MovieChat Forums > I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2004) Discussion > Riveting Stuff.

Riveting Stuff.

posted 21 years ago by darthcanuck
9 replies | jump to latest

I almost never start topics on films but I figured this was a little film worth praising. Simple, lean, like a jazz riff on vengeance it's really gripping and involving. Some of the people I saw it with found it dull so I know it won't be to everyone's liking but I was sucked into it from the very first moment. I actually preferred it to Croupier (to which it will undoubtedly be compared) and hope it gets a wide release in North America. A revenge drama - the polar opposite of Kill Bill. They'll make a great rep house double bill some day. Once you see this movie - you will have no doubt that Clive Owen MUST be the next James Bond. (It's not so evident in the beginning but by the end you'll see what I mean.)

[–] rob-242 20 years ago

Just saw it, and largely agree with the above. Did anyone notice that the plot was broadly very similar to Get Carter? Gangster figure returns home to find out about/seek vengence for his brother's death? Almost a remake in some respects, not that it matters really.

Clive Owen would make a truely excellent JB, but only if they returned the franchise (hate to use that form) to it's original form. Unfortunately, I hear that he's stated he's not interested - too commercial/uninteresting for him. Got to respect his standards :)

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] McCoush 20 years ago

I would have loved 120 less. Tedious, dull and not thought provoking.
It felt like it was made by a first-time director . . . except without the enthusiasm.

[–] ninfilms 20 years ago

Sorry I have to disagree with m coutanche, I found the film to be a very intelligent film. What the film is dealing with is what on how Will Graham is going to get his revenge.

The characters in the film don't know what to make of Graham, whether he is a threat of not. You got Graham's friends who think that Graham hasn't got the bottle to kill again. You got Ken Stott character who feel threated by Graham. It turns out in the end all Graham want is to get his revenge and have a peaceful life. He doesn't want to go back to the life of violence.

I.S.W.I.D. remind me of Hodges' Get Carter but Hodges turn it around and also had a touch of his unknown film A Prayer For The Dying, Martin Fallon (Mickey Rourke) is also trying to avoid the violence.

I know many critics didn't like the film, reckon it didn't have anything to say. They must of watched at the wrong movie, I thought it had a lot to say.

Most of Hodges best films have got a lot to say: Get Carter, Black Rainbow, The Terminal Man (even Flash Gordon). Ok, the the majority of his films are slow moving, the good thing about Hodges he brings tension and originally in his films. Also you can watch them again and see something new in them, which you don't get in many films.

[–] yossarian100 18 years ago

"Simple, lean, like a jazz riff on vengeance." Wonderful description and right on the money, too. I completely enjoyed it, and, yes, Clive Owen would make a good James Bond.

Writing about movies is like dancing about architecture

[–] LydiaHarrison 18 years ago

I loved this film, really absorbing stuff and the slow pace just added to this, difficult to comprehend fully what the characters are thinking even though you'd imagine it'd be pretty straightforward, the tempo allowed the development of a range of theories I felt and certainly added a lot of depth to the characters, who on reflection didn't really do an awful lot but still weren't bereft of substance. Clive Owen was fantastic and intense even with his calm, meticulous demeanor, and Rhys-Meyers was also sublime for the time he was around, and I was delighted to see McDowell, always pretty unique and memorable, indeed this was the first film I'd seen at least with a man being anally raped

Foreman was bloody annoying though, kind of ruined the elegance and indifference of the whole thing. Probably intentional of course, but for me he was just too noisy and cliched.

I gave it 9/10!

[–] ninfilms 18 years ago

I thought Foreman was better in this film than he was in Football Factory then again that film was more annoying.

[–] LydiaHarrison 18 years ago

Didn't see Football Factory, but Foreman was bloody annoying in Gangster No. 1 and Layer Cake too, especially Layer Cake.

Liked the death in Gangster No 1 though

[–] 18 years ago

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