Today’s quick review: Night Moves. Outraged at the harm a dam is doing to the fish in a local river, environmentalists Josh (Jesse Eisenberg) and Dena (Dakota Fanning) concoct a plan to blow it up. With the help of Josh’s friend Harmon (Peter Sarsgaard), they manage to assemble a fertilizer bomb and set it off at the dam. But living with the consequences of their actions proves to be a challenge that none of them were prepared for.
Night Moves is a suspenseful crime drama about a bombing carried out by a trio of environmentalists. The movie follows Josh, Dena, and Harmon as they gather the materials for their plan, carry it out, and try to deal with the aftermath. Night Moves has a meticulous style of storytelling, covering the mechanics of the bombing in details. At the same time, its writing is understated, leaving most of the characters’ thoughts to the viewer’s imagination.
Night Moves’ main drawback is its static plot. Nearly all of its tension comes from uncertainty and anticipation rather than tangible events or changes in the status quo. The story only has a couple of distinct stages, with long periods of quiet preparation and waiting. As a result, there are only a few opportunities for Josh, Dena, and Harmon to show who they are. Nearly all of their development is tied to the bombing itself.
Night Moves works reasonably well as a slow, down-to-earth crime thriller that examines the good intentions and human failings of its characters. Its moody atmosphere and moral dilemmas make it a decent pick for those interested in the premise, but it is missing the richer character work and unpredictable plot that would have truly set it apart. Those not immediately sold on the premise should approach with caution.
For a psychological thriller about a man with a guilty conscience, try The Machinist. For an even darker movie about an outsider’s questionable choices, try Nightcrawler. For a story about an ordinary couple faced with a moral conundrum, try Good People.
[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2043933/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for an interesting setup and a linear story.