Light Sleeper

Name: Light Sleeper
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: January 1, 1992
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Dana Delany, David Clennon, Jane Adams, Mary Beth Hurt, Paul Jabara

1992

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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Light Sleeper

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Movie Details & Credits

Carolco Pictures | Release Date: January 1, 1992 | R

Starring: Dana Delany, David Clennon, Jane Adams, Mary Beth Hurt, Paul Jabara, Robert Cicchini, Sam Rockwell, Susan Sarandon, Victor Garber, Willem Dafoe

Summary: A drug dealer reconsiders his profession when his boss plans to go straight and an old flame reappears.

Director: Paul Schrader

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

Light Sleeper isn't about the help he can get from psychics, however; it's about desperation that makes him project healing qualities upon anyone who is halfway sympathetic. The movie is familiar with its life of night and need. It finds the real human qualities in a person like the Susan Sarandon character - who, in a crisis, reacts with loyalty and quick thinking. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Light Sleeper represents Schrader at his best, giving us a character we've become familiar with over the years and Schrader's intimate mastery of our fascination with decadence, loss and redemption. Read full review

Mike Clark

Sleeper is the best Schrader-directed film since the dashed promise of his Blue Collar debut in 1978. [21 Aug 1992, p.4D]

Joe Pollack

In the end, Light Sleeper is slightly more optimistic than some of Schrader's earlier works, but it's a tough, hard-nosed film that shows, in small moments here and there, what life in drugs is all about - and it ain't all about fun. [11 Sep 1992, p.3F]

Dave Kehr

For all of Schrader's capacity for spectacular self-laceration and spiritual agony, Light Sleeper finds him able for the first time to express a certain peacefulness, and the effect is delicate and discreet. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

Light Sleeper, with its cool, critical view of life on the edge, is no film to dismiss or ignore. It's a failure perhaps, but an honorable failure. If it isn't saved by grace, it has many saving graces. Read full review

Vincent Canby

At its best, Light Sleeper is merely theoretical. Most of the time, though, it is artificial and laughably unbelievable. Even the dark, gritty Manhattan locations don't add authenticity. Read full review

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User Reviews

JLuis_001

Mar 29, 2023

It's not openly complex, but it's also far from making things easier for you.
Light Sleeper absorbs you, but only if you let it and I didn't find it very compelling at times, but it has an appeal that ensures attention doesn't fade easily.
Dafoe is excellent and doesn't seem to be trying. AIt's not openly complex, but it's also far from making things easier for you.
Light Sleeper absorbs you, but only if you let it and I didn't find it very compelling at times, but it has an appeal that ensures attention doesn't fade easily.

Dafoe is excellent and doesn't seem to be trying. A detail of his enormous talent.

It's not his best, but it's a more than decent option from Paul Schrader.… Expand

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