Cinematography promises to give us food for thought every week, or at least this appears to be the prognosis after the last week’s premiere of “Michael Clayton” and these days’ “We Own The Night”.

The movie depicts an episode of the organized crime in New York, a particular case in which the protagonist is more in the middle than anyone possible, being part of the drug traffickers’ bond and blood member of two of the cops that investigate the case.

Under alias Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) manages a Brooklyn nightclub owned by Russian Marat Bujayev (Moni Moshonov), a haven for drug dealers. Green is oblivious of the illegal operations that take place just under his nose, but is still kept in a world of sincerity and honesty through his relationship with beautiful Amada Juarez (Eva Mendes).

The plot gets on fire in the moment the cops decide to intervene in the traffickers’ nest. The district police chief and father of Green, Burt Grusinsky (Robert Duvall) and cop and brother of Green, Joseph Grusinsky (Mark Wahlberg) face the deadlock situation of recognizing their close relative involved in the crime. Green’s cognitive dissonance is augmented when he becomes aware that his father is in great peril, to which is added his genuine love for Amanda.

There are moments when details of the movie seem far-fetched, like the improbability of Green’s change of identity in such a small community without being noticed or the fact that Green’s back in well-covered in police operation, but the chief’s is not.

However, the plot is breath-taking and focuses on challenging thought. The R-rated movie will bring 117 promising minutes.