Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

good back-story, and good acting

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

For me Schrader is a second-rate director, and Light Sleeper is a poor attempt at a modern day film noir. Its attempt at angst-ridden existentialism renders the movie ponderous and dull whilst the dialogue is often unengaging and vacuous. Considering this film was released in the same year as Reservoir Dogs, one can see how writers such as Schrader were being seen as part of the Old Hollywood. I know these days there has been a volt face as far as this movie and Tarantino's debut are concerned with Tarantino laughed at as a fan boy director and Schrader now lauded as the master director he never was. But this effort is rather under-whelming. It feels like an average TV movie with a terrible soundtrack and unconvincing sets. Like someone has tried to remake Taxi Driver on a micro-budget.For me Schrader, with all his screen writing kudos, is an ineffective director, and Light Sleeper is a perfect example of his overrated directorial abilities.

I don't get it. On paper, I should like this, BUT: 1) "you don't know crack from cracker jack" 2) Drug dealers at the aforementioned restaurant 3) Susan Saradon as June Cleaver as Ma Barker trying to become "glamourous?" Fiddle dee dee. 4) "sensitive" "DD," DaFoe? "DD?" - gimme a break.4.5) "Has my luck run out?" asked the master thespian.5) Cops = bad cartoon characters "DDs" = empathetic real people 6) "We'll always have Paris?" albeit ironically. What about Uncle Vanya with a limp? At least that was actually funny.7) Corny dated music. So corny, it's actually kind of nostalgic. Maybe thats intentional. It does certainly put you right back in the era.8) Almond oil? That's just goofy enough to happen in real life. Does it work here? You tell me. Or is it extra-special inside-cutesy-wutesy.I knew a few dealers in NYC in the day, even "sensitive" ones. I didn't see them here. But what the hell, its only a movie. To the rest of the world, I guess it will pass. But even with all the latitude, its just "too." I will say that some of the addicts and nasty scenarios ring true. Also, some of the outdoor NYC shots are nice because they show it as it is, not as it is in the movies.Well worth seeing, but don't get too excited reading about it beforehand, or if you are watching it now.I'll give it a 7 anyway. Do not let me discourage you, maybe I'm just missing something here. It wouldn't be the first time.

Like "Prince Of The City", this is another great drug movie, with the greatest set ever built for a movie, New York City. Very few people saw "Prince", and I'll wager fewer saw this one. It has a cast of New York stage actors, who make the usual run of Hollywood anorexic barbie dolls, and Sunset Strip would be tough guys, look exactly like what they are, refugees from some "hysterical" wise cracking sit-com. I have to mention each one of these artists because they're so incredibly good. Willem Dafoe, Susan Sarandon, Dana Delany (what a performance), David Clennon, Mary Beth Hurt, Jane Adams(the looney sister from "Happiness"), David Spade, and last, but certainly not least Victor Garber. Paul Schrader wrote and directed, and if he never does another production, his mother can know that she gave birth to a major cinematic artist. The story can impress people as very hokey. Dafoe is a coke pusher. But he's very sensitive and loving, and is looking for a "better life". He's so guilt ridden as a pusher, he can hardly sleep. Oh, give me a break. But wait. With Dafoe I bought it completely. I was even rooting for him to get back with his former junkie lover Dana Delany. Delany and Susan Sarandon give major performances, Sarandon as a major supplier also looking to go straight as a cosmetic maven. This is a major manual on acting....look, learn, and enjoy.

I guess I am the one to blame but I never understood this picture, not in the cinema not on telly and it has nothing to do that Schrader is a "difficult" director as I always adored "Mishima" which must be one of the most difficult mades ever made, but I blame it a bit on the acting as Dafoe and Sarandon do their job in a professional way but it's done without any depth. We follow the journeys of John LeTour (Dafoe) who is a drugsdealer who is now clean and during his "job" he meets old persons back who were addicted, also Marianne (Dana Delany) who used to be LeTour's lover. The day Marianne got killed Dafoe comes into a real personal crisis as he can't decide whether he has to love or despise his "job". Won't go any further as otherwise I tell you too much that might spoil the fun but even if this Schrader's fave movie I have other opinions swirling inside my head, just don't get it....