Writer/Director: Barry Levinson
Starring: Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actors in Hollywood have lit a bright spark as powerfully as Brad Pitt. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Pitt has become a icon. Whether it’s detectives seeking to investigate murders, Formula 1 drivers or fight club owners, Pitt has played several strong characters. Arguably, Pitt’s strength as an actor has always been his commitment to his craft. He is one of those actors that has often had talent for stealing the show in supporting roles with limited screen-time. Even when he is not the main focus of a movie, Pitt has left an impression. Despite reaching age of retirement, Pitt has never lost his passion for making engaging entertainment. A movie-star with charisma, Pitt has been an icon in Cinema. Throughout his strong career, Pitt has made many bold movies that are definitely worth absolutely talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Pitt and adore movies he has made in his career. However, “Sleepers” is absolutely my favourite. Released in 1996, Barry Levinson’s movie offered a captivating portrait of sexual abuse. Packed with strong production-design, spellbinding storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best courtroom dramas ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Brad Pitt, who plays a troubled youth facing a fit. Ultimately, what makes “Sleepers” an extraordinary film is universal appeal. Unlike most movies about abuse, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. A riveting masterpiece about sexual abuse, there are several strong reasons why “Sleepers” is a movie worth watching.
“Sleepers” tells the story of a pair of friends which face sexual abuse causing disasters. Kevin Bacon plays Sean Noles, a troubled teenager facing tension. Sean is haunted by tense memories of being sexually abused as a child causing tension. Alongside his long-time companion Father Bobby (Robert De Niro), Sean has always kept his traumatic experiences a secret. However, Sean’s life drastically changes when he comes across his abuser causing disaster. Seeking legal justice, Sean is determined to find hope in a tense situation causing dreams to vanish. Faced with a tense courtroom case, Sean is forced to question whether he will ever be able to escape a traumatic past of abuse that’s hard to face.
Barry Levinson is fascinated with the theme of mental health. A phenomenal filmmaker, Levinson has often made engaging movies about mentally ill individuals which endure disaster. His Oscar-winning film “Rain Man” offered a strong portrait of Autistic brothers whose lives don’t go according to plan. With “Sleepers”, however, Levinson made his first ever courtroom drama. It was the director’s first attempt to capture sexual assault in a courtroom case, but he succeeded. Through strong cinematography, Levinson captures a pair of friends embarking upon a journey to find justice. Inspired by Rob Reiner’s “A Few Good Men”, Levinson effectively uses point of view shots to capture tensions faced by a few good men. For instance, the POV shots enhance the courtroom trial scene. During this unforgettable scene, Sean and friends participate in a courtroom trial against their abuser. Using POV shots, Levinson creates a portrait of assault that’s engaging. POV shots are complicated techniques. As David Fincher’s “Se7en” demonstrated, POV shots enhance murder mystery movies. However, it works immensely. Using stunning visuals, Levinson captures tensions that victims of assault are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Sleepers” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well-made. Inspired with Jonathan Demme’s “Philadelphia”, Levinson effectively employs courtrooms as a setting to capture tensions abusers are facing. Throughout the film, the courtroom is a central location in capturing the lives of abusers that experience tension. For instance, the court location elevates the verdict scene. During this memorable scene, Sean and his friends witness the verdict of their courtroom trials which cause tension. Using stunning courtroom settings, Levinson creates a portrait of abuse that’s engaging. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. John Williams’ music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a heartfelt atmosphere capturing heavy burden which abusers bear. Using captivating production, Levinson captures the lives of lawyers that face tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Sleepers” is a movie about abuse that is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses flashbacks to capture the tensions which victims of sexual abuse are facing. Evoking Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption”, Levinson expertly uses flashbacks to capture assault victims facing tension. For instance, the flashbacks enhance the sexual abuse memories scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Sean is haunted by sad memories of being sexually assaulted causing tension. Using stunning flashbacks, Levinson created a commemorated portrait of abuse that’s compelling. Flashbacks aren’t easy techniques to use. As David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” did suggest clearly, flashbacks enhance commemorated films about aging. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Levinson captures abusers which endure a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Brad Pitt delivers one of his best career performances as Michael Sullivan. Pitt earned appreciation for playing owners of fight clubs. With “Sleepers”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a victim of sexual abuse facing adversity but he succeeded tremendously. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and utterly emotional in his most memorable role. Pitt has always excelled at playing men under pressure, and “Sleepers” demonstrated his best strengths as an actor. With captivating expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and grief of a teenager facing tensions. It’s an extraordinary performance from one of the greatest actors that’s currently working in Hollywood today.
While the film is mainly a strong showcase for Brad Pitt, the supporting cast is superb and worthy of appreciation. Kevin Bacon is brilliant, capturing the tension of a teenager haunted by sexual assault that cause tense destruction. Robert De Niro is riveting, and captures the sorrow faced by a father that struggles to cope with sexual abuse causing sorrow. Lastly, Dustin Hoffman is worthy of appreciation. As a lawyer, he brings an air of authority to the movie.
Finally, “Sleepers” would earn recognition of everyone for capturing sexual assault that causes disasters. Unlike most movies about assault, it tackles strong themes everyone will relate to. It discusses strong themes of ambition, mental health and trauma which would resonate with everyone. Viewers are not required to be familiar with the themes of sexual assault to appreciate it. It delivers bold message about trauma that resonates with everyone. Therefore, “Sleepers” is one of those rare movies about abuse everyone would adore.
Fans of Brad Pitt would enjoy “Sleepers” and so would movie-goers which seek exhilarating entertainment. A riveting masterpiece about sexual abuse, it celebrates an actor earning rave reviews.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about sexually abused men fighting a courtroom case, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actor that has built a strong place in the film industry through his abilities to portray compelling characters that face tensions in movies that audiences embrace.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 