Sleepers (1996)

As Good As It Gets

Absolutely Fantastic

The acting in this movie is really good.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Barry Levinson's all star heavy Sleepers is a very, very good film featuring some standout performances from known and unknown faces. This is a film you will remember for some time since you leave the theater.

Though Sleepers is actually, quite gripping and enjoyable, the film does struggle with some demons that put its credibility is some sort of disrepute.There is the Vicious Cycle conundrum of course, that is quite possibly the reason for the whole entire mess the boys went through. The neighborhood is rough and tough, so, it breeds more of the same conditions as its community attempts to survive. The boys steal because it is the nature of their reality. So, are the boys at fault?Then there is; The Sins of Your Father. Shakes's father did say; "Nobody in this family should do time, I did enough time for everyone". Then also, nature vs nurture and of course, do two wrongs make a right? On top of all of that, Father Bobby's dilemma, it and it against Shakes mentioning that; all that abuse and torture they experienced, they prayed to the same God Father Bobby did, but no help came... Was Father Bobby that help, finally, in that manner?Sleepers does bring up a lot of difficulties we experience as a people,and that is a good thing, but, did it tackle them well? I mean, what is the Hot Dog Vendors story? He has one, and it isn't told, it can't be told, but it is there, and it could be anything.Anyway, Joe Perrino stole the show. After a performance like that, it's too bad that his career seemingly faded into obscurity... But I'll say it again, Joe Perrino was truly amazing. Brad Pitt and Kevin Bacon too, as well as De Niro and Jason Patric were well above par and Minnie Driver was stunning. Sleepers spent too much time setting up, when it could've spent more of that time tying all the parts tighter together, which would've improved the quality and enjoyment even more, but still, the final product was well worth a watch. 7.1/10.

Barry Levinson directs this film based on the book by Lorenza Carcattera about four friends growing up in Hell's Kitchen, New York... and how one mistake ruins their whole lives. An excellent cast including Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Patric and Brad Pitt make this film an absolute must for any film fanatic. Yes, the film does include scenes of sexual and physical abuse suffered by the boys when they are sent to a reform school but that is not what this film is about. Its really a tale of revenge and friendship - both of which are tightly bound together in this film. Levinson is not heavy handed in his direction and allows the actors free range to explore their individual characters with great effect. Although two Hollywood greats are present in this film (Hoffman and De Niro), the parts they play are such, that you don't really notice them and that's a good thing. No one actor should be greater than the story being told and there is no greater evidence of this than in this movie.This film is really quite superb. It is very emotional and very moving. Especially as we know it is a true story. The thought of this is disturbing. The story is a bout 4 boys who go to a young offenders home, here they are abused in any kind of way you can imagine, sexually, verbally, physically and mentally. Years after the boys are released, they are displayed with the opportunity of revenge, and they take it. The film shows true friendship, and is one of the best films you will see.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

SleepersWhen falling asleep around the male species it is best to do so with a bear trap between your legs.Unfortunately, the boys in this thriller could not access any anti-rape weaponry.When an innocent street prank goes wrong, Hell's Kitchen troublemakers Shakes (Jason Patric), Michael (Brad Pitt) and Tommy (Billy Crudup) are sentenced to serve in an upstate boys home. Interned, they are repeatedly raped by the lead guard (Kevin Bacon) and his squad.Years later, the friends exploit their positions in the media and justice department to takedown their former abusers with false testimony from their neighborhood priest (Robert De Niro).An unsettling account of juvenile detention supplemented by an even more controversial form of retribution, this dark and dubious adaption of the semi-nonfictional novel is an intense and unforgettable experience.Incidentally, if the predatory guards had been female the courts would've sentenced them to life on probation.Green Lightvidiotreviews.blogspot.ca