“Sleepers” (1996), directed by Barry Levinson, is a powerful and emotionally charged crime drama that explores the complexities of friendship, justice, and revenge. Based on Lorenzo Carcaterra’s bestselling 1995 book of the same name, the film takes viewers through a harrowing journey that spans decades, blending elements of crime, legal drama, and personal trauma. With a star-studded cast featuring Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon, and Brad Pitt, “Sleepers” is a gripping exploration of the consequences of abuse, the pursuit of justice, and the blurred lines between right and wrong.

Set in the 1960s, “Sleepers” follows the lives of four young boys—Shakes (Brad Renfro), Michael (Jonathan Tucker), Lorenzo (Giuseppe Sanfelice), and John (Jason Patric)—who grow up together in Hell’s Kitchen, a tough neighborhood in New York City. Their childhood friendship is tested when they are sent to a juvenile detention center after a prank goes horribly wrong. At the center, the boys endure horrific abuse at the hands of the guards, led by a sadistic officer named “Nokes” (Kevin Bacon). The trauma they experience marks them for life, and the film shifts between their past and their adult lives, which are shaped by the painful memories of their time in the institution.