Though it is inherently convoluted and contrived, "Sleepers" still might have been a forceful tale of jurisprudence manipulation — especially in the aftermath of the O.J. Simpson trial.
But in the hands of screen-writer/director Barry Levinson, the flaws are all too glaring — from the confused, character-heavy plot to the fractured narrative structure to the heavy-handed voice-over, delivered with monotonous nonchalance by Jason Patric. (He's the guy who took over the lead role in the upcoming "Speed II" when Keanu Reeves dropped out.)
Based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's best-seller, "Sleepers" is the story of four young boys who grow up in Hell's Kitchen, New York, in the late '60s, which is described by Patric as "a place of innocence ruled by violence." (He also notes that "domestic violence was a cottage industry in the Kitchen," casually blaming the Catholic Church's stance against divorce as the primary reason women would not stand up for themselves.)
The first third of the film, which feels rushed, shows us that the boys are surrounded by criminals in their close-knit neighborhood, and though they are mischievous, they're really good kids. This, despite their forays into petty theft, and the fact that one of the boys has become a bagman for the mob.
One of their pranks has serious consequences, however, and at the tender age of 14 they land in reform school. There, sadistic guard Kevin Bacon — along with some of his cronies — abuse the boys regularly over the next year or so.
Eventually, the film leaps forward some 13 years, and the boys are now adults. But none of them has put the horror of their reform school experiences behind them very well. Two (Ron Eldard, Billy Crudup) have grown up to be hired killers, another (Brad Pitt) is an emotionally unstable assistant district attorney, and the fourth (Patric), and seemingly best-adjusted of the group, is an aspiring newspaper reporter.
The final third of the film revolves around a murder trial. When Eldard and Crudup accidentally stumble on Bacon in a bar, they take him out in front of witnesses. Naturally, they are imprisoned and charged with murder — and to their surprise, Pitt is the prosecutor assigned to send them up the river.
What they don't know, however, is that Patric and Pitt have teamed up for an elaborate scheme to free their friends, while simultaneously exacting revenge on the other former guards who abused them.
Levinson has made some terrific films, including "Avalon," "Rain Man," "The Natural," "Good Morning Vietnam," and the early picture that put him on the map, "Diner." But he has also fallen on his face with the likes of "Jimmy Hollywood" and "Toys."
"Sleepers," which leans toward the latter, appears to have been the subject of some last-ditch desperation in the editing room to make it more coherent. But it does boast two Levinson trademarks — a beautiful depiction of the period and a top-flight cast. Robert De Niro is excellent as a tough-guy priest, Vittorio Gassman is fabulous as an aging mobster, and Dustin Hoffman really gives the film some juice when he shows up as an alcoholic lawyer. Bacon is also notable for being appropriately despicable, Minnie Driver stands out as the lone female presence and there are some other nice character turns.
But there are some big problems here, the most debilitating being one that also riddled Levinson's earlier film, "Bugsy," another foray into the gangsters-with-hearts-of-gold genre. As with that film, "Sleepers" is morally bankrupt.
That revenge is sweet is no new moral code for Hollywood, of course, but in this case it's asking quite a bit to suggest that we cheer murderers and drug dealers. Certainly, children should not have to go through the abuse depicted here, and of course there will be psychological residue in adulthood. Yet, as horrifying as that is, the film's suggestion that it's a victory to manipulate the legal system to free a couple of ruthless killers is bound to leave most audience-members with a decidedly uneasy feeling.
"Sleepers" is rated R for violence, gore, profanity and a brief scene with female nudity.