Sleepers MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -3

SLEEPERS is the tragic, true and deeply disturbing story of four boys in the corrupt Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. The four boys and their adult counterparts are Shakes (Joe Perrino, Jason Patric), Michael (Brad Renfro, Brad Pitt), John (Geoff Wigdor, Ron Eldard) and Tommy (Jonathan Tucker, Billy Crudup). Although they serve as altar boys and are befriended by Father Bobby (Robert DeNiro), they are caught in a minor crime and sentenced to a reform school for several months. Here they are tortured and abused by the guards, headed by Sean Knokes (Kevin Bacon).Years later, two of the boys spy Knokes in a restaurant and take revenge. They seek further revenge, but eventually must stand trial for their crime. SLEEPERS will definitely keep viewers interested as the story unravels. Viewers will also develop sympathy for the boys and for Father Bobby and their friends who stand by them. However, SLEEPERS is very difficult to watch as it depicts graphic physical, verbal and sexual abuse of the boys while in prison and flashbacks as the boys relive the horror. It's also filled with domestic abuse, continuous obscenities and profanities, and brief nudity. Although Father Bobby is trustworthy and honorable, he curses and drinks occasionally, smokes and lies under oath to protect the men on trial. This portrayal of a Catholic priest will undoubtedly arouse controversy. The film's story could have been told just as effectively without being so graphic, crude and profane

Preview Reviewer: Sherry Oswald
Distributor: Warner Brothers, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522