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CrimeDramaThriller

Sleepers

- Four friends have made a mistake that will change their lives forever.

Two gangsters seek revenge on the state jail worker who during their stay at a youth prison sexually abused them. A sensational court hearing takes place to charge him for the crimes.

Release Date : 1996-10-18

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Propaganda FilmsBaltimore PicturesWarner Bros. PicturesPolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Kevin Bacon

Character Name : Sean Nokes

Original Name : Kevin Bacon

Gender : Male

Robert De Niro

Character Name : Father Bobby

Original Name : Robert De Niro

Gender : Male

Dustin Hoffman

Character Name : Danny Snyder

Original Name : Dustin Hoffman

Gender : Male

Jason Patric

Character Name : Lorenzo 'Shakes' Carcaterra

Original Name : Jason Patric

Gender : Male

Brad Pitt

Character Name : Michael Sullivan

Original Name : Brad Pitt

Gender : Male

Brad Renfro

Character Name : Young Michael Sullivan

Original Name : Brad Renfro

Gender : Male

Minnie Driver

Character Name : Carol Martinez

Original Name : Minnie Driver

Gender : Female

Billy Crudup

Character Name : Tommy Marcano

Original Name : Billy Crudup

Gender : Male

Ron Eldard

Character Name : John Reilly

Original Name : Ron Eldard

Gender : Male

Vittorio Gassman

Character Name : King Benny

Original Name : Vittorio Gassman

Gender : Male

Terry Kinney

Character Name : Ralph Ferguson

Original Name : Terry Kinney

Gender : Male

Bruno Kirby

Character Name : Shakes' Father

Original Name : Bruno Kirby

Gender : Male

Frank Medrano

Character Name : Fat Mancho

Original Name : Frank Medrano

Gender : Male

Joe Perrino

Character Name : Young Lorenzo 'Shakes' Carcaterra

Original Name : Joe Perrino

Gender : Male

Geoffrey Wigdor

Character Name : Young John Reilly

Original Name : Geoffrey Wigdor

Gender : Male

Jonathan Tucker

Character Name : Young Tommy Marcano

Original Name : Jonathan Tucker

Gender : Male

Peter Appel

Character Name : Boyfriend

Original Name : Peter Appel

Gender : Male

Joseph Attanasio

Character Name : Male Juror (as Joe Attanasio)

Original Name : Joseph Attanasio

Gender : Male

Gerry Becker

Character Name : Forensics Expert

Original Name : Gerry Becker

Gender : Male

Eugene Byrd

Character Name : Rizzo

Original Name : Eugene Byrd

Gender : Male

Pasquale Cajano

Character Name : Superintendent

Original Name : Pasquale Cajano

Gender : Male

Robert W. Castle

Character Name : Priest

Original Name : Robert W. Castle

Gender : Male

John Di Benedetto

Character Name : Tony

Original Name : John Di Benedetto

Gender : Male

Jeffrey Donovan

Character Name : Addison

Original Name : Jeffrey Donovan

Gender : Male

George Georgiadis

Character Name : Hot Dog Vendor

Original Name : George Georgiadis

Gender : Male

Marco Greco

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Marco Greco

Gender : Male

Saverio Guerra

Character Name : Man #1

Original Name : Saverio Guerra

Gender : Male

Paul Herman

Character Name : Court Bailiff

Original Name : Paul Herman

Gender : Male

Lennie Loftin

Character Name : Styler

Original Name : Lennie Loftin

Gender : Male

Chuck Low

Character Name : Judge

Original Name : Chuck Low

Gender : Male

Ruth Maleczech

Character Name : Woman at Subway Station

Original Name : Ruth Maleczech

Gender : Female

Danny Mastrogiorgio

Character Name : Nick Davenport

Original Name : Danny Mastrogiorgio

Gender : Male

Mary B. McCann

Character Name : Sister Carolyn (as Mary McCann)

Original Name : Mary B. McCann

Gender : Female

Pat McNamara

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Pat McNamara

Gender : Male

Peter McRobbie

Character Name : Lawyer

Original Name : Peter McRobbie

Gender : Male

Dash Mihok

Character Name : K.C.

Original Name : Dash Mihok

Gender : Male

Michael P. Moran

Character Name : Judge #1

Original Name : Michael P. Moran

Gender : Male

Mick O'Rourke

Character Name : Man in Tub

Original Name : Mick O'Rourke

Gender : Male

James Pickens Jr.

Character Name : Marlboro

Original Name : James Pickens Jr.

Gender : Male

Wendell Pierce

Character Name : Little Caesar

Original Name : Wendell Pierce

Gender : Male

Sean Patrick Reilly

Character Name : Young King Benny

Original Name : Sean Patrick Reilly

Gender : Male

Peter Rini

Character Name : Frank Magciccio

Original Name : Peter Rini

Gender : Male

Larry Romano

Character Name : Man #2

Original Name : Larry Romano

Gender : Male

Tom Signorelli

Character Name : Confessional Man

Original Name : Tom Signorelli

Gender : Male

John Slattery

Character Name : Carlson

Original Name : John Slattery

Gender : Male

Patrick Tull

Character Name : Jerry the Bartender

Original Name : Patrick Tull

Gender : Male

Aida Turturro

Character Name : Mrs. Salinas

Original Name : Aida Turturro

Gender : Female

James Rosin

Character Name : Neighbourhood Man

Original Name : James Rosin

Gender : Male

Ralph Tabakin

Character Name : Warden

Original Name : Ralph Tabakin

Gender : Male

Reviews

W

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

***Justifiable execution and justifiable lying*** “Sleepers” (1991) starts out as a coming-of-age film about four boys in 1966-1967 from Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, and then morphs into a juvenile prison picture, which covers the first hour. The rest of the movie is a crime tragedy turned courtroom drama, taking place 13 years later in the early 80s. Jason Patric plays the adult version of Shakes, the main protagonist and narrator, while Brad Pitt plays his attorney friend, Michael. When their other two buds, John and Tommy, are taken into custody for murder they hatch a plan to get them off for understandable reasons. Robert De Niro plays their Catholic pastor and father-figure while Dustin Hoffman appears as the dubious defense attorney. Kevin Bacon is on hand as a perverse guard at the boys’ reformatory. In an eye-rolling knee-jerk response, liberal critics have dissed the film as “homophobic” when this isn’t the case at all. For verification, if the victims at the reformatory were girls the baseless criticism wouldn’t even be mentioned. It is not about gender; it is about children and the monstrous abuse of authority for selfish purposes. The film NEVER criticizes what two adults CHOOSE to do behind closed doors. In tone and theme, “Sleepers” is similar to the heralded “Mystic River” (2003), but more episodic in nature and therefore not as dramatically compelling. Yet it’s a poignant crime drama. Some have panned the movie on the grounds that it justifies revenge murder, but it more clearly supports the idea of just execution when legal authorities have failed and allowed gross corruption to continue. Another moral issue revolves around lying. Is it ever right to lie for the sake of justice? In other words, is lying ever justifiable? Of course it is; at least on rare occasions. For instance, in the bible the midwives lied to Pharaoh in order to save Hebrew infants and are commended for fearing God (Exodus 1:15-21). Rahab also lied to save the two Hebrew spies in Jericho and her actions are hailed in Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith chapter. During WW2, if Nazi authorities came to your door looking for hidden Jews, would you say “Yes, I cannot lie; they are hiding in the attic”? Of course you wouldn’t. The script by director Barry Levinson was based on a book by Lorenzo Carcaterra, which is supposedly a true story. Although New York authorities have denied its authenticity, they have good reason to do so. Whether or not every jot & tittle is accurate is irrelevant; stories LIKE IT have happened. The film runs 2 hours, 27 minutes and was shot in New York City & surrounding areas (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Yonkers, Hoboken) and Fairfield Hills Hospital, Newtown, Connecticut (Wilkinson School for Boys). ADDITIONAL CAST: Minnie Driver plays the guys’ friend from their youth while Vittorio Gassman is on hand as a nonchalant mob leader in Hell’s Kitchen. GRADE: B

A

AstroNoud

@AstroNoud

2022-02-26

‘Sleepers’ uses a disturbing and unnecessary narration to tell its controversial revenge story, but the rich characters and great actors easily make up for that. 8/10