SLEEPERS
US, 1996, 147 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Bacon, Billy Crudup, Robert De Niro, Ron Eldard, Minnie Driver, Vittorio Gassman, Dustin Hoffman, Terry Kinney, Bruno Kirby, Frank Medrano, Jason Patric, Joseph Perrino, Brad Pitt, Brad Renfro, Geoffrey Wigdor, Jonathan Tucker, Ada Turturro, Jeffrey Donovan, Wendell Pearce.
Directed by Barry Levinson.
Sleepers comes from a best-seller about four boys who grow up in Hell's Kitchen in New York City in the 60s. But the hardest time in their growing up was their doing time in a grim institution for boys. The story reminds us that violence and sex abuse were covered up but abounded in many institutions, including state institutions. It is presented here with frightening intensity, especially by Kevin Bacon.
The first hour of the film is quite striking, especially with the peformances of the boys. De Niro once again portrays a priest credibly. (His portrait of the LA chancellor in True Confessions is persuasive; we remember him in The Mission.)
The second part of the film centres on a court case with Jason Patric and Brad Pitt as two of the boys, one now a journalist, the other a lawyer. Dustin Hoffman also appears as an alcoholic lawyer. The boys seek vengeance and justice. They ask the priest to go against the law (and follow his conscience concerning justice?). This is a strong challenge to the audience's emotions, reason and conscience.
The plot is quite gripping and Barry Levinson (Rain Man) directs with skill and artistry. But the moral issues and the clash with the law and justice still confront and tantalise. Moral dilemmas.
1.The impact of the film? The controversial novel? A picture of a period in Hell’s Kitchen? A 90s perspective?
2.The strength of the director, the cast?
3.New York City, Hell’s Kitchen, the 1960s, the 1980s? The streets, homes, the church? Subway, the harshness of the boys’ home? The rooms, corridors, isolation? The football field? The dining room? The courts, restaurants, subway trains? A feel for place and period? The musical score?
4.The title, the reference to the boys in the home? The tone? The abuse by the guards?
5.The voice-over by Shakes? His narrative, perspective, moral? As a boy, as an adult?
6.The introduction to the boys, the dance competition, their winning? The contrast with the finale, their meal together, friendship, laughter, singing ‘Walk Like a Man’? The contrast between beginning and end? Shakes and his final comments, the visuals of John and Tommy dead, their story? Michael and seclusion in England? Shakes and his work? Carol and her work, her son?
7.The boys and the summer, the harsher aspects of Hell’s Kitchen, the violence in the homes, Shakes’s father and his brutality towards his wife? The barber shop, his stories of King Benny? Building up an attitude towards the gangsters, crime? His time in prison? Leaping from the wharf and swimming? The basketball, at church, serving the masses, the funerals? Their friendship with Father Bobby? The priest in the church, his talking, Shakes and his playing with the clicker, the girls responding, the nuns mystified? Father Bobby realising the truth? Shakes and Johnny, going into the confessional, the woman and her confession – and showing that she knew the boys were there? Father Bobby’s comment about listening in to confessions? Father Bobby’s concern, with the boys, knowing their tricks? The hot dog caper, the comment about the day, stealing the hot dog, the chase, the cart, letting go, the man injured in the subway? The consequences?
8.The court, the sentence by the judge, its effect? Shakes’s father and his anger?
9.Going to the home, its look, Shakes’s comment about its appearance? Meeting the guards, the corridors, the rooms? Meeting Noakes? His attitude, making Shakes strip? The treatment of the others? The dining room, the fight with Michael, the boys joining in, Noakes’ watching, finally coming in, making them eat the food from the floor, the substitute coming in and sending Noakes away? Separating the boys, the physical punishment, the sexual favours when they were together, the continued assaults, going to John’s room? The effect on the boys, their swearing each other to secrecy? Not telling Father Bobby? The football match, Michael’s plan, winning Rizzo over to participate, the satisfaction with the victory, the physical hurt to the guards? Rizzo’s death and the brutality? The end of the stay, Shakes getting ready to leave? The visit from Father Bobby, his dependence on him yet his not wanting him to know the truth?
10.Noakes, the cruelty, sadism, sexual abuse, physical abuse, his treatment of the group? The other members of the guards, their playing cards, their all participating? Especially Ferguson and his use of the boys? The black guard confronting Noakes?
11.1981, the information about John and Tommy as killers, their appearance, their reputations? In the bar, not wanting the men to talk about Republicans? The bartender? Seeing Noakes, John’s reaction, confronting him, the two of them talking, telling him about the past, injuring him, killing him? The reaction of the witnesses?
12.Their being in prison, Michael and his hatching the plan? Shakes and his involvement? Discussions with Carol, her past love for Michael, visiting John in prison? The build-up to the trial, Michael taking the prosecution, the puzzle and his keeping it secret? The choice of Danny Snyder as the defence? His discussions with King Billy, alcoholic and drug-dependent? The involvement of Ferguson as a witness for Noakes? To destroy him? The plan and its detail?
13.The court, Snyder and his appearance, Dustin Hoffman’s style, the visit to King Benny, acknowledging the truth about his condition, his reading his questions, badly, yet the quiet interrogation, especially of the witness and her amount of drinking on the day, of Ferguson and admitting his guilt? Quietly effective?
14.Michael, the prosecution, the questions? King Benny and the word going out not to harm Michael? Michael and his need for a witness to give an alibi for John and Tommy?
15.Ferguson, his background, catechetical instruction? His testimony that Noakes was his friend? Weeping, admitting the truth? The former guard and his working for the mayor, his paying for boys, the debts, King Benny paying his debt, letting Little Caesar know, Little Caesar and the new brigade of dealers, gangsters, his appearance? King Benny and the visit, letting him know that Rizzo had been killed? The confrontation, taking him out to the airport, his execution? The corrupt Styler? His arrest?
16.Father Bobby, in himself, his past, in the boys’ home, decision to be a priest, his pastoral attitude, supportive of the boys, in the sacristy, saying mass, the finale and his giving communion to Shakes? His smoking, one of the boys, yet credible as a priest? Playing basketball? His warning the boys, discussions with Shakes? His visiting the home? Shakes unable to confide in him? His knowing what was going on in Hell’s Kitchen? The request to Father Bobby to perjure himself, listening to the story, thinking it over, his quoting the Gospel about doing this for the least of his brethren? The decision, his behaviour in the court, answering Snyder’s questions, answering Michael’s questions, producing the stubs? The acquittal?
17.Snyder, his character, his skill in the court? Complimenting Michael’s work?
18.Carol, her work, love for Michael, the discussion in the subway? Visiting John? Friendship with Shakes, hearing the story with Father Bobby, present with them at the end?
19.King Benny, his reputation, in his bar, his control over the gangsters? In later years, supporting Michael and the plan? Buying the debt and having the corrupt man executed? The information about the corrupt policeman, the gun and the bullets? Shakes handing it over to the police, his arrest?
20.The fat man, in the district, friendship with Father Bobby, playing, with the boys?
21.The moral dilemmas?
