Hollywood Reviews and Movie Trivia

"The Night Listener", directed by Patrick Stettner, is a psychological mystery with twists and turns and scores a B...

Actor Robin Williams, who became a house hold name in the TV series "Mork & Mindy" (78') was known for years only as a comedian/actor. Recent years has seen a crossover in his choice of roles. He still maintains that comedic edge as in his recent hit "RV", which had comedy laced with very serious undertones. "The Night Listener" is a straight forward mystery with the pacing of a Hitchcock story, the cinematic darkness of a Brian De Palma film, with twists and turns that keep you guessing, and an ending that makes one pause to think about the age old question: Is it real or is it that we want it to be real...

Based on the international best selling novel by Armistead Maupin, Gabriel Noone (Robin Williams) is a well-known writer and the host of a popular late night radio show called "Noone at Midnight". Noone has serious issues. He's in the middle of breaking up with his longtime male lover, feels his radio show has gone stale, and his next literary work is over due at the publisher. His only friend is his publishing company representative Ashe (Joe Morton).

One night during his radio show, Noone gets a call-in from young listener Pete (Rory Culkin). Pete is very ill and his real sense of joy is talking to Noone. Pete's adopted mother Donna (Toni Collette) is elated that Noone has taken such an interest in Pete. Noone develops a telephone friendship off-air with them, particularly Pete who admits to avidly reading Noon's literary works. After long telephone conversations with Pete and Donna, Noone has troubling questions about Pete's identity. To complicate Noone's life even more, a biographical manuscript arrives at Noone's publisher. It's written by Donna and chronicles Pete's brave battle with his potentially terminal disease. Ashe loves it with plans to open negotiations to publish it while Noone slowly begins to doubt the very existence of Pete and Donna. With his own life in turmoil, Noone casually and cautiously begins checking out Pete and Donna, including a trip to the faraway town where they supposedly live. The more Noone inquires, the more obscure the facts become surrounding Pete and Donna.

Toni Collette continues to show a wide range as an actress including 2005's sleeper hit "In Her Shoes" and her upcoming release "Little Miss Sunshine". Robin Williams virtually carries the movie with the multiple emotional layers of his character, makes one certainly think twice about a radio show listener who calls into a radio talk show, professing their admiration as a fan, with a heart wrenching story...

Grade: B