1:35min
Brooklyn, 1988. Nightclub manager Bobby (Joaquin Phoenix) cavorts with his girlfriend Amada (Eva Mendes) in the back room. A smirk from Dominik Prosser, manager at the Notting Hill Arts Club: “Our office has been party to quite a few . . . trysts.”

2:17min
Cut to a writhing dancefloor. “Club scenes in films generally look dreadful, but this doesn’t make me cringe,” says Shaun Roberts, promotions manager at Fabric. Prosser likes the number of extras but Ajay Jayaram, head of promotions at the End, is not impressed with the choice of music: “A Blondie track from the 1970s? Ten years out of sync.”

3:19min
Bobby worked his way up from bartender. “I did too,” says Sonya Lee, managing director at the Notting Hill Arts Club. “You generally recruit from within,” Dom agrees.

4:36min
Girls dance topless on the bar. “I’d never kick Sonya out for doing that,” Prosser grins. “But that doesn’t make for a good club night, it makes for a testosterone fest.”

7:25min
Bobby moves through the crowd, greeting his punters. Roberts nods: “It’s about moving at pace. If I get sucked into a conversation I pretend someone’s talking on my earpiece.”

22:07min
The club is busted by police, looking for drugs. “That’s a bit bombastic,” says Jayaram. Prosser agrees: “Police now have a clear understanding of clubs and they work with us.”

26:47min
Bobby rows with his father (Robert Duvall) and brother (Mark Wahlberg), both policemen, over his choice of career. “My family have always been cool about it,” insists Roberts. “My parents met in a club, where my dad was playing records.”

49:45min
Gangsters threaten Bobby. Lee frowns: “I’ve heard stories about the Mafia, but that was 15 years ago. Prosser agrees: “There are easier ways for them to make money now. Any naughtiness is generally to do with sex.”

68:17min
Amada sticks by her man. “You need strong relationships,” Prosser nods. “I’ve only ever been out with night owls or people in the industry,” Lee adds.

VERDICT

Lee thought the film glamorised clubs and Jayaram felt it showed the gulf between Britain and America, but Roberts found the club scenes mostly plausible, and Prosser admitted that it made him want to go out.

We Own the Night is out to buy and rent on DVD on Monday. Thanks to Fabric (fabriclondon.com), The End (endclub.com), Notting Hill Arts Club (nottinghillartsclub.com).

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