Screenwriter turned director Paul Schrader seems to be taken for granted when he helms his own projects. "Light Sleeper" is probably the filmmaker's most overlooked film (I had never even heard of it till I stumbled on it during one of my routine searches for new movies to watch) and was one of the director's most praised films thanks primarily due to the casting of and excellent performance of lead actor Willem Dafoe.
The story (written by Schrader) revolves around a small-time drug courier, John LeTour (Dafoe) whose career is about to end with his boss's (Susan Sarandon) planned venture into cosmetics. When an old girlfriend (Dana Delany) comes to town for a family crisis, LeTour finds himself trying to find new meaning to his life and soon must evade danger when tragedy strikes.
By far the film's best performance comes from its leading man. As John LeTour, Willem Dafoe plays the character as a straight-up good guy in a bad business who has lost sight of what he wants for himself. John hates his job despite a loyalty to his employer, Ann, and loathes the utter loneliness he finds himself in (expressed in diary entries delivered through voice-over). Dafoe deftly portrays a vulnerability to John as he wanders aimlessly through the city streets at night, silently contemplating what his life has come to and where is he supposed to go with his lifestyle being uprooted. His costar chemistry is subtle with both leading ladies; displaying an unrequited love for Dana Delany's character even though she is hesitant to rekindle their youthful feelings (sadly the relationship is doomed and a fling that was not to be). In his relationship with Susan Sarandon's Ann, Dafoe's LeTour is loyal despite his growing dislike for the drug dealing and Ann's planned new venture, but also harbors a secret affection for the woman who has given him employment (just watch their final exchange in the film's last scene) though at times John is angry with Ann for her plan that won't involve his services. The performance is so layered yet there is still so little we know about John's past before he became a drug courier, only privy to his past friendship with Dana Delany's character.
The film's atmosphere is distinct within the world director Paul Schrader creates. Most of the action is set at nighttime as we follow our protagonist around the lonely city streets to his empty apartment; a bit of a metaphorical journey through the mind of John LeTour. Lighting is low from the streetlights along the streets to the mellow lighting of Ann's apartment that is decorated in red and the bright hotel and jailhouse lighting from the finale of the film. Only a select scene or two is set during daylight given the film's title is "Light Sleeper" which tells us of how little our main character sleeps or if John ever sleeps.
The story (written by Schrader) revolves around a small-time drug courier, John LeTour (Dafoe) whose career is about to end with his boss's (Susan Sarandon) planned venture into cosmetics. When an old girlfriend (Dana Delany) comes to town for a family crisis, LeTour finds himself trying to find new meaning to his life and soon must evade danger when tragedy strikes.
By far the film's best performance comes from its leading man. As John LeTour, Willem Dafoe plays the character as a straight-up good guy in a bad business who has lost sight of what he wants for himself. John hates his job despite a loyalty to his employer, Ann, and loathes the utter loneliness he finds himself in (expressed in diary entries delivered through voice-over). Dafoe deftly portrays a vulnerability to John as he wanders aimlessly through the city streets at night, silently contemplating what his life has come to and where is he supposed to go with his lifestyle being uprooted. His costar chemistry is subtle with both leading ladies; displaying an unrequited love for Dana Delany's character even though she is hesitant to rekindle their youthful feelings (sadly the relationship is doomed and a fling that was not to be). In his relationship with Susan Sarandon's Ann, Dafoe's LeTour is loyal despite his growing dislike for the drug dealing and Ann's planned new venture, but also harbors a secret affection for the woman who has given him employment (just watch their final exchange in the film's last scene) though at times John is angry with Ann for her plan that won't involve his services. The performance is so layered yet there is still so little we know about John's past before he became a drug courier, only privy to his past friendship with Dana Delany's character.
The film's atmosphere is distinct within the world director Paul Schrader creates. Most of the action is set at nighttime as we follow our protagonist around the lonely city streets to his empty apartment; a bit of a metaphorical journey through the mind of John LeTour. Lighting is low from the streetlights along the streets to the mellow lighting of Ann's apartment that is decorated in red and the bright hotel and jailhouse lighting from the finale of the film. Only a select scene or two is set during daylight given the film's title is "Light Sleeper" which tells us of how little our main character sleeps or if John ever sleeps.