A drug dealer reconsiders his profession when his boss plans to go straight and an old flame reappears.
Director:
Paul SchraderWriter:
Paul Schrader
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Title: Light Sleeper (1992)
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1 win & 6 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Willem Dafoe | ... | John LeTour | |
| Susan Sarandon | ... | Ann | |
| Dana Delany | ... | Marianne | |
| David Clennon | ... | Robert | |
| Mary Beth Hurt | ... | Teresa | |
| Victor Garber | ... | Tis | |
| Jane Adams | ... | Randi | |
 |
Paul Jabara | ... | Eddie |
| Robert Cicchini | ... | Guidone | |
| Sam Rockwell | ... | Jealous | |
| Rene Rivera | ... | Manuel | |
| David Spade | ... | Theological Cokehead | |
| Steven Posen | ... | Hasid | |
|
|
Ken Ladd | ... | Carlos |
|
|
Brian Judge | ... | Thomas |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
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. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Taglines:
A story about the discovery of the spirit, the Lure of Decadence, and the Chance for Escape. [Australia theatrical] See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for strong language and drug content, and for violence and a scene of sensuality | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
13 March 1992 (UK) See more »Also Known As:
Könnyű altató See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$5,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$1,050,861Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
(Child, Warren, Roberts)
© 1991 Virgin Songs, Inc. / EMI April Music Inc. / Desmobile Music /
Realsongs / Stimulus Music
Performed by Kane Roberts
Courtesy of Geffen Record © 1991
See more »
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". See more »Soundtracks
Twisted(Child, Warren, Roberts)
© 1991 Virgin Songs, Inc. / EMI April Music Inc. / Desmobile Music /
Realsongs / Stimulus Music
Performed by Kane Roberts
Courtesy of Geffen Record © 1991
See more »
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About 10yrs ago I became aware of this movie and, as a result of the Last Temptation of Christ, I was already very curious about Willem Dafoe's other roles. I have occasionally looked for copies of this movie in small town rental stores and discount bins to no avail.
I finally broke down and bought Light Sleeper on DVD and I am very happy I did. This is one of Dafoe's better roles -- his performance is almost always very good, but let's face it, he's taken on a few weak roles in the past: "Clear and Present Danger" springs to mind here. Not much script to work with.
But then there's Affliction (same screenwriter as Light Sleeper), LTofC, Platoon (an over-dramatic production, IMHO), Triumph of the Spirit, To Live and Die in L.A. (good fun for Michael Mann and William Peterson fans)...so that's why I finally bought this DVD.
Anyways, I think Willem Dafoe's performance was comparable to Triumph of the Spirit, as was the script and production. Susan Sarandon was a pleasant surprise - I thought she might bring the movie down by being too dramatic or "sex kitteny", but this is right around the period she began to play the role of a woman and not a girl.
As far as Michael Been's songs in the soundtrack are concerned: I'm a modest fan of "The Call" and I rather enjoyed the soundtrack. It is a movie of its time in that the songs are featured more prominently in the mixing level and duration than one would expect of today.
I found the story compelling: I cared what happened to the characters next. In my opinion, if a movie can't do that it's wasting precious minutes of my life. I donate exceptional movie DVDs to our local (small town) library collection, and this will be one of them.