|
I'll Sleep When I'm
Dead
Directed by: Mike Hodges
Starring: Clive Owen
Genre:
Drama
Run Time: 103
min.
Release Date:
April 2004
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Clive Owen has come into
his own as an actor. His roles in GOSFORD PARK, INSIDE MAN,
and CHILDREN OF MEN have proven him to be an excellent casting
choice. And here in I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD, director Mike
Hodges made the very wise decision to feature Mr. Owen in the prime role
as Will Graham, a “retired” gangster returned to the madness after the
apparent suicide of his only brother.
Building on the fairly weak relationship of Will Graham with his brother
Davey (Jonathan Rhys Meyers, MATCH POINT), the story begins just
as it ends, with the arrival and ultimate departure of Will. Interesting
in a sort of nonlinear scripting way, the story’s ambling nature and
unaffecting characters are impossible to empathize with. When Davey
(Meyers) is brutally sodomized by a ruthless man, we care very little
because we simply don’t know anything about them. Nor do we know (or are
ever told) why Davey was raped in the first place. There is a simple
speech given by the rapist (played by Malcolm McDowell) in an attempt at
an explanation, but this is neither believable nor seemingly coherent
with the script itself.
Which leads us to bigger and better problems. Since this is the crux of
the story — and what brings Will (Owen) out of retirement — this leaves
the entire film feeling very hollow. The connections between thugs,
coroners/cops, and family are thinly developed (if at all) and given so
little screen-time as to leave most watchers scratching their heads.
The ending, as stated earlier, mirrors the film’s beginnings in that
Will appears standing on the same beach monologuing the same lines. The
assumption that the viewer is supposed to make is that this has happened
before (i.e., Will has come out of “retirement” in the past for
important things), but it comes off feeling stilted and out of place.
Clive Owen does an admirable acting job, but the script given him here
is too weak to make this a positive movie-going experience.
(back to top) |
Image from I'll Sleep When
I'm Dead
DVD cost: $10.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Director Mike Hodges
enjoys the portrayal of characters driven to their limits. This is his
second film with such a style, his first being Croupier.
Movie Quote: "Don't
ever underestimate Will Graham."
Other Actors/Actresses
from I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
   |
