Sleepers (1996)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Melvin W

  
  Lorenzo: There are no clear pictures of the sexual abuse we endured. I buried it as deep as it can possibly go.  "When friendship runs deeper than blood" There is only one way to describe Sleepers and that is that it is a great movie. It comes with flaws, which I… More
  Lorenzo: There are no clear pictures of the sexual abuse we endured. I buried it as deep as it can possibly go.  "When friendship runs deeper than blood" There is only one way to describe Sleepers and that is that it is a great movie. It comes with flaws, which I won't discuss as they are very apparent and because I just can't take away from how great this film is. Sleepers is easily Barry Levinson's best film and features amazing performances from a variety of really talented actors like Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. Those are the legends in the cast, but there are so many more like Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, and Jason Patric. That is just scratching the surface on all the great performances that came out of this movie. Sleepers begins with a great introduction to the life of four friends in the slums of Hell's Kitchen. Levinson does a tremendous job with the setting. He shows just how bleak existence is in Hell's Kitchen. From there we move into a childhood drama, where the four friends rob a hot dog vendor and end up almost killing someone by accident. Then the story moves into a juvenile facility where the kids are sent. The kids all go through hell there. That's as far into the story as I'm going to go. The last thing I'll add about it is that the movie skips ahead to when the four kids are in their twenties and the story resumes from there.  This film captures three different situations and make the movie feel like three shorts all combined into one. The first being a childhood drama, the second a prison drama and the third a courtroom drama. The first is very nostalgic and fun to watch until it ends in tragedy. The second is extremely hard to watch, but insanely well done. And both the second and third are very sad. Watching this again now is even harder, with the stories from Penn St and Syracuse dominating the news. Sleepers is a film that you won't forget after watching it. Despite not knowing if the story is really true(the author claims it is, but the juvenile facilities say it is not), you feel for the characters because even if this story isn't true, it still is. This is happening somewhere. As hard to watch as it is, it needs to be seen.

• Jens S

  
  Emotionally overwhelming drama about four kids whose life is thrown off track during their visit to a reform school, where they are abused and tortured. The movie sets up the situation of the boys in the late 60s really well, with the right soundtrack and the foreshadowing voice-over,… More
  Emotionally overwhelming drama about four kids whose life is thrown off track during their visit to a reform school, where they are abused and tortured. The movie sets up the situation of the boys in the late 60s really well, with the right soundtrack and the foreshadowing voice-over, that's not without pathos. Once the drama hits, there is no doubt that this movie won't end on a happy note, but it manages to keep you hoping otherwise anyway. It is quite amazing how the film captures the audience's attention and makes them abettors in the tale of revenge that's taking place 15 years later. While you know their plan is morally wrong, you still root for them. The acting is top notch, it is a pleasure to watch acting giants like De Niro and Hoffman in the same scene together. The ending is bittersweet but deeply satisfying, leaving you emotionally exhausted but glad you came along for the ride. Outstanding movie making.

• moon r

  
  4 ghetto hoodlums ruin some innocent lives and are shocked when they get their comeuppances. Ahh, but the road to revenge (and that's what this film is about, delayed revenge) is a twisty one, as twisted as the morals of this twisted film, that portrays the perps as heroic… More
  4 ghetto hoodlums ruin some innocent lives and are shocked when they get their comeuppances. Ahh, but the road to revenge (and that's what this film is about, delayed revenge) is a twisty one, as twisted as the morals of this twisted film, that portrays the perps as heroic victims.

• Clintus M

  
  This is a deeply disturbing, well acted and directed film that exists as a crime drama on one level but goes deeper as well. Whether or not this story is all true doesn't matter to me, the message it conveys comes through and rings true regardless. The principle characters, the… More
  This is a deeply disturbing, well acted and directed film that exists as a crime drama on one level but goes deeper as well. Whether or not this story is all true doesn't matter to me, the message it conveys comes through and rings true regardless. The principle characters, the four young boys, come from a world of senseless daily violence, are thrust into the sadistic grip of the institution, and then are released to make sense of it and cope with its horrors the rest of their lives. The film is stylized and idealized to be sure, yet I don't doubt that this version of Hell's Kitchen exists and the problems and moral questions posed are real. Sleepers is reminiscent of Stand By Me but less nostalgic. The movie tells at least 2 stories, and the legal concoction story was preposterous and began to lose me, but the film is redeemed by its constant emphasis on the boys and their undying friendship and loyalty. Also, Robert DeNiro as Father Bobby is believable, the lynch pin who holds the entire film together. The movie is too long; its almost laboring late in the film, but you're hooked by then. Its definitely worth watching on an emotional and philosophical level. What is justice? When is an act justice or simply revenge? And, what cost to your own soul do you pay for revenge? Barry Levinson poses these questions and more in a tale set in Hell's Kitchen, a setting all too real.

• familiar s

  
  True story or not, its definitely a great one & surely worth a watch. Not that its flawless; it surely does have its share of loose ends. But the loose ends weren't enough to put me off the hook. The movie boasts of a huge cast, & fortunately each one have given their… More
  True story or not, its definitely a great one & surely worth a watch. Not that its flawless; it surely does have its share of loose ends. But the loose ends weren't enough to put me off the hook. The movie boasts of a huge cast, & fortunately each one have given their best (or so it seemed to me). As far as the controversy regarding it being based on real events is concerned, IMO its all as much real as The Blair Witch Project. Thankfully unlike TBWP, we had some intriguing story going on here & didn't have to put up with idiotic shaky camera work (that's not as much a problem though, if the proceedings are engaging as in [Rec]). Finally, though a bit flawed, it was surely worth my time. Go for it; see if it manages to get deep into your blood!!!

• Conner R

  
  An amazing film that is both perfectly cast and epicly told. Brad Pitt and Jason Patrick led a flawless cast that all gave tremendous performances. Kevin Bacon was especially disturbing. The mood of the film is what makes it so beautiful. All of the visuals reflect a dying city with… More
  An amazing film that is both perfectly cast and epicly told. Brad Pitt and Jason Patrick led a flawless cast that all gave tremendous performances. Kevin Bacon was especially disturbing. The mood of the film is what makes it so beautiful. All of the visuals reflect a dying city with little hope, much like the lives of the four leads.

• Anthony L

  
  Good film about a tricky subject. Dealt with very well with good acting. Watch De Niro as he is told about what really happened to the kids in the detention centre, puts a lump in my throat every time!

• Justin Y

  
  <i>Sleepers</i> is a crime drama thriller from Barry Levinson with an interesting tale of revenge. There is some controversy on whether this is based off of a true story or not. In any case, it is a more than decent movie. <p>The story is basically broken down… More
  <i>Sleepers</i> is a crime drama thriller from Barry Levinson with an interesting tale of revenge. There is some controversy on whether this is based off of a true story or not. In any case, it is a more than decent movie. <p>The story is basically broken down into 2 parts, although some will say it has 3. No matter how many parts, the film is nearly 2 and a half hours. Just a bit too long in my opinion. The pacing is slow to moderate, however the fact that the story is broken up helps to relieve the boredom factor. The first half of the film focuses on the younger years of the 4 boys and the events that take place to setup the latter years, which is the focus of the second half.</p><p>The fun happens early on, but it is no doubt that the latter is the better half, as this is where the more experienced and professional actors take the stage. The story is also more intriguing, as it involves a setup in court.</p><p>The ensemble cast helps make this film as good as it is. Robert De Niro and Kevin Bacon carry the load for the first half. Bacon is really something. Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver, and Jason Patric step in for the second. All give good performances.</p><p>While the film is a little slow and a little long, there is enough to make <i>Sleepers</i> a good watch for crime drama fans.

• xGary X

  
  A group of four friends are sent to a boy's reform school when a prank goes wrong, and suffer brutality and sexual abuse at the hands of the guards. Years later two of them encounter one of their tormentors and summarily execute him, setting in motion a plan to expose those… More
  A group of four friends are sent to a boy's reform school when a prank goes wrong, and suffer brutality and sexual abuse at the hands of the guards. Years later two of them encounter one of their tormentors and summarily execute him, setting in motion a plan to expose those involved. Sleepers is based on a novel by Lorenzo Carcaterra who claimed that it is a true story. The highly contrived and convenient nature of the plot makes this seem highly unlikely, and so the claim actually undermines the story's credibility rather than vice versa. This is a shame, because it's actually an interesting spin on the courtroom drama presented by a quality cast. Kevin Bacon once again shows his characteristic bravery in selecting a part that is completely without sympathy, and he does a very good job, as does DeNiro in a supporting role as a priest with a crisis of conscience. It does lack a certain punch, probably because of Levinson's heritage in light entertainment. He is definitely more comfortable directing the scenes of rose tinted nostalgia than those of gritty violence and abuse and this sanitized, glossy edge compromises the harder edges of the story. I would also have to say that the courtroom section fizzled out a little because of the lack of interaction between the lead characters and it's all resolved a little too conveniently, but it is an intelligently told tale that leaves a lasting impression.

• Film C

  
  sad but very interesting film really worth a watch fantastic performances

• Dean M

  
  Thoughful drama which concerns four Hell's Kitchen teenagers who ruin their lives with a single, senseless act of mischief. The four enter the juvenile-detention system and emerge as wholly different people. Two become psychopathic criminals, one becomes an attorney, one remains… More
  Thoughful drama which concerns four Hell's Kitchen teenagers who ruin their lives with a single, senseless act of mischief. The four enter the juvenile-detention system and emerge as wholly different people. Two become psychopathic criminals, one becomes an attorney, one remains the group's collective conscience. These divergent elements collide when fate provides an opportunity for revenge against the sadistic guard who molested them during their childhood incarceration. Director Barry Levinson has a fine touch with ensemble casts, and this film contains many powerful moments.

• Curtis L

  
  What was this? Crap. A super short film about nothing, it felt like. Characters we didn't care about, in a boring trial, and the whole movie is spent trying to figure out what is going on.

• Al S

  
  Gripping and explosive entertainment. Riveting, brilliant and superb. An electrifying thriller. Smart, swift and crafted beatifully. The cast all give powerhouse performances. Chilling, compelling and memerizing. Remarkabe and unforgettable. A powerful film. A movie you will not turn… More
  Gripping and explosive entertainment. Riveting, brilliant and superb. An electrifying thriller. Smart, swift and crafted beatifully. The cast all give powerhouse performances. Chilling, compelling and memerizing. Remarkabe and unforgettable. A powerful film. A movie you will not turn away from. It's so engaging, unsettling and breathtaking you wont be able to forget it. This will leave you stunned and in awe. A masterpiece. A film of utterly astonishing calibur.

• Lafe F

  
  Four boys accidentally kill someone in their neighbourhood and are sent to reform school, where they are sexually abused by the guards. They grow up and get revenge. I didn't enjoy the punishment or the revenge.

• Candy R

  
  very disturbing movie about boys in a detention centre.

• Lady D

  
  Just my all time favourite film, another re-watch. Even though it is an all star cast and each play great roles, the best performance in this film has to go to young Joseph Perrino. A film of child abuse, corruption, religeon, domestic abuse. The story is told in 2 parts, one… More
  Just my all time favourite film, another re-watch. Even though it is an all star cast and each play great roles, the best performance in this film has to go to young Joseph Perrino. A film of child abuse, corruption, religeon, domestic abuse. The story is told in 2 parts, one as the 4 young boys going to a correctional facility for a prank that went horribly wrong and the second part, revenge. In addition to this it is believed to be based on a true story

• Dean !

  
  A classy film about a tale of revenge.

• Steve K

  
  Overbaked.

• Tom E

  
  OMIG-D -- what a real representation of what goes on!

• Michael G

  
  Pretty disturbing and very well done.

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