him and says, "Lucien. He's just a friend").

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The zip code for the Montgomery, Wisconsin address starts with a '2', but all Wisconsin zip codes start with 5.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gabriel Noone: [Black screen. Sounds of squeaking chair as someone sits down, microphone squealing, paper rustling, and a thump] Ready?
[Sound of one breath blown into microphone]
Gabriel Noone: [Unknown woman mumbles]
Gabriel Noone: Yeah, let's try it like that.
[Paper rustling]
Gabriel Noone: [Unknown woman mumbles again]

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "Further Tales of the City" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Balley

Kept me interested

If there is one thing to recommend about this film is that it is intriguing. The premise certainly draws the audience in because it is a mystery, and throughout the film there are hints that there is something dark lurking about. However, there is not much tension, and Williams' mild mannered portrayal doesn't do much to makes us relate to his obsession with the boy.

Collete fares much better as the woman whose true nature and intentions are not very clear. The production felt rushed and holes are apparent. It certainly feels like a preview for a much more complete and better effort. The book is probably better.

One thing is certain: Taupin must have written something truly good to have inspired at least one commendable effort.