Light Sleeper (1992)

A drug dealer with upscale clientele is having moral problems going about his daily deliveries. A reformed addict, he has never gotten over the wife that left him, and the couple that use ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writer:

Paul Schrader

Stars:

Willem Dafoe, Susan Sarandon, Dana Delany

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Willem Dafoe	...	John LeTour
Susan Sarandon	...	Ann
Dana Delany	...	Marianne Jost
David Clennon	...	Robert
Mary Beth Hurt	...	Teresa Aranow
Victor Garber	...	Tis Brooke
Jane Adams	...	Randi Jost
Paul Jabara	...	Eddie
Robert Cicchini	...	Bill Guidone
Sam Rockwell	...	Jealous
Rene Rivera	...	Manuel
David Spade	...	Theological Cokehead
Steven Posen	...	Hasid
Ken Ladd	...	Carlos
Brian Judge	...	Thomas

Storyline

A drug dealer with upscale clientele is having moral problems going about his daily deliveries. A reformed addict, he has never gotten over the wife that left him, and the couple that use him for deliveries worry about his mental well-being and his effectiveness at his job. Meanwhile someone is killing women in apparently drug-related incidents.

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | diary | drug dealing | suicide | obsession | 

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Taglines:

A story about the discovery of the spirit, the Lure of Decadence, and the Chance for Escape. [Australia theatrical]

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and drug content, and for violence and a scene of sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 1992 (UK)

Also Known As:

Könnyű altató

Filming Locations:

Equitable Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$1,100,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carolco Pictures, Grain of Sand Productions, Live Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When questioned about what the film's title meant, Willem Dafoe joked that the other two films in Schrader's trilogy of loners were titled after the key characters occupations. He jokingly said Schrader thought no one would watch a film if it was just called "Drug Dealer".

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Quotes

Ann: Well, that took you long enough. What'd you do, douche while you were at it?
John: Ann, you've got some mouth on ya.
Ann: You don't wanna know where it's been.

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Connections

Features Scorpio Rising (1964)

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Soundtracks

"Excerpt from 'Scorpio Rising'"
Courtesy of Mystic Fire Video and Kenneth Anger

User Reviews

Slight Sleeper

***1/2 Written and directed by Paul Schrader, the screenwriter of 'Taxi Driver', there are similar themes in 'Light sleeper' that echo its predecessor in its urban isolation of the protagonist and the city as a sewer environment. Willem Dafoe is wonderful as a coke dealer on the verge of chartering new territory; he's trying to make sense of his past, as exemplified by his chance encounters with a former flame (Dana Delany) in which he so badly wants to cling, and plans for his future as his boss is moving on from the business. This is a character driven story, and the characters are well-drawn. Willem Dafoe's John Le Tour is a more mature Travis Bickle, past-his-prime, darkly contemplative and endlessly writing in journals trying to find meaning or direction. After beating his cocaine addiction 2 years before and adjusting, can he readjust again, finding semblance? However, as others have mentioned, the film should've ended with him harmoniously? between two Chinese paintings, leaning back on the bed. After that, studio meddling had to have ensued, as the sugary conclusion does not fit. Separate Note: Would some company already release 'Blue Collar' by Paul Schrader and with Richard Pryor already?