Review of Light Sleeper (1992) by Jonathan M — 15 Dec 2004

[font=Arial][color=black]When considering a film's worth, one of the last aspects I normally weigh is the soundtrack. In this case, Paul Scrader's [i]Light Sleeper[/i] is visually stunning, carries a compelling and dark story, but the soundtrack, written and performed by some no name singer, is one of the worst film soundtracks I have ever encountered. Besides being overly obvious of the films thematic content, none of it is really needed to carry this film,a nd in the end is the greatest detractor from this film actually being another one of Schrader's masterful films. I'm going to complain quite abit about the music in this review, it really upset me.[/color][/font].

[font=Arial][color=#000000][/color][/font].

[font=Arial][color=#000000]In a nutshell, Willem Dafoe plays a struggling cocaine dealer, John, who's been in the game for years, kicked the habit of getting stoned but continues to sell due to a lack of direction in life. In the time of the film, his life slowly begins to fall apart, yet he is never quite sure if it is his own doing, his running out of luck, or just the bad people that surround him. He encounters his ex-wife after visiting a psychic, and everything after that, although he believes it is for the good, ends up going sour. The script is very detailed and unravels with great timing and pace. His influences of Ozu and Bresson are very evident, as Schrader approaches the subject matter with a slow, thought provoking camera to tell the story. However, the music, detracts our attention so greatly from the visual stimulation of New York City, this film constantly agitated me.[/color][/font].

[font=Arial][color=#000000][/color][/font].

[font=Arial][color=#000000]Content wise, the film is superb, and, possibly a more overlooked work from Schrader. Although the ending is no surprise at all if you've seen [i]American Gigolo[/i], Schrader's skills as a writer are clearly shown--but reflect more of a Schrader's greatest hits than anything.[/color][/font].

[font=Arial][color=#000000][/color][/font].

[font=Arial][color=#000000]The issue of redemption is the controlling theme of this film, which becomes bizarrely overt with the soundtrack. However, my musical tastes don't really date back to late 80s soft rock, so the possibility of gleaning a thing or two on human nature and its will to destroy itself, is very possible with a remote in hand to turn down the volume--at times the music is so invasive I wished this picture was a silent film. This film is completely humane, and again exemplifies Schrader's gift at writing characters who are fully realized and on the fringes of society, propelled to utter loneliness.[/color][/font].