Review of Sleepless (2017) by James B — 16 May 2017

Sleepless is a better than expected for a redundant crime action movie that has an overused plot, decent acting, and some mediocre action. Definitely not a great movie. But if you need some escapism for some spare the moment action, this film is it. Sure, there are many police crime drama movies that involve corruption, drug deals, and kidnapping. The plot is cliché and boring. There are a couple of twists and turns. But nothing great to even talk about.

The plot follows Las Vegas policeman Vincent (Jamie Foxx) and his partner Sean (T.I.) stealing cocaine from Stanley (Dermot Mulroney) who runs a casino. Stanley is supposed to deliver the drugs to the mob boss's son Rob (Scoot McNairy). Vincent is trying to avoid the internal affairs led by Jennifer (Michelle Monaghan) and her partner Doug (David Harbour) from investigating about the cocaine robbery. While Stanley sends his man to go kidnap Vincent's son and hold for ransom until he can give him his drugs back before the mob boss son arrives.

The plot was all over the place using the same predictable ideas with characters being undercover, some dirty cops that work for the mob boss, a shady casino owner, and a father who is struggling on a healthy relationship with his family. As the teen son is distant and his ex wife who is supposedly engaged to another. The movie is kept into fast paced gear when Vincent's son is kidnapped and he is running around the casino fighting Stanley's goons and running away. All this can be repetitive which makes the movie kind of dumb. Vincent and his son trying to escape, but gets caught up with fighting a guy in the kitchen. Escapes again, and trying to hide in the crowd at the club. Bad guy captures son again and it goes for a repeat. Its nevertheless boring. It has some decent fight sequences and an okay underground garage shootout.

The editing and directing could have been better. Editing the scenes with the fight sequences were quick cuts. The script was cliché with a predictable plot. Easily pointing out whom the dirty cop is when they show up on screen and they are not revealed until the last act of the movie.

Jamie Foxx gave a flat tedious performance. Can't say he is a great actor either. Must be an easy cash grab for this movie. Michelle Monaghan was decent at least. Dermot Mulroney was dull as the shady casino owner. David Harbour did not have much to work with in the script. T.I. had a minimum amount of screen time but was also a flat performance. Same with Gabrielle Union and her stale performance. Scoot McNairy was at least at his best, playing an entrepreneur for his father's organization and at times menacing.

Overall, Sleepless is a fair action crime film that has some cheap poorly edited action in a dull plot and boring performances. I ll recommend the film as a rental, if your looking for some cheap action movie.