A contemporary fable that is well acted and photographed. I don’t have any experience in dealing drugs, so I can’t claim to have a valid opinion deciding if the story presented is realistic. It serves the movie well and various people find a premature end as is appropriate in a tragedy. My only objection is a medical one. When Dafoe is shot in the end we see blood spurting away from his upper right arm. This is impossible as the main artery in the arm travels on the inside of the upper extremity and is not big enough to generate such a jet.

One of those films that takes it time to build up to its finale and sometimes the build up doesn't get a pay off if the finale was terrible......this movie finale however left me wanting to rewatch this film again.

i dont get how anyone would hate this movie, perfect 90s hollywood vibes, good script, great casting, im not comparing but would be something like taxi drivers good twin, willem dafoe´s character is top

Came to Light Sleeper from both First Reformed and Taxi Driver, as I've been meaning to for some time. The mood and characterization is great, but the meandering nature of the plot felt unsatisfying at the end. Edit: also came to this movie, now, via jetlag. I wanted more sleep problems! All he needed for a good night's sleep was to get together with his ex.

One of the more interesting character studies about a drug affiliate struggling in multiple aspects of life. Paul Schrader and his very game cast make this small budget exercise absorbing

Another good film that is let down by it's ending. No explanation given at all for why what happened, happened m Other than the ending was a great moody dark film. It seemed to have a Lynchian style to it; the soundtrack reminded me of twin peaks with it's dreamy synth sound. To reiterate, a great film only let down by it's ending.

An amazingly subtle and slow-moving film that is handled with the upmost care. Dark and bleak, it's a perfect snapshot of drug dealers and users. A must see for thought-provoking cinema

All of Schrader's hallmarks are here, but until he made "First Reformed" this was perhaps the most moving of his "male loner" films. If not for the ill advised song score, this could have been a masterpiece.

Very interesting specimen. Not a game-changer, but really gets into your bones somehow. Despite my seeing it for the first time 25 years after it was made. Reminds me of Basquiat in an odd way.

It has that ability of being small but seeming bigger than what it is saying, thanks to Dafoe's quietly strong performance and Schrader's knack for dialogue.

nice but once. nothing good to say, only trash all over the street makes this one special

What a great film! Had no idea! I was still in NYC, when the garbage strike was happening. The acting was superb, DaFoe fantastic and strangely enough so was Delaney. Absolutely great dialogue. I remember well, those days...having a limo pick me up from work. Those were the days.

good except the ending which is stolen from the italian classic 'pickpocket"

An example of style over substance with little originality in terms of character development. Restrained visuals that rarely grab viewers attention. Somewhat dated music. Average performances from legends Dafoe and Sarandon are highlighted by moments of surprising humanity that are sorely few and far between. A cold examination of a hotly dangerous criminal society.

One of Dafoe's greatest performances and he is in almost every single scene, Sarandon is also great but it is a shame that the film itself is such a bore.

saw it in Uni and I'd love to see the ending, or at least past the 20 minute mark!!

Light Sleeper is a really well made film, and I can say the same for all of Schrader's movies. I can also say that they all, with the exception of Mishima, have ostensible flaws that make for a more pulp experience, unlike Schrader's colleague Martin Scorsese, who doesn't make 'realistic' films per se, but his style is such that we are hooked into the world anyway. Schrader's films, for me, are not as involving, but they're still admirable in certain ways. In this movie, I was drawn in by Willem Dafoe's performance. He really commandeered the movie into watchability. I really didn't care for the score of songs by Michael Been. They're played throughout the film excessively and in awkward spots.

Soaked in music, drugs, & atmosphere Light Sleeper makes you believe a whole other world comes out to play when night falls in New York City

Engaging, frightening and somewhat saddening account of a man in crisis amidst all the negative elements of death, gloom and isolation--Tough, gripping, and atmospheric!!

The soundtrack was a lot to forgive, but I forgave.