gavin6942
A law student (Ewan McGregor), who takes a job as a night watchman at a morgue, begins to discover clues that implicate him as the suspect of a series of murders.This is an early entry in McGregor's career. While maybe not the acting power show that "Trainspotting" or certain art films were, this is a solid entry that thriller fans will appreciate. A bit of mystery, a bit of bloody murder... and it takes place in a morgue.The character of Joyce is rather interesting, and a bit sad. What would she do for money? But then, what would any of us do for money? If I was offered $20 to drink a glass of whiskey, of course I would accept that. Usually that is what it would probably cost at the bar, so it is like getting paid twice.
videorama-759-859391
NightWatch is an absorbingly refreshing film, that does have some real nasty moments, even at the end with Josh Brolin, having to sacrifice a finger in a life and death moment. Mcgregor who doesn't slip that well into an American accent, is an uni student, who gets a job as a nightwatchman at a morgue, where there some funny goings on, as it appears a serial killer is lurking about, and is setting our protagonist, Martin (Mcgregor) up, as a prime suspect. Nolte is strong as always as a cop, who befriends Martin, where Arquette seems wasted as Mcgregor's girlfriend as is John C Reilly as Nolte's partner. Nightwatch is a strong taut and entertaining thriller, with an memorably impactful start. Josh Brolin who's Martin's best friend here, unlike our quiet Martin, plays a real big mouth, di..head, which has us believe heavily like they do in other thrillers, he is the killing hand, as by his behavior, which at times, is unsettling to watch, with some of his psycho traits, like that bar scene where he really lets these bad dudes have it, (one of whom you've seen in many other short, bad dude roles from Renegades to One Tough Bastard) before they have him. Though Nightwatch does have it's shortcomings, what it manages to do is make for a quiet tense and unnerving ride, one like I said is refreshingly original. One standout scene in a restaurant, has a hooker, who's there for Brolin's amusement. Mcgregor is very good here as is Brolin, before he became well known, while character actor, Brad Douff is again great as another of the morgue's workers. An obscure film that needs more exposure.
Scott LeBrun
Co-writer / director Ole Bornedal's English language remake of his earlier Danish hit "Nattevagten" is pretty good stuff, a substantially atmospheric and creepy thriller that milks the ambiance of its locations for everything that they're worth. Ewan McGregor, doing a superb American accent, is law student Martin Bells, who takes a part time job as night watchman at the city morgue. His best friend James (Josh Brolin) is bored with their humdrum lives and goes about doing some reckless things, while a serial killer is haunting the city and taking the eyeballs from his victims. The movie can boast some solid suspense sequences, and is also beautifully lit (by Dan Laustsen) and scored (by Joachim Holbek). It's got some decent gore going for it, but mostly it's all about the mood with "Nightwatch". The cast is excellent all the way down the line, with McGregor highly likable in the lead. Patricia Arquette plays his girlfriend, and figures in what is one of the best moments in the film, as she comes very close to encountering the killer. Brolin is fun as the risk taking friend, and Nick Nolte offers an interesting and entertaining performance as the police inspector on the trail of the killer. Brad Dourif has a great supporting part as the grumpy duty doctor who suggests McGregor get acquainted with drugs from the "zine" family when the latter cries wolf, Alix Koromzay is memorable as a prostitute, and Lonny Chapman has a great little bit as the veteran night watchman who trains McGregor. John C. Reilly appears uncredited in the key supporting role of Deputy Inspector Davis. The build up to the finale is so strong that the ultimate confrontation & action can't quite measure up (intriguingly, our killer is identified sooner than we'd expect), but Bornedal still does an impressive job of marrying soundtrack and image throughout his film. It gets off to a great start with its opening credits, and is fundamentally a neat little story, well told and well paced with no filler to have to deal with. It's an enjoyable film that deserves another look from genre fans. Seven out of 10.
jamesbarnshaw
this is a fine piece of suspense-horror movie making. nick nolte was superb as the deranged necrophiliac killer.Ewan McGregor was good but his accent was terrible, as the law student. josh brolin turning in a good performance as his wise-cracking friend. as always Patricia arquette mesmerising us on screen with her good-looks and soft-tinged voice. maybe these aren't all Oscar-winning performances. but this movie is one of the few able to pull of a momentum that speeds up all the way through right to the end when it gives us the feeling of stopping still and confronting the evil after one hell of a thrill ride. let your hair down, grab a cushion or a cup of tea, & settle into one and a half hours of nail-biting(sometimes funny) suspense-filled horror. also brad dourif and john.c.Reilly turn in sum good acting to. as they always do of course.
AD
