Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe Night Listener (2006)
Director: Patrick Stettner
Movie review
From Time Out London
A flimsy, turgid fiction based on a potentially fascinating true-life event, this explores the relationship between a gay writer and broadcaster, Gabriel Noone (Robin Williams), and Pete Logand (Rory Culkin), a 14-year-old fan of his late-night radio show. Never shy about ransacking his own private life for creative inspiration, Gabriel is struck by the raw honesty of Pete’s childhood memoir. Gabriel and Pete strike up a phone relationship, but Gabriel’s semi-estranged lover, Jess (Bobby Cannavale), notices a similarity between Pete’s voice and that of his guardian, Donna (Toni Collette). Adapted from a novel by Armistead Maupin, Stettner’s film superficially explores the ways in which writers fictionalise their lives, yet reveals almost nothing about their motives. As the plot dawdles along, intrigue gives way to risible melodrama, and Patrick Stettner fails to get to grips with the issues.Author: Nigel Floyd
Time Out London Issue 1882: September 13-20 2006
Cast & crew
Director: Patrick Stettner
Producer: Jill Footlick, John Hart, Robert Kessel, Jeff Sharp
Cast: Robin Williams, Bobby Moore, Toni Collette, Joe Morton, Bobby Cannavale, Rory Culkin, Sandra Oh, John Cullum, Emery Emery, Rodrigo Lopresti full cast
Rated: 15
Duration: 90 mins
UK Release: Sep 15 2006
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Hippies who work for The Man
To celebrate George Clooney comedy 'The Men who Stare at Goats', we look back at six memorable onscreen hippies who fought the system from within
Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies
Ahead of the release of '2012', Roland Emmerich offers his ten tips on creating the perfect global catastrophe
Grant Heslov: interview
Grant Heslov, director of 'The Men who Stare at Goats' talks about his old pal George Clooney, his interest in the paranormal, and his fond memories of working on 'Happy Days'
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Michael Jackson's This Is It: review
Kenny Ortega's posthumous concert film is a rousing eulogy for one of pop's great enigmas
Michael Haneke: The man behind the menace
From Cannes to Munich to London, Dave Calhoun tours Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Lone Scherfig talks 'An Education'
Danish director Lone Scherfig was an unlikely choice for a very English affair like 'An Education'. Cath Clarke meets her
How Jane Campion brought John Keats back to life
Time Out gets Romantic with the ‘difficult’ New Zealander about her new film, 'Bright Star'
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now