REVIEW: SLEEPERS [1996]

REVIEW# 22
MOVIE: SLEEPERS [1996]
Genre; Thriller/ Drama
Cast : Robert De Niro,Brad Pitt,Dustin Hoffman,Kevin Bacon
Director: Barry Levinson
IMDb rating : 7.6/10
Deeps rating:  8/10
Verdict : A well crafted thriller of revenge and friendship.A must watch.

                         Stealing someone's childhood is like getting your tickets to hell.

               The movie is all about four friends Lorenzo,Tommy,Micheal and John Relly,who relished their childhood in a street called Hell's Kitchen ,in New York City in mid 1960's.Even though they had troubled family lives ,they lavishly enjoyed their friendship through small games and little teasing luminaries in their streets.They has all the support and affection from the local priest Father Robert "Bobby"Carillo[Robert De Niro] and the boys considered him as a fatherly figure.With his eyes on these boys it seemed that they could never put a step wrong in their childhood,but a small accident,out from a joke, changes their lives upside down.

              Something that was meant to be joke,ends up disastrously, in an accidental death of a stranger,which lands all four of them in Wilkinson Home for Boys,a Juvenile home for young criminals.Their blissful childhood turns into dreadful misery under Sean Noakes [Kevin Bacon],where they are tortured and sexually abused by all his guards.Father Bobby visits them often but children refuse to speak about their disgusting plight to hi, out of fear and shame.One year of their imprisonment ,changes their childish minds in whole making them tough guys,desperate to seek violent revenge for the abuse they underwent.Two of them become killers ,one a small time employer and the other ,Micheal Sullivan [Brad Pitt],a lawyer.Together they carry enough venom inside to bring down and kill all the offenders who snatched away their childhood.

                        Finally the moment of truth comes as John and Tommy meets their antagonist Sean Nokes in a bar and they waste no time in shooting down the molester.Micheal and Lorenzo mends plans to bring into justice all the other guards who molested them and to save their friends in judicial custody.But things looks difficult as they need a strong witness to support their trial ,who is ready to lie for them.Who better than Father Bobby,the priest,but will he lie on an oath taken over the bible????!!!!!
                         The movie takes you through different lanes of these kids life ,from a jovial childhood to a horrifying prison life and finally towards their youth filled with vengeance.Their childhood on streets is so absorbing and interesting that will leave a smile on your face,but towards the end of first half the smile on your face turns to that of pain and sorrow;that's when the movie enters the phase of their prison life.But with a thrilling second half full of suspense and twists ,you will be quenched.
                      Contrary to the gangster roles of Robert De Niro,he playes a priest ,but with such conviction and ease he makes look Father Bobby someone you will remember for ever.Brad Pitt and Dustin Hoffman plays their roles as attorney's to perfection so as Kevin Bacon and the rest of the star cast.The movie doesn't drag you even for a moment and it's a great watch for all including youth and old.

I am Deepak Unnikrishnan and I will be back with another review from Hollywood old school,tomorrow.

TIP OF THE DAY: MAN IS THE CRUELEST ANIMAL.