tavm Review of The Night Listener

The Night Listener (2006)

Don't expect thrills in Robin Williams' The Night Listener

[6/10 · 13 August 2006]

The Night Listener is a somewhat interesting drama about a radio storyteller who is intrigued by an unpublished manuscript by a 14-year old boy who was sexually abused by his parents. Adopted by Armistead Maupin from his novel, this film has a slow-paced energy that makes it almost hard to stay awake for anyone expecting a thriller. Robin Williams is certainly at his most somber with no chance to act up a storm even when he gets really angry. Toni Collette plays the boy's caretaker or is she? When Bobby Cannavale as Williams' former partner hears the messages of the boy and the caretaker he notices the similarity of the voices which makes Williams doubt his intuition. Also with Sandra Oh and Rory Culkin as the boy. Suppsedly based on a true story, you might want to give this a try but don't expect to get too excited, just realize you're not watching a conventional drama or thriller.