Sleepwalking Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
The drama follows an 11-year-old girl's struggle to come to terms with her mother's abandonment.
| Nick Stahl | James |
| Dennis Hopper | Mr. Reedy |
| Woody Harrelson | Randall |
| Simon Chin | Randall's Friend |
| Mike Ennis | Cop #2 |
| Callum Keith Rennie | Will |
| Peter Scoular | Dad |
| Troy Skog | Warren |
6.10 out of 10 (702 votes)
Visitor Reviews
yep, wanted it to be better
posted on 13 Jul 2009Totally agree with the 2nd comment -- kept wanting this to be better and it never did.Stahl was right on and the reason to keep watching, but he had some horribly written important moments with which he had to contend.Teenage actress is OK, poorly executed final scene, though. One specific gripe: her sleeping/restful shots show her to be in full make-up and far more styled than her character/lifestyle would suggest.Hopper is primarily one note, fault of the script. He plays it with gusto, but it isn't nearly as full/rich as it could have been.This is a personal, pet project that never left the personal/pet gate.
i loved this film very much
posted on 01 Jul 2009i was very very satisfied with the way this movie turned out. it had more then i expected of this. although it would have been nice if the character that Dennis hopper played was not abusive. and if the character was also close to the son and daughter and grandchild together. if the grandfather would change and act like a real parent should then nick stahl's character wouldn't have to be so upset in the first place and that AnnaSophia robb's character wouldn't have gotten hurt. but i'll set that aside because thats not important. although abusive is a serious crime but thats not the focus to this movie. the thing here is that what everyone should look for in a movie that how hard these actors and actresses try and how they accomplished to be in this movie and thats what will make movies really good. you focus on how hard these movie makers and actors and actresses try together thats when you'll notice they made a good movie. this movie i give it an automatic A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For excellent work and excellent performance and everything. I am very inspired by annasophia robb's career. What she is doing for these films is very important to Hollywood. and so are the rest of the actors. and the directors. Good job to all of them.
a moving and atmospheric indie drama
posted on 09 Jun 2009"Sleepwalking" starts off a bit like "Frozen River," focused on a single mother struggling to make ends meet in rural America (though it was actually filmed in Saskatchewan). But the movie quickly veers off in another direction, shifting that focus onto her 13-year-old daughter, Tara, and her younger brother, James (the girl's uncle), who are suddenly forced to rely on one another for comfort and support when Joleen temporarily bows out of the picture.When her boyfriend is arrested for growing marijuana, Jolene (Carlize Theron) and Tara (AnnaSophia Robb) are forced to move in with James (Nick Stahl), a soft-spoken, good-hearted fellow in his 20s who is two months behind in his rent and who barely scrapes by on what he makes at his low-paying construction job. Soon, Joleen has split the scene, James has lost his job, and social services has taken Tara to live in a foster-care facility. So James and Tara decide to head out onto the open highway, stopping off at roadside diners and motels, and staying one step ahead of the authorities who are in pursuit of them."Sleepwalking" is one of those gritty, slice-of-life dramas that sympathetically and accurately depicts what life is like for the working poor. It is rife with authentic details and rich in small town atmosphere. Director William Mahr and cinematographer Juan Ruiz Anchia really know how to extract the essence of a locale for mood and effect, making the bleak landscape and stark setting integral elements in the drama - an effect greatly enhanced by Christopher Young's rich and evocative acoustic-flavored score. Superb, naturalistic performances by the three lead actors make us truly care about the people they are portraying and the things that are happening to them."Sleepwalking" is not without its flaws, however. For one thing, the movie undercuts some of its carefully crafted verisimilitude with its casting of "name" actors in a few of the key secondary roles - primarily, Woody Harrelson as James' friend and work buddy, and an over-reaching Dennis Hopper as Joleen and James' abusive dad. These parts would have been more effective had they been played by less-familiar actors (though I do realize that, without such star power attached to the project, a movie like "Sleepwalking" might never have gotten made in the first place). More seriously, the otherwise excellent screenplay by Zac Stanford falls apart a bit in the final third, resorting to stereotyping and hokey melodrama when it most needs to stay true to its characters and their situations.Still, despite the patness, "Sleepwalking" is a quietly powerful, richly atmospheric tale of a group of troubled but essentially decent people struggling, despite their all-too-human weaknesses, to make their way in the world.
Strong performances from Nick Stahl, Annasophia Robb and the rest of the cast are barely enough to save 'Sleepwalking' from stumbling in its own plot.
posted on 18 May 2009Despite the mostly negative reviews I've read about 'Sleepwalking', I wanted to see if Annasophia Robb really did live up to what the critics have been raving the past couple months. And she does, in a huge way. With a natural presence and believable acting, Annasophia displays one of the best performances I've seen from a child actor/actress. While she did a great job in BTT and Have Dreams, she doesn't show any signs of the occasional stiff acting that she had in her previous films. Playing the part of the abandoned and emotionally troubled Tara is a very complex process that not many young actors can endure, yet Annasophia portrays her every emotion smoothly. Her chemistry with Stahl's character was convincing and heartfelt. At first I was a little bit on the skeptical side on whether or not her performance was Oscar-worthy; but after watching this movie, I immediately brushed said thoughts aside.That said, this movie is James's (Nick Stahl) story, and he delivers. His performance really brought out the raw emotion that most of the film lacked. At certain scenes one could just sense the extreme pain and sorrow that James is going through as he grows more fond of his niece, only to see her get taken away, that and other aspects of his character makes a nice buildup to his climactic transformation near the end. Charlize Theron, though only present in a handful of scenes in the film, takes full advantage of them and helps create a truly believable troubled American family. Dennis Hopper is, well...Dennis Hopper. He can pull off playing any crazed and sadistic bastard in a snap and succeeds. Despite his character being as one dimensional as one can get, Hopper does a pretty good job making the film more morbid than it already is.Positives aside, here is where the film gets it's real flaws: the story. Besides extremely powerful performances by the leads, Sleepwalking's story suffers from it's overtly dark tone and predictability. Yes, it's supposed to be a morbid take on abandonment and abuse, but unfortunately that's all there is. The characters stumble from one unlucky bump in the road to another without any real relief for them. Besides the budding almost brother-sister type relationship that James and Tara develops, it doesn't really stop the film from becoming increasingly bleak. And quite honestly, as much as I tried to defend it, I didn't understand James's notion to return to his abusive and bitter father's farm. Once he mentions going there in the film, especially with all the comments that he heard from Tara, predicting hell in Satan's frozen ranch wasn't very far-fetched. I enjoy films that are open to interpretation and don't give out easy answers. However, Sleepwalking's ending hardly even tries to put some sort of resolution. It's an all-throughout morbid storyline that DESERVED a true resolution, sadly it barely had one.I enjoyed Sleepwalking. I loved the characters and the performances (Especially Robb and Stahl), but like the ratings that you've read throughout the web, it was just barely enough to carry the weight of a bland and predictable story.
The Numb Life of Sleepwalking
posted on 28 Apr 2009New director William Maher and writer Zac Stanford previously worked together in THE CHUMSCRUBBER and the similarity of vision is apparent in SLEEPWALKING: both films deal with the empty shells of hollow people aimlessly seeking connection in a world that has become foreign territory. It is a dark, cold, brooding film that somehow manages to maintain our attention with the hope that the gloomy tunnel though which the characters are passing will have a semblance of light at the end. Joleen (Charlize Theron) is the inadequate, loving-but-inconstant mother of twelve-year-old Tara (AnnaSophia Robb) whose reckless an aimless life leads to constant moving and lack of roots. Evicted form her latest residence Joleen and Tara move in with Joleen's younger brother James (Nick Stahl) whose similarly aimless life is defined by a trashy apartment and a mindless construction work job. Tara is sullen, disappointed in her mother's erratic, irresponsible behavior, and when Joleen once again takes off 'on a new idea', Tara is left with James - trying to figure out an existence for survival. James loses his job due to absenteeism, takes up residence in the filthy basement of his nerdy co-worker Randall (Woody Harelson), while the town cop (Mathew St. Patrick) reluctantly places Tara in a foster home to await the return of Joleen. Tara prefers life with James to her 'imprisonment' and the two take off on a road trip, seeking some degree of happiness and love in a world gone berserk. When James runs out of money, he heads to his old home farm for refuge, an unlikely endpoint as his and Joleen's childhood was warped by their abusive farmer father (Dennis Hopper). The return to the farm, James hopes, will provide connection to Tara's past, but instead it results in a tragedy that ultimately moves Tara back to her 'home' and to Joleen, while James drives off into the unknown future, finally awakened from his sleepwalking through life. The film is as bleak as the flat and snowy countryside (the film was shot in Canada's winter) and that countryside reflects the desperate loneliness of the characters. The small cast offers solid portrayals with the work of Nick Stahl being the standout performance. Theron, Robb, Harelson, Hopper, and Deborra-Lee Furness (in a small but poignant role) make the best of a shaky script. This is a mood piece and can become depressing if the viewer expects resolution of the sad and empty lives the characters lead. But there is a haunting quality to the look of the film that stays with the viewer, especially in the mystery in the eyes of the character James as he drives into an unknown but awakened future. Grady Harp
Coming-of-Age Story With a Twist
posted on 08 Apr 2009One night, Joleen Reedy's boyfriend is arrested in a drug raid, so she and her 12-year-old daughter Tara move in with her somewhat slow-witted brother, James.Soon, Joleen follows her heart down the highway with a long-distance trucker, and when James loses his job and Tara starts missing school, it's not long before Child Protective Services shows up and Tara goes off to a group foster home.This is a movie about coming of age. And, as the story develops in Act II, we have every right to believe this is Tara's story. She talks her uncle James into learning to drive, pushes him into searching for Joleen, and finally convinces him to help her take a hiatus from the group home. And so they hit the road. Along the way, they stop at a motel where she wakes up one night bathed symbolically in red light, and the next morning at poolside, she's squirming seductively for the benefit of a pair of adolescent boys who watch in fascination.Eventually, their journey takes them to James' boyhood home, the ranch to which Joleen said she would not return in a million years. Why did she say that? The answer comes when James and Tara experience profound abuse from his father, a tough old rancher played by Dennis Hopper.This is when the viewers will realize that this is James' story, because he does what he must to vindicate what must have been the horrific upbringing he and his sister endured."Sleepwalking" is put over with excellent performances, notably Nick Stahl's James, who grows into a man able to rise to the occasion when it's time to carve out a destiny from the wreckage of his past. Charlize Theron convincingly inhabits another fascinating character from the seamy side, showing glowing embers of yearning that burst into passion. And Hopper chews scenery entertainingly as the abusive rancher. The supporting cast is uniformly strong.But the star of this show is AnnaSophia Robb, who makes Tara a child who realizes she needs to shed any air of fragility to press on with the quest to reunite with her mother. Driving past a message board flashing an Amber Alert with her name on it only steels Tara's determination to succeed.This is an excellent example of a script that turns into an independent film that draws an excellent cast and, when it hits the screen, does a good job of telling a good story and telling it well. It should also be noted that AnnaSophia Robb is growing to be an actress not only of exceptional skill, but of extraordinary beauty.
Great actress(AnnaSophia Robb)
posted on 15 Mar 2009I have to say that I admire AnnaSophia Robb for her talent and I am sure that in the future she will win an Oscar because she is very talented and I can say that I have seen almost all her movies(Because of Winn-Dixie, Spy School, Charlie and the Chocholate Factory, Bridge to Terabithia) so I can't wait to see her newest movie Race to Witch Mountain.and whenever I am sad or having a bad day everything goes away when i see her playing in one of her movies. Good job AnnaSophia and keep it this way because I am sure that everyone will see that you are a great actress because for me you are already the greatest . MariusP.S. Whatever people are saying keep your head up and never lose your smile:))
Scottsdale, AZ Pre-Screening: 3/11/08
posted on 02 Jan 2009Bill Maher's directorial debut 'Sleepwalking' follows a 12 year old Tara (AnnaSophia Robb) as tries to come to terms with her mother Jolene's (Charlize Theron) recent abandonment. In the process we're introduced to James (Nick Stahl) Tara's uncle and Jolene's brother. In the process Jolene and Tara wind up staying with James (a stunning Nick Stahl), Jolene's brother and Tara's uncle. Jolene one day disappears, she sends a letter saying that she has a plan and she'll be back in a month for Tara's birthday. Tara doesn't take this lightly; James however sees this as an opportunity to do some good, the pair then sets off on a departure from their everyday lives. Events unfold and Tara and James drive to James' father's farm expecting it to be a safe haven for themselves. Mr. Reedy (Dennis Hopper) is James' dad. When they finally arrive to the farm it turns out to be a hellish location set specifically for the all too predictable climax.Sleepwalking has terrible camera work. It's one of the main problems with it. Its shot like a sappy Lifetime movie, close-up after close-up in the film's most pivotal scenes tires the audience. Another one of the problems is the quantity of unnecessary dialog and scenes that the film subjects the viewers to. Does the viewer really care that much about Jolene's ex boyfriend's nickname? No, they care about the plot and it moving on solidly.The main highlight is Nick Stahl as James. He makes you feel for his character in ways I've never felt for a character before. He is simple minded and very caring, but those traits make it so that he never comes out on top. He led a very simple life as well before Tara came into his life for such a long period of time. How she transforms his character is interesting and Stahl displays it all. AnnaSophia Robb is also great as the young vixen who we watch. She shows again that she has a great potential for more serious and dramatic work in the years to come. In one of the film's best scenes she glides around skates, smoking cigarette acting reminiscent of Heather Graham's infamous Roller Girl. The boys all gawk as she smoothly moves around the pull, acting out of her age range and becoming more mature with each puff we understand that her character is perhaps doomed to end up like her mother. There is hope that she won't though hidden deep in James, just like her mother she just wants someone to show her that they love and care for her.The film's two most prolific actors, legendary Dennis Hopper and the incomparable Charlize Theron disappoint a bit in their roles. Hopper's character is dry and bitter, Hopper plays him right but the overall deliver is still short of what it could be. Theron not only acted but also played producer to the film, however I think she should have stayed in the producer's chair for this one. Her character is a supporting one and she plays her right but you feel unsatisfied by her performance because there's not that much there.Overall, Sleepwalking as a very bland film that could've much more if it had stayed more focused and less cliché at parts. Although, after the sleepwalk you'll remember it as a decent dream.MY RATING: 6.0/10.0
Hmmm...sorry, but it IS Horrible
posted on 14 Oct 2008The trailer suckered me in. I enjoy deep, character driven films, with themes of family bonds, forgiveness, redemption, overcoming one's past, etc. THIS WAS NOT THAT! This movie, as my poor, unsuspecting "nightmare"/sleepwalking viewing partner summed it up, is "Pointless." Horrible. Bleak. Slow. Depressing. Boring. Dark. Negative. Ugly. Stupid & Pointless. It was a Dreadful waste of time. It goes from dark & ugly, to darker & uglier, to horrific & ugliest. There are moments with glimpses of humor and warmth--but those are very fleeting and almost nonexistent. The cast is very strong, and it is mind boggling that any of them said yes to this god-awful script. How did this movie even get made? How much money did they waste on this bad, bad film?On the way out of the theater, we overheard "This made me feel real bad." This movie will make anyone feel bad. It is horrible. So, I recommend it for anyone who enjoys feeling really really bad.Seriously, a mind boggling disaster of epic proportions.
Need a reason to watch this one?...
posted on 26 Sep 2008I'll give you two: AnnaSophia "Bridge to Terabithia" Robb and Nick "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" Stahl. Their performances in this fledgling directorial effort from Bill "The Chumscrubber" Maher are simply outstandingly well-crafted realizations, assisted by other fine showings from the likes of Charlize "The Devil's Advocate" Theron, Dennis "Easy Rider" Hopper, Woody "Cheers" Harrelson, and Deborra-Lee "Hugh Jackman is one lucky wolverine!" Furness. Zac "The Chumscrubber" Stanford's script gives them everything they need to create a lasting relationship in an impermanent world, drawing the audience deep into their dysfunctional tragedy. Anyone who appreciates intelligent storytelling and great acting should be pleased.Essentially a coming-of-age movie (and not just the youngster), "Sleepwalking" follows the odyssey of a man and his niece. It's a fine character-driven piece, thanks to great work from its leads, dialog with a resonance of truth, and excellent DP work from Juan Ruiz "Glengarry Glen Ross" Anchía. It's a shame that so few IMDbers have seen this one, but it's their loss. Sure, it's not targeted to the twenty-something crowd. Sure, the explosions and other eye-candy are lacking, but you know, kiddies, sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and try something outside your normal purview. You might just find out that you've been denying yourself a lot of interesting entertainment.Btw, those who might complain about the unlikelihood of James seeking out his father (in light of what we learn about them both) should have paid closer attention to the dialog, and to the relationship between James and his sister, for some subtle hints. Sometimes one cannot escape one's oppression with mere physical distance.
Life drama about relationship between 12 year old girl and her uncle
posted on 18 Sep 2008I watched this movie today and I must say that it was absolutely amazing. It is drama by genre but most of the time this kind of movies are much better than we thought. With four amazing main actors this movie couldn't fail although only two actors, AnnaSophia Robb and Nick Stahl are keeping this movie so good. After Tara's (Robb) mother Joleen (Charlize Theron) leave's her with her uncle James (Nick Stahl) their lives are start to fall down. James gets fired from his job and social service takes Tara to foster home. One day James comes to visit Tara and by her request they leave the city by car in unknown direction. On they trip they would get more closer, and some events will open their eyes from a long dream. Nick Stahl is great as James. His character's childhood was abuse by his father as his sister Joleen. Charlize Theron is solid, but real star of this movie is AnnaSophia Robb. She has only 14 years old and already playing complex roles like this one. She is going in the right way by now.
A good movie in all aspects
posted on 01 Aug 2008WHile the movie itself is depressing, the setting certainly looks like an abandoned wasteland, the movie was good.The movie was great in fact.All characters were believable and their performances were outstanding.Charlize blows me away all the time and after seeing this, I am just amazed at how great she is as a performer.All the cast was good - Woody is such a versatile performer. Good, bad, crazy, brave - this guy has great range.Saskatchewan where I had lived very briefly is as depressing as it is shown here.WHomever did chose the locations, certainly knew how to make Saskatchewan look even worse than it is.With great camera work, great performances - it's just a solid film.Not my favorite. Never will be,but just good in it's own ways.Charlize has such a beautiful face, even when she has swollen eyes, she still looks amazing.
Maybe not sleepwalking but at least snoozing.
posted on 14 Jul 2008May induce sleeping, I don't know about sleepwalking. I doubt in cause when I woke from drifting off I was still in the same chair and unfortunately still watching this movie. It goes from dry, depressing, dark and pointless to even more of the same. The acting is not very good, which is an insult to Denise Hoper, Woody Harrelson and especially Charlize Theron, I expect way more from an Academy Award winning actress. It cannot all be blamed on her performance but I ask myself, why aren't Academy Award winners more picky about the movies they choose post winning. This film is another example of a trailer being better then the movie, just by watching the trailer and having this cast, most directors could make a better movie. I'm honestly trying to think of a positive but I'm just coming up empty. I mentioned in my review for The Love Guru about bias towards comedies and that they automatically get a lower ratting because they are comedies. I feel this is sometimes the same way with dramas, sometimes they really do suck, but because they deal with emotions and imitate real life situations they automatically get a higher ratting then they deserve.
about as depressing as can be
posted on 16 Jun 2008My interpretation of "Sleepwalking" as extremely depressing may spring from the fact that I knew nothing about it when I started watching it. Charlize Theron plays down-and-out Jolene, who dumps her daughter Tara (AnnaSophia Robb) on her brother James (Nick Stahl) and disappears. James now has to reconsider how he has lived his whole life.The wintry setting in this movie has the same effect as the setting in "Affliction": as bleak as can be...especially after what ends up happening after James and Tara go on the road. Definitely not a film that will leave you feeling good. Not to demean the movie at all; I do recommend it. You just have to understand that this is a VERY depressing one, exactly the sort of movie to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. I don't know whether or not you'll like it, but I still encourage you to at least check it out. Also starring Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrelson and Mathew St. Patrick (who played Keith on "Six Feet Under"). I assume that director William Maher is not the same as Bill Maher of "Real Time with Bill Maher".
I'm S L E E P walk I N G...
posted on 10 Jun 2008I watched this movie because I like AnnaSophia Robb a lot. I think she is an actress with a great potential and she is so cute too. She was "almost OK" but the movie wasn't. It started very bad and finished ten times worst.The movie is pointless, too slow and boring. It makes you sleep... and very deeply.The character of Nick Stahl was terrible and so stupid. It had some awful scenes like the fight with his father or when the boss got fired him. I think Charlize Theron is a great actress but in this movie was very bad too.Watch this movie only if you suffer insomnia. It can help you. Otherwise watch something else...
You woke me up
posted on 25 May 2008The pacing of this movie is a little slow. There were times when i almost gave up on it, and wanted to stop watching it, but didn't. I am glad i finished this movie because there is something so honest, and pure about the subject matter.What's great about this movie is it's not flashy like people think movies need to be. It is not over the top, not glamorous. This movie is striped to the bare essence of what it takes to make a good film or better, great acting, and a genuine story line.The movie has a slow start, but a rapid ending that leaves you wanting more. The characters are really well developed. I feel a close connection to all of them. I feel like they are real people, and that's unusual to feel when watching a movie.It's a movie about choices, about how one moment can change your life. The decisions we make are not always right, most of them are made on impulse, but we still have to deal with the aftermath, and learn a lesson along the way.
Not horrible? No, it's not Horrible
posted on 25 May 2008Did you ever sit through a movie and find yourself hoping the entire time that it would get better? It isn't good, and hasn't been good yet, but there's some good acting and a foundation for a story and you just really, really want it to be good. But it isn't good. And it doesn't get good. And you feel bad for everyone involved. You feel bad for the actors, the producers, the writer and the director. And the editor. You pretty much feel bad for everyone because they tried, you can tell that they tried. But they failed. And that isn't fun.The story is clearly personal and fairly believable, even if at moments it feels like a movie and not real life. This is a sharp criticism because this movie screams at you that it is real life and not a phony movie, which makes the phony-ness a little harder to digest. But in the end, you know what is going to happen every step of the way. The story is terribly predictable. And, even more unfortunately, it is very slow. Not the good kind of slow where the tension builds, you get to know the characters better, and the atmosphere takes you to another place. It's just plain boring. You know what's you're supposed to feel and you you know what's going to happen next and how you're supposed to feel about that.In the end, you're left wishing that they had not made this movie, or had added more depth to it so that you could like it. Because you want to like it. Very good performances from Nick Stahl and AnnaSophia Robb push this movie from a 2 to a 4 for me. Dennis Hopper also comes in and does some nice work.Finally, I adore Charlize Theron. I think she is a true talent and a genuine person. She produced this movie and plays a supporting yet crucial role in it. But, and it kills me to say this, she is not at her best here. I wish I could say otherwise, but perhaps she was too close to the material to both produce and act in it.
Can they stop "sleepwalking" through life and get some direction?
posted on 07 May 2008Charlize Theron produced this movie and takes the key role as the whacked out mother. While it is a key role, it still must be regarded as a supporting role. When the movie begins she and her 12 year old daughter are forced to move out of her boyfriend's place when he is arrested for dope and growing it. Their only short-term hope is to crash at her brother's spartan place, with no real plan. The daughter just wants to live the way a normal 12-year-old school girl lives but with mom that seems pretty well impossible.Nick Stahl is good as the brother, James. AnnaSophia Robb is superb as the daughter, Tara. And of course Charlize Theron is the mom, Joleen.When mom goes out one evening and never returns, things change even more. Then when James, a rather "dull" person, loses his menial job, and already 60 days behind on his rent, they have to look for even more drastic solutions. They end up taking a road trip, and that trip takes them back to the farm where his dad still lives and works the farm.Joleen had often said that she would NEVER go back to that place and we soon find out why. Dennis Hopper as Mr. Reedy, "Dad", is about the most severe person you could find. He won't allow them any rest, or vacation, he gets both of them up at the crack of dawn and requires them to work all day. Tara quickly figures out why her mom hates that place and had severed ties with grandpa. The movie examines their plight and the theme, per the title, is for the main players to see if they can quit sleepwalking through life and get on a better, happier track. By the end it appears that they will.SPOILERS: James is able to tolerate his severe dad, at least at first, because he had no choice. No money and no place to go. But one day when dad starts to beat Tara in the barn when he doesn't like her attitude, James beats him with a large shovel and kills him. He travels back to home, where Tara and Joleen are reunited, but James keeps on trucking. We don't know what happened to him.
Good performances, but the movie isn't lovely
posted on 19 Feb 2008The movie have great performances(the best is Anna Sophia Robb) and it is a little movie, but the history is poor and the cast have almost nothing to do on the scenes. Charlize performance is nice and she is a great actress. Nick Stahl is not one actor that i love to see, but he is a very good actor. But Anna Sophia Robb is brilliant, she is the best of the movie, with no doubts and she can do all the type of movies and still be great. But the only missing part of the movie is basically the most important: the history. Is so nice to watch a beautiful drama and get touched by the history, but the history is not so great.Isn't bad, but could be very better.....
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Powerful, disturbing movie. Not fun to see but worth seeing...
posted on 21 Jul 2009I live in Puerto Rico and have submitted reviews before under my earlier email address."Sleepwalking" is a powerful, disturbing movie. It is not a fun movie to see. It is a movie about coming of age or finding out what makes us fear and want to repress our dirty little secrets. I am in a twelve-step program for an addiction. Seeing this movie was as good as going to a group meeting where we share our strength, hope and experience. "Sleepwalking" is about soul searching. It is about accepting reality and not living in denial about our life's experience.I seldom laughed or even smile during this movie until the very end. It almost depressed me because it reminded me of my dishonest life before I got honest with myself.There are four key characters: (1) A father who is cruel and abusive to those who are his loved ones. (2) His daughter who hangs on to the cruel past and does not know how to let go of her resentments against her father in order to enjoy the present. (3) The daughter's timid brother who refuses to honestly examine, face and accept the reality of his past; and therefore, he is unable to have the desire to face his present or future.(4) The daughter's very young, confused and angry daughter who is caught in a trap between her mother's living in the past and her uncle's refusal to accept the present and is afraid to face his future.I don't expect this movie to be a box office success. However, I expect this movie will stimulate many to do our own soul searching. I was a lot like the brother who always denied the truth about his father and did want to confront any of the important issues of living in reality.I would like to add the following comment to my earlier review:Puerto Rico, where I live, is truly an "Enchanted Island." It is colorful and joyful. The people, the scenery and the climate make you feel alive and happy. Puerto Rico also has constant playing of all kinds of Latin music. Puerto Ricans are gifted to appreciate music. They love to sing and dance. They also excel in the visual arts. I actually love and enjoy viewing some of the graffiti in Puerto Rico. I think some of it should be on display in the great art museums of the world.In "Sleepwalking" the scenery and climate could not have been more dull, barren and depressing. There are boring, depressing highways that go for miles without any beautiful scenery. Every location in "Sleepwalking" is flat, dreary and depressing. This added to the disturbing impact of the movie. The people who live in the area of the movie are colorless, dull and depressing. I have noted this lack of beauty and joy in other art films made in the plains just east of the Rockie. Or was this dreariness in the far west? Was it in Utah? I would go out of my mind if I lived in the location of the filming of "Sleepwalking." Boy! I am delighted that I live in Puerto Rico the "Enchanted Island." At the age of eighty, Puerto Rico makes me want to live life with carefree joy. It is difficult to get depress on this bubbling island of colorful living