Review of Sleepers (1996) by Chris B — 06 Mar 2012
A solid suspense drama, "Sleepers" is filled with solid performances by everyone involved and features a compelling and disturbing premise that is well paced even for it's 147 minute running time.
The film's first hour features the four boys who are the film's main protagonists and their relationship with Father Bobby which is the only thing they can rely on given their troubled family lives.
After a bad prank that goes terribly wrong three boys are sentenced to 12-18 months and the other 6-12 months at a boy's reform school. During their stay they are degraded, beaten and sexually abused ultimately leading to their rapes and emotional destruction.
The remaining hour and a half is seen from the boy's views as adults, each with their own demons still haunting and effecting them. Two of the boys being gangsters eventually find and shoot in cold-blood the lead guard at the reform school, at a local bar after he brushes them off without a care.
They all seek justice and while two of the boys are troubled gangsters, the other two have the brains and means in order to extract their legal revenge on the remaining guards left. They eventually clear the other two boys of the crime, which they were every bit entitled too and in the process are able to bring trouble to the guards of the reform school and the school itself.
A solid drama that is troubling but rewarding for the viewers as well.
This review of Sleepers (1996) was written by Chris B on 06 Mar 2012.
Sleepers has generally received positive reviews.
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