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Movie Review - The Night Listener (2006)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Patrick Stettner |
| Starring: |
Robin Williams, Toni Collette, and Sandra Oh |
| Rated: |
R (for language and some disquieting sexual content) |
| Length: |
82 minutes |
| Genre: |
Drama/Mystery/Thriller |
| Tagline: |
None. |
| Studio: |
Miramax |
| Website: |
The Night Listener |
| Release: |
August 4, 2006 |
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PLOT
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Robin Williams is gay. Oh yes, and he has a radio show on which he reads stories he has written based on his
real-life experiences. One day a young boy who has written a book about his troubled childhood contacts him, and
they strike up a phone friendship. But does this boy really exist? Or is it a scam? Homosexual mystery ensues.
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STEPH'S TAKE
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It wasn't until shortly before Mr. Shade and I arrived at the theater for the screening of this movie that the
words "HOMOSEXUAL OVERTONES" hit my ears. Mr. Shade really dropped a bomb on me. I could only hope that this
would not be too much of a distraction in the film. But I'll admit, for me it was pretty distracting. Every time
two men got within a foot of each other I would turn my head and beg for the scene to end. That's right, I admit
it.
I couldn't help but wonder, since this movie was based on a true story, was the gay stuff part of the true story?
Or was it just a way to be politically correct and allow for the use of some gay jokes and to make straight chicks
such as me uncomfortable? Perhaps we'll let Johnny do the research for his Odds & Ends section.
Johnny's Note: Perhaps Johnny will pass on that.
As for the story, I was interested in finding out the truth behind the child's identity. Johnny told me some
people were disappointed in the revelation at the end, but I wasn't. There were pretty much two options of what
the truth would be, and so maybe 50% of the viewers will be dissatisfied. Oh well, sucks to be them. At least
the filmmakers did a good job of keeping me guessing.
This is quite a short film, yet it didn't seem to fly by. I've watched 2+ hour movies that seemed shorter.
However, it seems like I've been writing this review forever, and I think it's been maybe 10 minutes. How does
Johnny do it?
Johnny's Note: I'm a genius.
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ODDS & ENDS
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- For those who may care, Robin Williams' stand-in is a guy named Adam Bryant. Mr. Shade suspects he stood in
for all the gay scenes.
- Johnny suspects Mr. Shade isn't as funny with his inside jokes as he thinks he is.
- Sister Betts thought the movie was incredibly boring.
- Johnny thinks that Robin Williams + Toni Collette + Sandra Oh = A Whole Lot of Ugly.
- Upon entering the theater and seeing Mr. Shade, a woman informed a fellow movie-goer, "That's Mr.
Shade!"
- Sister Betts thought this was the funniest thing she had ever heard.
- "Sister Betts" refers to Johnny's actual sister, not a nun who happens to have the same last name.
- Becky Ann Baker was in War of the Worlds with Michalina Almindo who was
in Melinda and Melinda with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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Nope: 1. Gay dudes 2. Child porn 3. F-bombs 4. GD's.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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I was starting to wonder if I hadn't paid close attention to the trailer because I was expecting a creepy mystery
that didn't have anything gay in it. But as I rewatch the trailer it sure seems like the movie is a creepy mystery
that doesn't have anything gay in it. The movie was not as creepy as I hoped and it was way gayer than I could have
imagined.
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THE GIST
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The Night Listener is a somewhat slow-paced mystery that may keep your interest as you try to figure out
what the truth really is amid the homosexuality.
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