A CLASSIC YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO WATCH... "SLEEPERS"

I was in two minds about sharing this film on my blog. Not because I had any doubts of its quality – quite on the contrary, it’s a classic. The director Barry Levinson won an Oscar® for his other great classic “Rain Man” – that alone speaks for itself. Then there is the cast: Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffmann, Kevin Bacon, Minnie Driver and Justin Patrick. But the subject matter is slightly tough (to put it mildly) and then there is the small problem that anyone who is ANYONE has watched this… But then again I myself only got round to it later on in life and my mother got round to it later still so, well, maybe you haven’t seen it yet either. If you haven’t you most definitely should…
Ok, this is by all accounts a true story. It’s a story that starts in the 60’s in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Lorenzo, Michael, John and Tommy are four friends who live in the area. While priests and gangsters duel it out to draw the inhabitants to their side, the boys have a happy, normal childhood, doing what boys to best – getting up to mischief. One fateful summer’s day, however, their prank goes a step too far, landing them in juvenile detention – Wilkenson Center for a year. It is an experience that will change their lives forever, for inside head guard Sean Nokes lies in wait, waiting to give them… Let’s just say a lot more punishment then anything anyone could deserve… The boys eventually get out of detention and swear never to talk about this again but then Mr Nokes crosses their paths again, this time quite by accident. Naturally, there is no way the boys can let him just “walk on by”…
Now, this film is undoubtedly very VERY tough viewing. My mother for instance, is particularly sensitive about violence towards children – she just can’t stand to watch that kind of thing… I was cautious as I told her she should watch it and she was duly shaken but didn’t regret it… But I mean, with some of the best acting talent of our time crammed into one film, how can you possibly regret it? The story, as I said, is claimed to be true. It is based on the memoirs of Lorenzo Caracatera – memoirs that have been strongly disputed by all the institutions cited in it who swear blind that the events are fictitious. I will not comment on this because I believe it has been the subject of lawsuits so I will leave “that jazz” to the courts.
However, I will say that it is a story that will shake you, disturb you but at the same time keep you glued to your seat. I will also say that cinematically, it is by far one of the greatest films of our generation. Levinson’s directing, Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro the two masters, a young Brad Pitt at the height of his talents, Kevin Bacon – who makes a SUPERB bad guy as Sean Nokes. Even Jason Patrick who seems to have faded off our radars these days. Just steel your stomach and watch the film - it will change you too…

JEDIS WITH FLOWER POWER AND "MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS"

Haha, well, we’ve all heard a bit of hype about this one, right? I don’t believe in hype, but I must say, I was curious. I mean, George Clooney, Edward Norton, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon… I must admit, one DOES get curious. Common sense alone dictates that this should make for quite an awesome movie – all the actors have proved their abilities as far as comedy is concerned on numerous occasions… The actual result in this case is, however, “mixed”. I’m not saying it’s a bad or boring movie (or why would I review it) but it is definitely DEFINITELY not to everybody’s tastes…
Bob Wilton (Edward Norton) is a reporter that is down on pretty much everything. His wife has run off with his editor, killing his family life and career in one fell swoop. He is (understandably) depressed. He decides to make a drastic change in his life if only to shake things up a bit. And thus heads off to Iraq (story is set in the mid 2000’s – yikes, I actually said that). There, pure chance (or possibly fate) brings him face to face with Lynn Cassidy (George Clooney). Now Lynn is part of a top secret team of soldiers: the New World Army. The New World Army is the result of the US army’s efforts to train “psychic soldiers” – with actual super powers. But the New World Army is not an army in the classical sense. Oh no, lead by Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) they wish to bring peace and respect to earth – think the spirit of the 70’s revived – only have super powers. Now Bob may be depressed but he recognizes a story when he sees it. So he follows Lynn out into the desert on his latest mission. The experience will prove, in a word, life changing.
Now, the only thing that actually got me through this film is my love, nay, obsession with absurd comedy. It’s a very good example of the genre too; a fact I was able to discern even though I was almost dead on my feet when I watched it. I didn’t actually laugh out loud but was genuinely amused by most of the film. But on the other hand my Mom (who was watching it with me) waltzed off in the middle of said film and went to bed – completely uninterested in finding out what might happen in the end (and to be honest at that point it could be absolutely ANYTHING. Go for it if you’re into something experimental, non linear and absurd. Or if you’re a George Clooney or Edward Norton fan. Can’t say fairer than that…