Sleepless (2017)
2017
R
95 Minutes
SLEEPLESS stars Jamie Foxx as undercover Las Vegas police officer Vincent Downs, who is caught in a high stakes web of corrupt cops and the mob-controlled casino underground. When a heist goes wron...
User Review
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Sleepless has nothing to do with sleep, but it sure made me fall asleep. Granted, I was generally fatigued and knew I shouldn't have watched it but not to worry, I'm always on the case and attempted it again the next day. Was it worth it? No. However! Not nearly as bad as everyone is making it out to be. An undercover officer has his son taken hostage by a ruthless drug lord to which he must deliver a substantial amount of goods in order to release his son. The pure definition of a generic action thriller which substitutes any real thrills for above average cinematography. The latter does enhance the overall appeal to a degree, but if your plot is as thin as Jamie Foxx's serious voice (he literally whispered everything) then really you have nothing to differentiate yourself from other B-movie thrillers. The action wasn't over the top, mostly consisting of cumbersome fist fights and Monaghan high kicking Foxx in the head, which surprisingly I quite enjoyed. I liked the realism. It could've easily turned into a 'John Wick' clone, and yes there is a club shootout, but it settled for a more placid tone. That tone doesn't always work though, as the narrative is slower than an elderly woman realising she's just won the jackpot on a slot machine (hint: pretty damn slow). Nothing really happens. The first two acts were as predictable as anything, although the third act does contain a nice twist in a police car, but not enough to save the film. I loved Monaghan's sassiness, she wasn't taking anything from anyone. Her way or no way, and I would choose her way any day. Yet, again, her performance just wasn't enough. The conclusion was incredibly underwhelming and had the audacity to leave itself open for a sequel. Ha! Hilarious. Sleepless is just too generic for its own good. Not the longest, and certainly not the worst, ninety minutes put to film as I can say with confidence that I did enjoy certain aspects. But as for its entirety, it's as unmemorable as the dream you had when this film put you to sleep.0 member like this review.
