Home / Arts and Entertainment / De Niro's 'Sleepers': Levinson Questions Past Controversy
De Niro's 'Sleepers': Levinson Questions Past Controversy
26 Apr
Summary
- Director Barry Levinson questions why 'Sleepers' faced controversy.
- The film's plot involves brutal reform school torture.
- Robert De Niro's character portrayal drew criticism in 1996.
Filmmaker Barry Levinson has expressed bewilderment over the controversial reception of his 1996 film, 'Sleepers,' which is slated for a 4K and Blu-Ray re-release. Levinson questions the mixed reviews the movie received at the time, stating that the narrative's validity was never the central point.
Much of the original criticism centered on Robert De Niro's character, a priest who provided false testimony to aid victims. Levinson countered that this aspect was a minor detail in a much larger story, and that focusing on whether a priest would lie missed the film's broader thematic scope.
The movie chronicles the harrowing experiences of four teenage boys from Hell's Kitchen. After a prank results in near-fatal consequences, they endure brutal and sexual abuse at a reform school. Years later, the narrative unfolds as two of the survivors seek retribution for their ruined lives.
'Sleepers' features a star-studded cast including Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt, and Dustin Hoffman, among others. Levinson maintains that the film's artistic merit should not be overshadowed by debates over factual authentication.
