Sleepwalking (film)

Infobox Film
name = Sleepwalking


caption = "Sleepwalking" movie poster
director = William Maher
writer = Zac Stanford
starring = Nick Stahl
AnnaSophia Robb
Charlize Theron
Dennis Hopper
Woody Harrelson
music = Christopher Young
cinematography = Juan Ruiz Anchía
editing = Stuart Levy
released = Sundance Film Festival: January 22, 2008
Limited: March 14 2008
country = USA
language = English
gross =
imdb_id = 888693

"Sleepwalking" is a 2008 drama film that premiered at at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2008.cite web | url=http://www.sundance.org/festival/press_industry/releases/pdf/2008_SFF_PREMIERES_SPECTRUM_MIDNIGHT_NFOM.pdf | title=2008 Sundance Film Festival Announces Films in the Premiers, Spectrum, New Frontier and Park City at Midnight Sections | accessdate=2008-01-18 | format=PDF]

Plot

This is the story of James Reedy (Stahl), a simple man who leads a less than ordinary existence. When his sister Joleen (Theron) seemingly abandons her daughter Tara (Robb) with him, James finds himself ill equipped to deal with the care of his 12-year-old niece. Faced with the prospect of losing Tara to a foster home, James manages to overcome his complacency, stealing away with the girl and taking to the road. In the course of their uneasy journey, their bond slowly begins to grow, as Tara must come to terms with her mother's disappearance. James, for the first time, is forced to truly examine long buried past events and the consequences they have had on his life, and determine whether they will continue to haunt his future.

Cast

*Nick Stahl as James Reedy
*AnnaSophia Robb as Tara Reedy
*Charlize Theron as Joleen Reedy
*Woody Harrelson as Randell
*Dennis Hopper as Mr. Reedy

MPAA Rating

This film has been rated R by the MPAA for language and a scene of violence.

Reception

American newspaper "The Christian Science Monitor" praised the film, commenting that "Despite its deficiencies, and the inadequate screen time allotted to Theron (who's quite good), "Sleepwalking" has a core of feeling. It's about a do-gooder who, lacking all skills for it, does good anyway. His emotional odyssey has real poignancy," concluding to give it a final rating of "B".cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0314/p16s01-almo.html|title='Sleepwalking' has a dreamy feel|accessdate=2008-03-15|first=Peter|last=Rainer|date=March 14, 2008|publisher="The Christian Science Monitor"] In a review for "USA Today", Claudia Puig called the film "Portentous and dull," adding that " [the film] features one of the worst over-the-top performances by Dennis Hopper, who plays an abusive father."cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2008-03-13-also-opening_N.htm|title=Also in theaters: 'Funny Games,' 'Sleepwalking,' 'Doomsday'|accessdate=2008-03-15|first=Claudia|last=Puig|date=March 14, 2008|publisher="USA Today"] "The New York Post" reacted negatively to the film, writing that it is "relentlessly depressing",cite web|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/03142008/entertainment/movies/way_down_in_the_dumps_101845.htm|title=Way Down in the Dumps|accessdate=2008-03-15|first=Lou|last=Lumenick|date=March 14, 2008|publisher="The New York Post"] whereas "The New York Times" gave a neutral review, noting that "Sleepwalking" sustains a mood of unrelenting bleakness, wearing its aesthetic of desolation like a badge of integrity."cite web|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/movies/14Slee.html?ref=movies|title=On the Road to Nowhere in Down-and-Out America|accessdate=2008-03-15|first=Stephen|last=Holden|date=March 14, 2008|publisher="The New York Times"]

Reviewing the film negatively, Ann Hornaday of "The Washington Post" called the film "an inert, sloppily written melodrama as grim and featureless as its frozen Midwestern setting."cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=1144341&categories=Movies&nm=1|title= Sleepwalking|accessdate=2008-03-15|first=Ann|last=Hornaday|date=March 14, 2008|publisher="The New York Post"] "The Chicago Tribune" wrote negatively of the book, noting that "Despite honorable work from Theron, Robb and Stahl, "Sleepwalking" makes good on its title in a not-so-good way."cite web|url=http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/movie_review/movie-review-sleepwalking/336643/content|title=Movie review: 'Sleepwalking'|accessdate=2008-03-15|first=Michael|last=Phillips|date=March 14, 2008|publisher="The Chicago Tribune"]

The film is currently given a 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

References

External links

* [http://www.sleepwalking-themovie.com/ Official website]
*imdb title|888693|Sleepwalking
*rotten-tomatoes|id=sleepwalking|title=Sleepwalking
*metacritic film|id=sleepwalking|title=Sleepwalking
*mojo title|id=sleepwalking|title=Sleepwalking
*amg movie|id=1:378038|title=Sleepwalking