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Sleepers

(1996, Rated R, Drama, Starring Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, Billy Crudup)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Powerful story of child abuse. Not for kids.

Why We Rated This not for kids

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Revenge is a theme throughout the film.

  • Violence:

    There are several homicides – two of them are justified in the context of the film.

  • Sex:

    The scenes dealing with sex in this film are very disturbing, as they address the sexual abuse and rape of children.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters drink and smoke, and a few have drug problems. However, these are acknowledged as debilitating, and several of the characters die as a result.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Sleepers

Parents need to know that this movie deals with the sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children. Characters drink, smoke, do drugs, steal, have sex, rape children, commit murder, beat one another, and engage in other illegal activities including selling drugs and bribing police officers. Domestic abuse also figures significantly in the film. The main character's Catholic upbringing also figures largely in the plot, and morality in the film is extremely complex. Younger viewers will likely be confused by the concept of right and wrong as presented in the film. And the film is not easy viewing -- particularly for anyone who has endured abuse of any kind.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the concept of revenge. Why does the murder of Sean Nokes seem justified? Is it? Why are some of the characters able to move forward with their lives while others seem to be destroyed by their abuse? The issue of punishing juvenile offenders also comes into play. Is the punishment of the four main characters fair? Why or why not? How does the characters' socioeconomic position figure into this punishment, if at all?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    dolphinlover9
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 5.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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