Name: Retro Film Review: The Innocent Sleep (1995)
Item: The Innocent Sleep
Rating: 40
Author: @drax

(source:imdb.com)

In most of today's world America is seen as the embodiment of everything that is wrong with Western civilisation- its commercially-driven culture is worthless, its economy is fuelled by corporate greed and imperialist wars, its military is comprised of butchers and animals who can hardly wait to torture and murder innocent civilians and its democracy is sham where elections get stolen and real power lies in the hands of small number of powerful people in smoke-filled rooms. Alternative to this diabolical vision of America is often seen in utopian perception of Europe as the place where kindness, honesty, integrity, democracy and high aesthetic ideals rule and where power rests squarely at the hands of people. Of course, recent European history shows that European countries have as much dirty laundry as America and that some events are worthy of controversies and conspiracy theories that fuelled films like JFK. One of those was the case of Roberto Calvi, Italian banker whose spectacular death in 1982 London sparked major scandal involving Vatican, Free Masons and Italian government. This event served as an inspiration for The Innocent Sleep, 1995 British thriller directed by Scott Mitchell.

Protagonist of the film is Alan Terry (played by Rupert Graves), young man who all but threw his life away. After losing job, wife and spending all his cash on alcohol, he is forced to live on the streets of London. One night he takes shelter under one bridge only to realise that some people might fare even worse than him. He witnesses ritual execution conducted by a group of menacing people led by Italian-speaking gentleman (played by Franco Nero). Alan is much surprised to find that the incident is being reported as suicide. When he goes to police to tell his story he is even more surprised to find that Detective Inspector Matheson (played by Michael Gambon), policeman in charge of the investigation, happens to be one of the killers. Alan knows that he became the next target and that the only way to protect himself is through media. Unfortunately, Billie Hayman (played by Anabella Sciorra), American reporter working in London, is sceptical towards his story.

The Innocent Sleep is shot for relatively small amount of money, but it doesn't look that way. This is mostly thanks to excellent cinematography of Alan Dunlop which gives depressive and surreal quality to London locations. Music score by Mark Ayres is also very suggestive. The acting is great, as it is usually the case with British productions. Young Rupert Graves handles his role well, just like veterans Michael Gambon and Franco Nero. Unfortunately, good impression left by film's beginning is wasted in the second half. One ridiculous plot twist is followed by another only to culminate in melodramatic and utterly unconvincing finale. The Innocent Sleep had potential, but great potential and great talents sometimes aren't enough to make a good movie.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on June 24th 2004)