SHERDOG MOVIE CLUB: WEEK 112: Light Sleeper

[europe1]

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Here's a quick list of all movies watched by the SMC. Or if you prefer, here's a more detailed examination.


First, we found Dafoe counterfeiting in To Live and Die in LA, now he's selling cocaine in Light Sleeper!

Our Director

Paul Schrader

Although his name is often linked to that of the "movie brat" generation (Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Brian De Palma, etc.) Paul Schrader's background couldn't have been more different than theirs. His strict Calvinist parents refused to allow him to see a film until he was 18. Although he more than made up for lost time when studying at Calvin College, Columbia University and UCLA's graduate film program, his influences were far removed from those of his contemporaries--Robert Bresson, Yasujirô Ozu and Carl Theodor Dreyer (about whom he wrote a book, "Transcendental Style in Film") rather than Saturday-morning serials. After a period as a film critic (and protégé of Pauline Kael), he began writing screenplays, hitting the jackpot when he and his brother, Leonard Schrader (a Japanese expert), were paid the then-record sum of $325,000, thus establishing his reputation as one of Hollywood's top screenwriters, which was consolidated when Martin Scorsese filmed Schrader's script Taxi Driver (1976), written in the early 1970s during a bout of drinking and depression. The success of the film allowed Schrader to start directing his own films, which have been notable for their willingness to take stylistic and thematic risks while still working squarely within the Hollywood system.

Our Star

Willem Dafoe

Film Overview

A drug dealer reconsiders his profession when his boss plans to go straight and an old flame reappears.




Budget: $5 million
Box Office: $1 million

Trivia
(courtesy of IMDB)
​

* Director Paul Schrader actually sent Willem Dafoe out to observe deals with a real drug dealer as training for this role. When Schrader asked Dafoe if anybody recognized him, Dafoe said he believed some did, but that they were afraid they would not get their drugs if they said anything.


* Writer-director Paul Schrader experienced a unique problem while filming was underway in New York City. The film is set during a sanitation worker strike which called for large amounts of uncollected trash to be prominently featured in exterior scenes. But since the real New York City sanitation department was very much on the job they would inadvertently collect trash that was meant to be a part of the film's production design.


* The film briefly shown on TV in Ann's home at the beginning is Kenneth Anger's cult movie Scorpio Rising (1963).


* Writer/Director Paul Schrader has said that "Light Sleeper" is the final film in his trilogy of loners who hate their jobs. "Taxi Driver" and "American Gigolo" were the other two films.


* In one scene, John LeTour (Willem Dafoe) is shown sitting on his bed watching old photographs and listening to some CDs. One of the CDs is the soundtrack from Walter Hill's Streets of Fire (1984), which was Dafoe's first starring role.


* When questioned about what the film's title meant, Willem Dafoe joked that the other two films in Schrader's trilogy of loners were titled after the key characters occupations. He jokingly said Schrader thought no one would watch a film if it was just called "Drug Dealer".


Members: @europe1 @MusterX @Scott Parker 27 @the muntjac @Cubo de Sangre @sickc0d3r @chickenluver @FrontNakedChoke @AndersonsFoot @Tufts @Coolthulu @Yotsuya @Lights Out 101

 

[FrontNakedChoke]

First, we found Dafoe counterfeiting in To Live and Die in LA, now he's selling cocaine in Light Sleeper!

​

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

Had to tap out an hour in due to boredom. Wanted to after 20 minutes and 40 minutes but tried gutting it out for the club. To me it was slow, uneventful, and the acting was uninspired. I liked what I heard of the soundtrack, so there's that.

 

[europe1]

I liked this movie more than I thought I would.

Initially, it seemed like one of those movies that would have no conflict or forward-propulsion to them, and therefore by rather meandering and uninteresting. However, once the story with the girlfriend really got going, it got really gripping. That suicide scene was truly harrowing. Great underacting from Dafoe. Really one of those scenes were the emotional build-up throughout the narrative comers crashing into your face.

This movie's atmosphere feels like it's trying to ape Blade Runner without the sci-fi. You have a lone man in a brown jacket cruising the city at night, a melancholic saxophone dominating the soundtrack, lot's of colored lighting to set the ambiance, trash and grime dominating the cityscape, as well as voice-over narrations from our protagonist. Sprinkle in some Geisha-advertizement and comments about "living in the off-world colonies" and you have it. Lastly, there are several montages that are overscored by songs, rather Michael Mann-esque, like if we're watching Manhunter or something.

Other than that, it felt like a very Shrader-esque movie. Loner cruising the city at night, deep in contemplation and existential angst, very much like Taxi Driver and American Gigolo. Though Taxi Driver was more about a psychopath, and American Gigolo about a guy with really confused sexuality, Light Sleeper is more forlornly. Dafoe is a guy in his 40's who see's little future in what he does, loved once, and want's to love again. He believes in New Age quackery. Tragedy strikes -- and ultimately he finds some sort of solace in friends.

I really liked that scene in the Washroom. "You looking at me?" the pudgy woman asks Dafoe, and he says no. The camera angle switch, and we find out he's staring at the cop instead. Such a clever little set-up. Also like how the window cracks as the policeman shoves Dafoe against it. Considering Shrader wrote Taxi Driver, I wonder if the "You looking at me?" line is supposed to be a reflection on DeNiro's "You talking to me spiel" when he's infront of the mirror.

 

[europe1]

Had to tap out an hour in due to boredom.

 

[Scott Parker 27]

Where do I start with this movie? First thing that stood out to me was how off and out of place the music was, unlike what @Cubo de Sangre elluded to. I thought it was ok, and glad I watched it. I love Defoe, hes awesome in everything he does. I wasnt quite sure what the message of the movie was other than stay away from drugs. I think it wouldve had a little more impact if they showed a bit of the backstory, maybe defoe and the chick married before shit went down. Also Susan Sarandon as a major dealer....ok..whatever. @europe1 said, it had tones of taxi driver to it, but taxi driver light.

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

 

[europe1]

I wasnt quite sure what the message of the movie was other than stay away from drugs.

Yeah... when you think about it... it's kind of really fucked up.

So, Dafoe thinks that Marianne was murdered by the sleazy european guy. However, just as he says, it's highly likely that she committed suicide. He didn't have any motivations whatsoever to kill her. And when Marianne saw him -- cocked-up and undignified as she was -- she was probably heartbroken, wallowing in humiliation and chagrin. So her committing suicide is by far the most likely explanation. Not to mention throwing her out a window would attract a lot of attention from the european.

The reason why Dafoe thinks it's murder comes from his own lack of acknowledgment that she was suicidal. He was dead-set on them getting together and having a happy life together. He visits that New Age quack and she tells him that she sees murder in his face (right before saying she wants to go to sleep). He can't accept this outcome. It wasn't meant to happen.

Marianne killed herself because the cocaine had destroyed her spiritually, bodily and cognitively (being brought to that stage due to her grief over the death of her mother). But Dafoe -- not even once -- blames the cocaine that he himself peddles for her death. Doesn't even cross his mind, he's absolutely blind to it. Instead, he zombie-like persues that sleazy European, convinced he killed her, despite there being no motive what-so-ever. He is so enamored with his cocaine that he can't even play with the possibility that it was the murderer, the thing that degraded her beyond hope. He wanted to have his happy ending and he can't accept that it was taken from him, so he needs something he can avenge himself on... and it isn't cocaine.

Jesus... this story is really fucking dark.

 

[Tufts]

This will be a lil disjointed coz it’s being composed on my phone while traveling.

While I was looking forward to Borgman, this flick would have been my second choice. I enjoyed the movie for sure. I loved the soundtrack and felt it did an awesome job of either setting (intro), or reflecting, the mood being lived on screen. After running into Marianne, the song could not have been more literal.

Totally cracked up over some quotes, these being my favorites:

1. They decide to score at the last minute and they want it now! (I was amazed at the $200 a gram price on the coke, but I guess high end delivery where your dealer has his own driver has a lot of folks in the operation that need to be compensated. I was curious how much those two Valium’s cost Tis in the hospital.)
2. You were an encyclopedia of suicidal fantasies.
3. There are peacemakers everywhere wanting to score!

Stylistically, I loved the outfits. Thank God shoulder pads are out, although I kinda coveted the leather fanny pack!

I noticed the prevalence of red and green in a lot of shots and felt it created nice visuals. Anne (Susan Sarandon) was so ahead of her time. Did you guys notice her use of extensions in her hair? Wow! Didn’t know that was an option in the last century. She was certainly the quintessential lady in red!

I was a lil annoyed over the coincidental running into Marianne twice and felt better after he brought the odds of that happening up explicitly. I almost died when Anne accepted it easily saying the odds were high if your whatever was in the house of relationships during tarot readings. She also amused me when she was ok with the long detour so that Dafoe could get his lucky jacket (gun!). I loved her balls shen she confronted Tis’ goons.

I was impressed with the lack of ego Dafoe showed when he was filmed with his saggy tummy and uber white skin in bed. Not flattering, but very realistic. That man sure has a mouthful of teeth! I did wonder if a drug dealer should just be throwing away his diaries like that!

That was a seriously weird meal of berries he had with Anne. I’m guessing it was dessert.... but I’ve never seen anything quite like it and I’ve eaten out a lot!

The sex scene was filmed in an interesting manner from above. They were mirror images of each other (something that happened a lot in the film). And after, I found it interesting that she was holding him much like a mother would hold a child, or a man a woman. It was clear to me who needed whom.

My favorite scene was one where there was a random extra dancing next to an escalator. Wow! I want a gif of that! When I get back to the US, I’ll try to figure out how to make my own.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about the shoot out at the end. Clearly he had limited experience with guns, and it seemed like he missed a couple of shots from just about a foot away, but then nailed Tis right in the forehead. Dafoe struck me as a pretty sensitive guy. I wasn’t sure I bought him killing people in such a cavalier fashion. I could see him going after Tis, but when he shot the first goon in cold blood, it really surprised me.

That hand kiss at the end is prolly the sexiest hand kiss I’ve ever seen. I was also totally entertained by his kiss with Marianne in the hospital.

Marianne’s story made me really sad. I’m still processing it.

 

[Tufts]

Yeah... when you think about it... it's kind of really fucked up.

So, Dafoe thinks that Marianne was murdered by the sleazy european guy. However, just as he says, it's highly likely that she committed suicide. He didn't have any motivations whatsoever to kill her. And when Marianne saw him -- cocked-up and undignified as she was -- she was probably heartbroken, wallowing in humiliation and chagrin. So her committing suicide is by far the most likely explanation. Not to mention throwing her out a window would attract a lot of attention from the european.

The reason why Dafoe thinks it's murder comes from his own lack of acknowledgment that she was suicidal. He was dead-set on them getting together and having a happy life together. He visits that New Age quack and she tells him that she sees murder in his face (right before saying she wants to go to sleep). He can't accept this outcome. It wasn't meant to happen.

Marianne killed herself because the cocaine had destroyed her spiritually, bodily and cognitively. But Dafoe -- not even once -- blames the cocaine that he himself peddles for her death. Doesn't even cross his mind, he's absolutely blind to it. Instead, he zombie-like persues that sleazy European, convinced he killed her, despite there being no motive what-so-ever. He is so enamored with his cocaine that he can't even play with the possibility that it was the murderer, the thing that degraded her beyond hope. He wanted to have his happy ending and he can't accept that it was taken from him, so he needs something he can avenge himself on... and it isn't cocaine.

Jesus... this story is really fucking dark.

He felt guilty. She tried to stay away from him coz he had contributed to a bad life she had had to work hard to overcome. She saw him being kind to her mother in the hospital room, and gave into temptation. She was under tremendous stress because her mother was dying, and was therefore emotionally vulnerable. Her mother then died while she was sleeping with him, thus confirming how bad he was for her. It was this guilt on her part that led to her go back to drugs, and the shame she felt when she saw him again was too much for her to overcome. He felt guilt over all of this that he chose to put on the drug dealer. Depressing mess.

 

[MusterX]

I've never seen such goodhearted well meaning drug dealers in my life. If I had to characterize the sound track it would be soft core saxophone. Dafoe was the awkward bastard I remembered. Marianne was a freak, what was up with that chick? Oh no you can't see my dying mother, lets bang, never see me again because you are a drug dealer and I'm clean now, <gets caught doing drugs>, <is shoved out window or jumps out window, I don't even know> Even Marianne's own sister said she ruined everything after her death.

Just such a strange mix of content and music that don't seem to go together. My favorite WTF line in this movie was "I'm dripping." I'm like really, you're dripping? That's the line?

 

[Yotsuya]

Great start for me here at the movie club. I also liked Light Sleeper more that I expected. The late 80's/early 90's cool and vintage slices of New York yuppie scene were really enjoyable. Movie was a bit awkwardly artsy at first, but got me really hooked towards the end. Impressive buildup. Excellent hauntingly ominous soundtrack reminds me of Manhunter. I'll write more later if I have time.

 

[FrontNakedChoke]

Marianne killed herself because the cocaine had destroyed her spiritually, bodily and cognitively (being brought to that stage due to her grief over the death of her mother). But Dafoe -- not even once -- blames the cocaine that he himself peddles for her death. Doesn't even cross his mind, he's absolutely blind to it. Instead, he zombie-like persues that sleazy European, convinced he killed her, despite there being no motive what-so-ever. He is so enamored with his cocaine that he can't even play with the possibility that it was the murderer, the thing that degraded her beyond hope. He wanted to have his happy ending and he can't accept that it was taken from him, so he needs something he can avenge himself on... and it isn't cocaine.

Jesus... this story is really fucking dark.

Man. How depressing. I haven't been this sad since we watched Last Exit to Brooklyn.

I guess Cocaine really is a hell of a drug.

 

[MusterX]

Marianne killed herself because the cocaine had destroyed her spiritually, bodily and cognitively (being brought to that stage due to her grief over the death of her mother). But Dafoe -- not even once -- blames the cocaine that he himself peddles for her death. Doesn't even cross his mind, he's absolutely blind to it. Instead, he zombie-like persues that sleazy European, convinced he killed her, despite there being no motive what-so-ever. He is so enamored with his cocaine that he can't even play with the possibility that it was the murderer, the thing that degraded her beyond hope. He wanted to have his happy ending and he can't accept that it was taken from him, so he needs something he can avenge himself on... and it isn't cocaine.

Now hold on just a second here. Le Tour refused to sell to the guy that was strung out and called his brother to come get him. He was well aware of what the drug did to people.

 

[MusterX]

Instead, he zombie-like persues that sleazy European, convinced he killed her, despite there being no motive what-so-ever.

Now hold on just a second. The police were pursuing what may have been a killer, the Euro that says, "What a nightmare." I'm going to start using that line btw, I loved his delivery of it every time. The Euro was the killer of the girl in the pond and of Marianne. Why do you think he was trying to kill Le Tour at the end of the movie? That dude was O.J. level guilty.

 

[europe1]

Now hold on just a second here. Le Tour refused to sell to the guy that was strung out and called his brother to come get him. He was well aware of what the drug did to people.

I'm just referring to cocaine in relation to her (as I wrote). He knows that cocaine is damaging and destroys peoples minds. But he blames the european guy for her death -- without any grounds to do so -- instead of the cocaine that he peddles. Think about it, that powder she sniffed most likely came from his stash. He provided the drugs that put her in such a self-destructive mental-state, which galvanized her towards suicide. Yet he never once connects this to her death, that he played a part in making it possible. Seems to me like a guy that is repressing something psychologically.

 

[europe1]

Why do you think he was trying to kill Le Tour at the end of the movie?

1. We don't know if he genuinely intended to kill Dafoe. After all, Dafoe shoot first.

2. Even if he did intend to kill Dafoe (which is most likely), that does not prove him killing Marianne. After all, he knew that someone had been leaking information about him to the police. Being singled out in a crime scenes with loads of dope is going to put him in jeopardy on drug charges. And even if he didn't kill her -- there would still be strong suspicion against him in the polices eyes for doing so. So he has motivations for killing Dafoe which are independent of if he killed Marianne or not.

3. What motive does he have to kill Marianne? She was just a coke hussy like some many others. He shows no malice towards her in the room, and even absentmindedly points out that the two know each other, seemingly fearing no consequence of doing so. And if he did it -- why throw her out of the window, highly jeopardizing himself?

 

[MusterX]

I'm just referring to cocaine in relation to her (as I wrote). He knows that cocaine is damaging and destroys peoples minds. But he blames the european guy for her death -- without any grounds to do so -- instead of the cocaine that he peddles. Think about it, that powder she sniffed most likely came from his stash. He provided the drugs that put her in such a self-destructive mental-state, which galvanized her towards suicide. Yet he never once connects this to her death, that he played a part in making it possible. Seems to me like a guy that is repressing something psychologically.

The cop was looking for the Euro guy, other deaths were at play. Either the drugs killed them or the Euro was a killer. Le Tour was convinced based on his interactions with the dick cop that the Euro was killing people. I hate calling him the Euro, his name was Tis. Tis was a psycho.

 

[Yotsuya]

One of the bodies was found with some pure coke. The Euro had plenty of pure coke. The dude was a yuppie psycho on some sort of murderous rampage. The movie was made one year after American Psycho book came out btw.

 

[MusterX]

1. We don't know if he genuinely intended to kill Dafoe. After all, Dafoe shoot first.

2. Even if he did intend to kill Dafoe (which is most likely), that does not prove him killing Marianne. After all, he knew that someone had been leaking information about him to the police. Being singled out in a crime scenes with loads of dope is going to put him in jeopardy on drug charges. And even if he didn't kill her -- there would still be strong suspicion against him in the polices eyes for doing so. So he has motivations for killing Dafoe which are independent of if he killed Marianne or not.

3. What motive does he have to kill Marianne? She was just a coke hussy like some many others. He shows no malice towards her in the room, and even absentmindedly points out that the two know each other, seemingly fearing no consequence of doing so. And if he did it -- why throw her out of the window, highly jeopardizing himself?

1. Bruh, Tis and his men were armed and ready to take him out even though they never had guns before.

2. How was the shit covered up when Marianne went out the window? The official police report was that nobody was home. Also there was the death of the other girl that was found in the pond with drugs in her pocket.

3. His motive to kill Marianne? Tis seemed like a weirdo, he did drugs, he had henchmen, he had guns. Maybe he was tired of all these ho's. What a nightmare, amarite? Maybe he had diplomatic immunity.