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I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003)
Released By: Paramount Classics   Rating: Not Rated   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: Paramount Classics
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Mike Hodges
Language: English
Official Website: http://www.paramountclassics.com/illsleep/
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Malcolm McDowell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Clive Owens, Noel Clarke
Published ID: 844581
UPC: 097363416548,
Plot: For I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, director Mike Hodges re-teams with Trevor Preston, the respected British television writer with whom he made a series of documentaries for ITV back in the 1960s. The film also brings the director together again with actor Clive Owen, the star of his previous film, Croupier, which signaled Hodges' resurgence. Owen plays Will Graham, a former London gangster who moved out to the country after suffering a breakdown of some sort. Will works clearing forests, and lives out of his van, until he loses his job over a lack of proper documentation. Meanwhile, Will's younger brother, Davey, is enjoying his life as a womanizing man about town, and dabbling in drug dealing, until one night, when an older man, Boad (Malcolm McDowell), has him followed and brutally assaults him. The traumatized Davey returns home and takes his own life. Will, uncertain as to where to go, finds himself drawn back to London, where he learns of Davey's death from Mrs. Barz (Sylvia Syms), his landlady. Will investigates what happened that night with his old friend, Mickser (Jamie Foreman). As Will tries to piece together what happened, he goes to visit Helen (Charlotte Rampling), his former lover, who is less than thrilled to see him after he abandoned her years earlier and eventually cut off all contact. The current neighborhood crime boss, Turner (Ken Stott), knows what Will is capable of, and sees him as a threat. Eventually, Will uncovers the truth, and is faced with the unpleasant prospect of avenging Davey's death. Screenwriter Preston took the title for the film from a sardonic song by the late Warren Zevon. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Excellent Crime Drama - Not Typical Though
Added 10/14/2009

I really enjoyed this movie. Clive, as usual, is excellent and the premise is different and compelling. I'm so used to your typical American crime drama I kept waiting for every other scene to have a gun fight. From the average of reviews here I think most people were as well. It was a totally different flavor, decidedly English, and thats what made it interesting for me. The only think that kind of spoiled it for me was the romantic mismatch of Clive Owen and Charlotte Rampling. She's 18 years his senior in real life and while that can happen, its not likely.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Quiet but interesting
Added 7/31/2009

The Bottom Line:

Classifying this film as a thriller would probably create an anticipation of tension, of which there is very little, but if you take I'll Sleep When I'm Dead as a drama about a man investigating his brother's death (not unlike a modern day Get Carter) you might be pleased by the choices the film makes; it'll never be considered a gripping film but it's a decent one.

3/4

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
not worth your time unless you need to see every Clive Owen film
Added 5/9/2009

A movie about grieving and revenge that starts out a bit odd, has a shocking moment, and then pewters out. It's worth a look for shaggybeard!Clive Owen and then cleaned-up!Clive Owen.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
MIKE HODGES, OPUS 9
Added 3/1/2008

**1/2 2003. Directed by British born director Mike Hodges. A former mob boss comes back to London when his brother commits suicide. Nothing new under the sun even if there are some great actors involved. Already forgotten.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
I'll Sleep About an Hour Into It
Added 9/13/2007

I assume that the title of this movie is taken from the Warren Zevon tune--a song, I might point out, that is about five thousand times more exciting than this dull, pedantic, pathetic, shiftless, soulless, sleep inducing film (I had to watch it over two nights as it lulled me to sleep after thirty minutes on the first viewing). How in the world do you make a Clive Owen, Malcom McDowell, Charlotte Rampling flick SO flat and pointless that it induces drowsiness? The acting is so deadpan and emotionless that it HAS to be good, right? Wow, and count those crime noir cliches in the script--is that a deep, meaningful commentary on the whole genre I smell? And what about all of those plot points (about half of the screen time in the film) that not only DON'T add to the main story but actually distract and detract the viewer's attention to confuse him or her as to what is actually going on--surely this is the sign of a truly meaningful movie experience, right? And let's not forget the lack of resolution for every single one of these meaningless sub-plots, including the old flame with a gun to her head. Oh, wait, I guess that was done so intelligent movie watchers, like myself, can inject a little thought and speculation into this, obviously, interactive experience. Maybe it is all meant to help solidify my strong homophobic worries and fears (just watch the movie and think about that comment). Is this a student art-for-arts-sake film disguised as crime noir? Or is this really just a flat, dull, dumb crime noir film? You be the judge--if you can stay awake.
Hey, in quick response to one of the other "glowing" reviewers--if the movie they DON'T show you is more interesting than the movie they DO show you--that's a pretty good indication it's a bad movie.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Excellent Crime Drama - Not Typical Though
Added 10/14/2009

I really enjoyed this movie. Clive, as usual, is excellent and the premise is different and compelling. I'm so used to your typical American crime drama I kept waiting for every other scene to have a gun fight. From the average of reviews here I think most people were as well. It was a totally different flavor, decidedly English, and thats what made it interesting for me. The only think that kind of spoiled it for me was the romantic mismatch of Clive Owen and Charlotte Rampling. She's 18 years his senior in real life and while that can happen, its not likely.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Quiet but interesting
Added 7/31/2009

The Bottom Line:

Classifying this film as a thriller would probably create an anticipation of tension, of which there is very little, but if you take I'll Sleep When I'm Dead as a drama about a man investigating his brother's death (not unlike a modern day Get Carter) you might be pleased by the choices the film makes; it'll never be considered a gripping film but it's a decent one.

3/4

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
not worth your time unless you need to see every Clive Owen film
Added 5/9/2009

A movie about grieving and revenge that starts out a bit odd, has a shocking moment, and then pewters out. It's worth a look for shaggybeard!Clive Owen and then cleaned-up!Clive Owen.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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