Light Sleeper (1992)

91% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(1,826 ratings)

Paul Schrader's brilliant study of another alienated urban denizen skirting the borderline of madness stars Willem Dafoe as John Le Tour, a rich, upscale drug dealer for Manhattan professionals -- "White drugs for white people," as he puts it. John is a recovering addict and for him it's the perfect… More Paul Schrader's brilliant study of another alienated urban denizen skirting the borderline of madness stars Willem Dafoe as John Le Tour, a rich, upscale drug dealer for Manhattan professionals -- "White drugs for white people," as he puts it. John is a recovering addict and for him it's the perfect job, as he can relate completely with the self-absorbed eccentrics he services. But when his boss Ann (Susan Sarandon) tells John that she is planning to abandon the drug business for herbal cosmetics, John's life is thrown into disarray. With no future plans, he sees black clouds heading his way. Coincidentally, he runs into Marianne (Dana Delany), an old girlfriend and former addict who has returned to New York to be with her dying mother. John sees Marianne as his redemption and starts to pursue her, but she doesn't want to be reminded of her past. When the murder of an Upper West Side woman involved in a drug transaction has the police scouring the town for suspects, John thinks they are following him, and the strain upon his life and his hopes for the future become harder and harder to bear. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Paul Schrader
Written By: Paul Schrader
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1992 Wide
On DVD: Dec 29, 1998
Studio: Live Home Video

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
A superb Dafoe contributes crucially to the degree of success the film achieves.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
At its best, "Light Sleeper" is merely theoretical. Most of the time, though, it is artificial and laughably unbelievable. Even the dark, gritty Manhattan locations don't add authenticity.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
In film after film, for year after year, Paul Schrader has been telling this story in one way or another, but never with more humanity than this time.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Artistically self-indulgent, if beautifully acted, "Light Sleeper" isn't aimed at audiences with a hunger for conventional entertainment and upbeat endings -- for Schrader this is an improvement.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
"Sleeper" is wonderful, vintage fare from the man who scripted "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull," and directed his own screenplays for "American Gigolo," "Mishima" and others.
, Entertainment Weekly
The movie is a small but absorbing mood piece, a canny insider's view of the life of a Manhattan drug dealer.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Schrader certainly has his finger on the pulse of the times, and the universally strong performances do ample justice to his sensitive ear for dialogue.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A personal, melancholy tale of the midlife crisis of drug dealers in New York, Light Sleeper is done in a detached, ascetic, semi-successful Bressonian style but well acted by Willem Dafoe and Susan Sarandon.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Any walk down NYC streets with Paul Schrader is worth taking
Jonathan W. Hickman, Entertainment Insiders
One of my favorite Dafoe perfomances. Sarandon is the drug dealer and Dafoe is her salesman. Nightcrawlers have never been captured better; look for David Spade in a great cameo.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Dark, fluid, well-acted, and stark crime thriller.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A poignant drama about a person who looks everywhere for saving grace except right in front of him.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This movie is okay. I liked Sarandon the best in the cast, she's such a great actress. The story is alright, but nothing really new, it's sort of like a drug drama from the 70s, but it gets kind of dull at times.
Stephen E

An in-depth character study, much like most of Paul Schrader's other work. The real talent here is Willem Dafoe, who carries most of the film with his detailed and thoughtful performance.
Brian R

If you liked watching "Taxi Driver" then Paul Scharder's film "Light Sleeper" is for you. This is one of Schrader's best films and he knows these kinds of stories inside out. Willem Dafoe plays in the mature Travis Bickle role as John LaTour. Susan… More
If you liked watching "Taxi Driver" then Paul Scharder's film "Light Sleeper" is for you. This is one of Schrader's best films and he knows these kinds of stories inside out. Willem Dafoe plays in the mature Travis Bickle role as John LaTour. Susan Surandon plays as the upscale cocaine barron and in ways her performance reminds me of Nina Van Pallandt from Schrader's earlier 80's picture "American Gigolo".
Anthony V

Lifted by great cast.
Christopher B

Great, realistic film on the life of a drug dealer. Schrader excels at character studies and this film is no exception.

Cast

            Willem Dafoe as John LeTour

            Susan Sarandon as Ann

            Dana Delany as Marianne

            David Clennon as Robert

            Mary Beth Hurt as Teresa Aranow

            Victor Garber as Tis

            Jane Adams (II) as Randi

            Francesca Bonicoli as 1st Model

            Vinnie Capone as Young Cuban

            Robert Cicchini as Guidone

            Damien Corrente as Baseball Card Fan

            Heather Rose Dominic as Crackhead

            Esteban Fernandez as Concierge

            Jennifer Fowler as Woman at Bar

            Joe Gironda as Funeral Home Employee

            Paul Jabara as Eddie

            Brian Judge as Thomas

            Bernadette Jurkowski as French Girl

            Ken Ladd as Carlos

            Peter Macklin as Baseball Card Fan

            Arcoiris Medina as Woman at Laundromat

            Raymond Normandeau as Chef

            Christopher Todd Northrup as Retro Yuppie

            Billy Joe Novinski as Baseball Card Fan

            Steven Posen as Hasid

            Rene Rivera as Manuel

            Sam Rockwell as Jealous

            James Saxenmeyer as Bar Patron

            Paul Stockman Smith as Radio Announcer

            David Spade as Theological Cokehead

            Timothy Stickney as Young Dominican

            Paul Stocker as Maitre D'

            Gabrielle Stubbert as Woman at Bar

            Ronald Sylvers as Prison Guard

            Jeff Telvi as Male Model

            Elena Vannucci as 2nd Model

            Tatiana von Furstenberg as French Girl

            Carolyn L.A. Walker as Police Woman

            David Sukoff as Baseball Card Fan
See full cast