Light Sleeper (1992)

Of the many dark morality plays written and/or directed by Paul Schrader, Light Sleeper is one of the best plotted and acted. From Susan Sarandon's breezy, ballsy businesswoman to Willem Dafoe's conflicted dealer and Dana Delany's mournful ex-addict, the cast fires on all cylinders. The same goes for supporting players Jane Adams, David Spade, and Mary Beth Hurt (the wife of Paul Schrader). None of these actors would be able to shine, though, if it weren't for the director's tight, moody script and direction. Schrader and cinematographer Edward Lachman paint a Manhattan composed entirely of greys, both visual and moral. Full of well-heeled, anesthetized sufferers, the New York of Light Sleeper is a place of restless nights and spiritual ache -- the perfect backdrop for the mute but visually acute suffering that plays across the taut faces of Delany and Dafoe. The only distraction from all of this meditative sorrow is the execrable musical accompaniment of Michael Been, whose ponderous lyrics too explicitly explain emotions that are already apparent in the script and performances. Despite this single pervasive flaw, the compelling Light Sleeper should unite fans of gritty true-crime fare and visceral drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide