The children at Wilkinson's Home for Boys didn't get much sleep ... (Sleepers (DVD))

Member Name: clumsy221

Product:	Sleepers (DVD)
Date:	26/11/09 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything about the film

Disadvantages: None

~~~Sleepers~~~
In the long hot summer of 1967, four childhood friends growing up in Hells Kitchen play a seemingly harmless prank on a hot dog vendor, however it all goes disastrously wrong when they nearly kill a man who is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sentenced by the courts they boys are sent to the Wilkinson Home for boys for up to 1 year's punishment. Beaten, brutalised and sexually assaulted by the guards that are responsible for them, the boys leave detention centre a shadow of their former selves and holding a secret tryst they swear to forget once on the outside.

Scarred by their experiences the boys each take their own path on the outside, but a chance encounter over 10 years later means their paths will cross when an act of revenge forces them to admit what really happened to them at Wilkinson ...


~Cast:
Jason Patric as 'Shakes' Lorenzo Carcaterra
Brad Pitt as Michael Sullivan
Ron Edward as John reilly
Billy Crudup as Tommy Marcano
Robert De Niro as Father Bobby
Dustin Hoffman as Danny Snyder
Kevin Bacon as Sean Nokes
Terry Kinney as Ralph Ferguson
Minnie Driver as Carol Martinez
Joseph Perrino as younger Shakes
Brad renfro as younger Michael
Geoffrey Wigder as younger John
Jonathon Tucker as younger Tommy


~My opinion:
I went to watch this at the pictures with my fella in 1997 and we were both silent throughout the film (usually unheard of!) because we were blown away by everything about the film.

Before I watched the film I did not know that it was based on a book but I had heard the rumours that it was based on a true story, I have since read lots of reviews picking away at the film to show it could not possibly have been a true story. Before you watch this film, ignore the rumours, sit down and watch it with an open mind. For me the rumours are irrelevant because the film is fantastic whether or not it is real.

I'll try not to give too much away for those of you that have not had the pleasure of watching it.

The film is basically covered in three parts. Part 1 covers the four boys friendship, family and background prior to the detention centre, part two covers their time in the detention centre and part three covers what draws them back together over 10 years after they were released.

The film is narrated by Jason Patric (Shakes) throughout the film, personally I usually find this annoying but I think it was an integral part of this film, because you got a deeper insight into the things the film could not show you.

The instigator of change in this film is the sill prank they play to get a free dinner, they basically steal a hot dog stand and then leave it to fall in the subway, crushing an old man.

The mood dramatically changes throughout the film and it is this tension that kept me gripped until the end. What starts off as an exciting, fun filled summer for four boys turns quickly into a nightmare of abuse by Wilkinson's prison guard's and ultimately ends in death, upset and anger from four grown men who have to face the harsh reality of the secret they have hidden from their closest family and friends.

The young actors cast were in my opinion excellent and their acting ability easily out shone an already perfect cast. The director/writer Barry Levinson did an excellent job in choosing youngsters who could show the depth of emotion needed from such a miserable and sensitive subject. It must have been really hard to film the abuse scenes but they did it with such realistic honesty and sadness.

Robert De Niro (Father Bobby) as always commanded the screen as the boy's father figure, he was there for the boys throughout everything and his faith and loyalty was ultimately put to the test when he found out what they had gone through in the detention centre. By far the most emotional scene for me was when Jason Patric (Shakes) explained to him what had happened in the detention centre and asked for his help, he didn't need to say a thing the true emotion was shown eyes.

Jason Patric (Shakes), Brad Pitt (Michael), Ron Eldard (John) and Bill Crudup (Tommy) had smaller parts at the start of the film as the film flash back and forwards in black and white to show what horrors they had suffered however their parts expanded toward the third part of the film. Again fantastic actors were picked for the role and I personally cannot fault their ability. However I still hold the opinion that their younger personas stole the show.

Supporting cast included Minnie Driver (Carol) as the tomboy love interest when the boys were younger and in later years the girlfriend of Ron Eldard (Jon) to be honest I have never really liked her as an actress but she played an integral part of the film and credit to her she did a really good job amongst some very talented actors.

Kevin Bacon (Sean Nokes) really surprised me in this film because I am used to seeing him play the good guy, however he was incredibly creepy and chilling playing the paedophile warden who instigated the abuse on the four boys along with two other guards.

Dustin Hoffman plays a big part in the third part of the film and his charm and charisma shone through even with such a bleak and disturbing storyline, as always he was a pleasure to watch.

The story is fundamentally covering a controversial subject about both physical and mental abuse that the four boys have to suffer from an institution that is responsible for them. Because of this the boys are torn between opening up to their family and friends, partly because they are embarrassed but also because they don't think anyone will believe them. So instead of facing worse punishment they put up with what is thrown at them seeking comfort in their friendship and the fact they will shortly be released.

Its quite unnerving to think this is probably what a lot of abuse victims go through everyday, but the subject is approached very sensitively especially the scenes of a sexual nature.

Overall the story also questions when it is ok to exact revenge? Each person is then faced with a moral dilemma which will affect them and others for the rest of their life.


~~~Summary~~~
A story of sadness and suffering which results in an act of revenge and forces secrets to be uncovered that were buried years ago.

Supported by a cast carefully selected actors who each demonstrated powerful, outstanding and emotional performances. 10/10

Summary: See review