Sleepers (1996)

Sleepers. WOW I can't believe I had missed this movie years ago! It boasts a fantastic cast, all delivering captivating performances. The story line grabbed me from the beginning and held my attention, often with my stomach in knots with dread and/or anticipation. A heart wrenching story of friendship and redemption that you won't soon forget.

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.

I am giving this a 10. First thing first- I watched it in 2016. 20 years after it came out.And as i checked some facts about its origin, I found out that people questioned its "truthfulness" and cared far less of its content. That's sickening!The author of the book reveals of the personal sexual abuse he received at Boys Juvenile center.. would you do that if that REALLY didn't happen?Would any of us will say "I was raped even if I wasn't?" I think its more of a reverse...If someone is sexually assaulted, then there are chances that he might hide it out of shame or horror of reliving it... Thing is I don't question its truthfulness.And even it was faked, content is one that should be cared about.Kids are supposed to be "kept in line" at a Juvenile Center rather than forced upon or raped. It wet my eyes when I see kids being treated like that.About the performances, I think everybody performs superb especially Brad Pitt who is outstanding in the court(in order to lose the case).I also like the character of "Shakes" played by Jason Patric.And the character who draws me to watch any movie he is in-Robert DE Great Niro... superb as a gentleman as always. (I always wonder how many "flop" movies this legend has played in?-- - 1,2 or none... I don't think there is any).I recommend this movie. It asked me to write a First ever IMDb review.

I thought by reading the summary on IMDb that it would have been another De Niro Hit like and his character would be like Max Cady or Johnny Boy. But he was not the central character in this flick by Barry Levinson nor the film was anything like Cape fear or Mean Streets but It is, indeed, a powerful drama which happens to be a true story. The Sleepers starts as a coming-of-age film and then take over from there. 4 kids/friends pull off a prank which goes wrong and they end up in juvie. Which among them would have expected the horrors to come which would change their lives. A crooked child-molesting guard Nokes, played by Bacon, abuses them along with his associates. As a result, when they get out, Tommy and John who have became street thugs kill Nokes years after they accidentally see him in a pub situated in their home town Hell's Kitchen. Michael (Brad Pitt) who is now a lawyer takes the prosecution in order to lose and reveal what the guards did to them back in Wilkinson Home the juvie, Which they succeed in by getting father-like Father Bobby (De Niro) to testify/lie for John and Tommy, After Shakes tells him the whole story which they had never told anybody.Hoffman, who played the defendants lawyer, acted in an outstanding way. You can see that when you watch him asking questions. De Niro, too, is as excellent as always. Every kid actor also play his character beautifully. This film by Levinson is even more thoughtful than Rainman. It's a blend of Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller and tragedy as well. Which certainly makes it worth watching.