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IMDbPro

The Night Listener

  • 20062006
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
16K
YOUR RATING
The Night Listener (2006)
CT #3, Post
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
24 Photos
CrimeDramaHorror
In the midst of his crumbling relationship, a radio show host begins speaking to his biggest fan, a young boy, via the telephone. But when questions about the boy's identity come up, the hos... Read allIn the midst of his crumbling relationship, a radio show host begins speaking to his biggest fan, a young boy, via the telephone. But when questions about the boy's identity come up, the host's life is thrown into chaos.In the midst of his crumbling relationship, a radio show host begins speaking to his biggest fan, a young boy, via the telephone. But when questions about the boy's identity come up, the host's life is thrown into chaos.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
16K
YOUR RATING
    • Patrick Stettner
    • Armistead Maupin(screenplay)
    • Terry Anderson(screenplay)
    • Patrick Stettner(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robin Williams
    • Toni Collette
    • Rory Culkin
    • Patrick Stettner
    • Armistead Maupin(screenplay)
    • Terry Anderson(screenplay)
    • Patrick Stettner(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robin Williams
    • Toni Collette
    • Rory Culkin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 169User reviews
    • 114Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    The Night Listener
    Trailer 2:30
    Watch The Night Listener

    Photos24

    Sandra Oh in The Night Listener (2006)
    Robin Williams and Bobby Cannavale in The Night Listener (2006)
    Robin Williams in The Night Listener (2006)
    Robin Williams and Toni Collette in The Night Listener (2006)
    Toni Collette in The Night Listener (2006)
    Rory Culkin in The Night Listener (2006)
    Sandra Oh in The Night Listener (2006)
    Patrick Stettner in The Night Listener (2006)
    Toni Collette at an event for The Night Listener (2006)
    The Night Listener (2006)
    The Night Listener (2006)
    Robin Williams, Toni Collette, and Sandra Oh in The Night Listener (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robin Williams
    Robin Williams
    • Gabriel Noone
    Toni Collette
    Toni Collette
    • Donna D. Logand
    Rory Culkin
    Rory Culkin
    • Pete D. Logand
    Joe Morton
    Joe Morton
    • Ashe
    Bobby Cannavale
    Bobby Cannavale
    • Jess
    Sandra Oh
    Sandra Oh
    • Anna
    Rodrigo Lopresti
    Rodrigo Lopresti
    • Young Man at Party
    John Cullum
    John Cullum
    • Pap Noone
    Lisa Emery
    Lisa Emery
    • Darlie Noone
    Guenia Lemos
    Guenia Lemos
    • Female Neighbor
    Marcia Haufrecht
    Marcia Haufrecht
    • Pant Suited Woman
    • (as Marcia Halfrecht)
    Nick Gregory
    Nick Gregory
    • Flight Attendant
    Ed Jewett
    Ed Jewett
    • Mail Clerk
    Becky Ann Baker
    Becky Ann Baker
    • Waitress
    Billy Van
    Billy Van
    • Taxi Driver
    E.J. Carroll
    E.J. Carroll
    • Hospital Security Guard
    James Stankunas
    • Boy in Hospital
    Marceline Hugot
    Marceline Hugot
    • Nurse
      • Patrick Stettner
      • Armistead Maupin(screenplay) (novel)
      • Terry Anderson(screenplay)
      • Patrick Stettner(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At 5 minutes and 58 seconds into the film, Armistead Maupin's real-life husband Christopher Turner appears, playing the part of Jess's (Bobby Cannavale) friend whom Gabriel (Robin Williams) facetiously refers to as "Lucifer." Jess corrects him and says, "Lucien. He's just a friend."
    • Goofs
      The zip code for the Montgomery, Wisconsin address starts with a '2', but all Wisconsin zip codes start with 5.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      [we see the back of Donna as she walks down the sidewalk, leading away from the condo she just looked at purchasing]

      Gabriel Noone: As for Pete, there's a line in the Velveteen Rabbit that reads... Real isn't how you were made. It's the thing that happens to you. I'm Gabriel Noone. Goodnight.

    • Crazy credits
      The production wishes to thank ... the residents of 95th Street, NYC ...
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby/Little Miss Sunshine/Shadowboxer/Miami Vice/The Night Listener (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Vladimir's Blues
      Written and Performed by Max Richter

      Courtesy of Fatcat Recordings

    User reviews169

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    It's A Provocative Idea
    Just who is that person on the other end of the line, in any virtual relationship that we may happen to engage? In "The Night Listener" a late-night NYC radio storyteller named Gabriel (Robin Williams) talks to, and corresponds with, a 14-year-old sick boy named Pete, and his adult guardian Donna, who live in Wisconsin. But Gabriel's partner becomes suspicious of Pete and Donna, which leads Gabriel to go to Wisconsin to see the boy, to whom Gabriel has grown attached.

    It's an interesting and provocative idea. We make assumptions, and don't bother to check them out. If those assumptions are false, then we engage in self-deception. This story questions the nature of reality, in personal relationships carried on over long distances. As a mystery, the film is dark, and when combined with elevator background music, the tone is sleepy and somber.

    The problem here is that, although it's an interesting concept, there's really not enough material to justify a full-length feature film. The plot contains many contrivances that extend the runtime, and even then, the film is only 81 minutes in duration. The pace is very, very slow.

    Further, while I like and admire Robin Williams as a comedian, he comes across as boring, in serious roles and not just because those roles lack humor. In "The Night Listener", he pouts his way through, all doleful and morose. You get the feeling that he's going to burst into tears at any moment.

    As we watch the film, clearly there is some mystery that we do not understand, some puzzle that must be solved. And yet, when we find out what the solution is, it's a letdown. There never really was that much to the puzzle, after all.

    "The Night Listener" is mostly a Robin Williams cinematic vehicle, and he plays his part very, very seriously. The script, based on an intriguing concept, just does not contain enough significant plot points to make the film entertaining.
    helpful•23
    7
    • Lechuguilla
    • Dec 16, 2007

    FAQ2

    • Is this based on a true story?
    • Is this based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 4, 2006 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Montgomery, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Hart Sharp Entertainment
      • IFC Films
      • Fortissimo Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 31 minutes
      • Dolby Digital

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