Mostly bland crime story in which a homeless man (Rupert Graves) is witness to a hanging from London's Tower Bridge. When he goes to report the crime, he discovers the cop leading the investigation (Michael Gambon) was one of the hangers, so he enlists the help of a journalist (Annabella Sciorra) to expose the story. Unfortunately, aside from a neat twist about three-quarters of the way through, there is little real mystery or suspense: we know Gambon did it, and Graves manages to stay out of any real danger for most of the film. The actors do the best they can, but get little support from the unsubtle script and direction; Sciorra spends most of her time being earnest and Gambon chews a little scenery but not enough to make a lasting impression. Graves is a solid lead but falls victim to the film's biggest failing; this is one of the least convincing depictions of homelessness I've seen. Overall, the film feels like a typical British TV crime show, but with most of the depth carefully removed.
10 Reviews
Not as bad as some.
wisewebwoman16 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
A movie, based on the Roberto Calvi story - the famous Vatican banker found hanging, quite suspiciously, from London Bridge some time in the eighties.
Rupert Grave, Annabella Sciorra and Michael Gambon star. Graham Crowden as George, brings awesome talent to his role. Plot is not as "holey" as some but those that are, are unfortunately quite large and clichéd.
What I truly liked was that there was no romance in the whole thing. A refreshing change. And no disclosures of past histories of broken marriages or partners now unpartnered. Very adult. Unlike some US films of the same genre where there are always sexual hitters and hittees.
What I didn't like was Michael Gambon chewing the scenery along with his cohorts. Down to further chewing of a cigar to let us know how really "bad guy" he is in case we missed his savagely moving eyebrows and darting eyes and twisty mouth.
John Hannah in a bit piece was lovely, accent in place, wryness on tap.
The ending, I mean the very ending, not the warehouse bit, was satisfying.
It missed being great by not such a wide mark. Shame.
The director should have pulled in the performances and spent a bit more on the lighting and fixed the plot holes.
6 out of 10.
Rupert Grave, Annabella Sciorra and Michael Gambon star. Graham Crowden as George, brings awesome talent to his role. Plot is not as "holey" as some but those that are, are unfortunately quite large and clichéd.
What I truly liked was that there was no romance in the whole thing. A refreshing change. And no disclosures of past histories of broken marriages or partners now unpartnered. Very adult. Unlike some US films of the same genre where there are always sexual hitters and hittees.
What I didn't like was Michael Gambon chewing the scenery along with his cohorts. Down to further chewing of a cigar to let us know how really "bad guy" he is in case we missed his savagely moving eyebrows and darting eyes and twisty mouth.
John Hannah in a bit piece was lovely, accent in place, wryness on tap.
The ending, I mean the very ending, not the warehouse bit, was satisfying.
It missed being great by not such a wide mark. Shame.
The director should have pulled in the performances and spent a bit more on the lighting and fixed the plot holes.
6 out of 10.
too far stretched
itsmesarahharris3 February 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The main problem with this film is the main character's accent - he's supposed to be from Liverpool I believe, however Harry Enfield's scousers were more convincing. Of course, if you are from outside the UK, the previous comment will probably seem like gibberish to you, and the accent in question won't grate from minute one and destroy the credibility of the film every time he opens his mouth. So that's OK then. The film is moderately engaging - notwithstanding that all the 'baddies' are played so pantomime villain style it is just comical - until the moment the plot stretches the incredulity gap just a little too far. At the point where homeless 'scouser' murder witness Alan is left alone in his lady journo contact's house, and innocently rifling through her videos he just happens to play a taped TV interview with her defending her decision to name a previous source who subsequently hanged themself. Cue Alan's shocked indignation and off he goes to perform whatever actions are now required to advance the plot. Too late, the film's just gone belly up. The movie's set in London, in the eighties, and it was quite entertaining to see a mid-nineties interpretation of that era. I also enjoyed the reasonably dark and gritty atmosphere that was created. I would not, however, recommend staying up till the small hours on a school night watching the film from start to finish then writing a mildly disappointed review,as you will be left with an achingly empty feeling inside, wondering what on Earth has become of your life.
Enjoyable dramatisation of a real-life murder mystery
heedarmy16 January 2003
This enjoyable little thriller has an old-fashioned feel and is none the worse for that. Rupert Graves is surprisingly good as a Scouse drifter, sleeping rough near Tower Bridge, who witnesses a murder. Attempts to report the crime to the police go awry when he realises that the detective investigating the case is one of the killers.
The story is a lightly-fictionalised account of the P2 masonic lodge scandal that led to the fall of the Italian government in May 1981 after revelations of infiltration by members of the illegal masonic lodge. (P2 stands for Propaganda Due). Licio Gelli, the Master of the lodge, was a former fascist and CIA officer working in league with Roberto Calvi, the President of Banco Ambrosiano of Milan, who was already in prison accused of illicit export of capital.
One of Gelli's protégés was Michele Sindona, a banker connected with the Mafia, who had previously managed the funds of the Vatican and embezzled several billion lira. Sindona escaped to the US where he was apprehended and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for fraudulent bankruptcy. (An inspector who had been making inquiries about him was mysteriously killed.)
As for Calvi, he was found dangling from a noose beneath Blackfriars Bridge in London, his pockets and waistband stuffed with bricks. Ever since, questions have persisted about how he died. At first, a London coroner concluded it was suicide. However, his son and widow, who live in Montreal, have doggedly tried to prove that Roberto Calvi was killed.
As chairman of Banco Ambrosiano, he was an influential financier who was nicknamed "God's banker" because of his close ties to the Vatican. In June, 1982, a year after being convicted of massive currency violations in Italy and with his bank teetering on collapse, he vanished. A week later, he was found hanging from scaffolding beneath Blackfriars Bridge, over the Thames. Banco Ambrosiano subsequently collapsed with enormous debts in a $1.3-billion (U.S.) bankruptcy.
This suspected murder forms the premise of Scott Michell's film. It is atmospherically photographed, largely at night (watch it with the lights out, or you won't be able to make out a thing) and benefits greatly from an excellent music score by the young British composer Mark Ayres, which recalls the work of John Barry at some points.
The story is a lightly-fictionalised account of the P2 masonic lodge scandal that led to the fall of the Italian government in May 1981 after revelations of infiltration by members of the illegal masonic lodge. (P2 stands for Propaganda Due). Licio Gelli, the Master of the lodge, was a former fascist and CIA officer working in league with Roberto Calvi, the President of Banco Ambrosiano of Milan, who was already in prison accused of illicit export of capital.
One of Gelli's protégés was Michele Sindona, a banker connected with the Mafia, who had previously managed the funds of the Vatican and embezzled several billion lira. Sindona escaped to the US where he was apprehended and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for fraudulent bankruptcy. (An inspector who had been making inquiries about him was mysteriously killed.)
As for Calvi, he was found dangling from a noose beneath Blackfriars Bridge in London, his pockets and waistband stuffed with bricks. Ever since, questions have persisted about how he died. At first, a London coroner concluded it was suicide. However, his son and widow, who live in Montreal, have doggedly tried to prove that Roberto Calvi was killed.
As chairman of Banco Ambrosiano, he was an influential financier who was nicknamed "God's banker" because of his close ties to the Vatican. In June, 1982, a year after being convicted of massive currency violations in Italy and with his bank teetering on collapse, he vanished. A week later, he was found hanging from scaffolding beneath Blackfriars Bridge, over the Thames. Banco Ambrosiano subsequently collapsed with enormous debts in a $1.3-billion (U.S.) bankruptcy.
This suspected murder forms the premise of Scott Michell's film. It is atmospherically photographed, largely at night (watch it with the lights out, or you won't be able to make out a thing) and benefits greatly from an excellent music score by the young British composer Mark Ayres, which recalls the work of John Barry at some points.
ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Theo Robertson9 January 2003
This got shown on BBC 1 just before midnight so I was expecting another American TVM . But as it started I was slightly surprised to find THE INNOCENT SLEEP was a British thriller , unfortunately it`s not a very good one
The problem is that it`s not just run of the mill but also treats the characters as stereotypes . All homeless people are either Scottish or scousers except for one old gentleman who is of course very high class , and all of them without exception alkies . Gangsters are of course either cockneys or Italians who of course all smoke cigars . All policemen are either corrupt or stupid while all journalists are of course workaholics who leave no stone unturned as they crusade to cover the truth . As much as the plot tries to twist and turn you still find yourself expecting more from a modern British thriller . Maybe I`d have been better off with an American TVM
The problem is that it`s not just run of the mill but also treats the characters as stereotypes . All homeless people are either Scottish or scousers except for one old gentleman who is of course very high class , and all of them without exception alkies . Gangsters are of course either cockneys or Italians who of course all smoke cigars . All policemen are either corrupt or stupid while all journalists are of course workaholics who leave no stone unturned as they crusade to cover the truth . As much as the plot tries to twist and turn you still find yourself expecting more from a modern British thriller . Maybe I`d have been better off with an American TVM
Odd title.... but I'd certainly watch it again
michaelxharris13 March 2005
I too caught this about midnight, not aware it was being shown and had missed first 15 minutes but thoroughly enjoyed its Britishness. Being a Londoner I found it captured the essence of a London police drama, albeit very stereotypically but with a charm long forgotten, but the locations were wonderfully captured and made me feel quite homesick (even though i'm a North Londoner by birth), it really did remind me of The Lavender Hill Mob or Dixon of Dock Green. It also reminded me of an episode from The Sweeney or dare I say it The Bill and these programmes still have great following. Rupert Graves gave a splendid performance as did the whole cast and wish I had seen it when first shown.
Not bad
Leofwine_draca3 February 2022
I quite liked this mid-budget British crime thriller with an unusual premise. You have to put up with a portrayal of one of the most unrealistic homeless people in film - this guy is a high flier, no way would he be sleeping rough - but the conspiracy plotting works well, as does the journalist angle. Plus you get solid turns from Michael Gambon as the mob boss and a young John Hannah to boot. Kudos for the Franco Nero cameo too!
The Innocent Sleep
CinemaSerf27 August 2023
OK, hands up - I'm a fan of Rupert Graves. Ever since his "Scudder" in "Maurice" (1987) he has been able to do little wrong. Here, he is the likeable dosser "Alan" who accidentally witnesses a mob-style hit in London. The killers know someone saw them and so he must keep one step ahead as they close in. Luckily for him, the crime has attracted the attention of journalist "Billie" (Annabella Sciorra) but can she help keep him alive as he faces pursuit from bent copper "Matheson" (Michael Gambon) and his paymaster "Cavani" (Franco Nero)? As British crime efforts go, this is OK - a decent cast present a reasonably paced drama with just about enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. Sadly, though, the dialogue is straight out an episode of "The Sweeney"; Gambon is nowhere near his best and Nero features just a bit too sparingly to make much of an impact. The illuminated London skyline offers some added menace, and though the ending is really rather poor, director Scott Michell still takes a little time to try to develop the lead characters. No it's not great, but it is still quite a watchable effort.
Liverpool accent
ifjohnson19 September 2019
Appalling! There are plenty of excellent Liverpudlian actors who would have given the role far more authenticity and gravitas. There are certain accents that should never even be attempted by those who are from elsewhere. Aside from that, I have nothing against Rupert Graves, unless he's a Tory, and I thought that his performance in Turks & Caicos was superb.
Sounds Great! Oh Dear...
PurpleProseOfCairo16 January 2003
Warning: Spoilers
Wow! A British thriller, based on the Roberto Calvi story, starring Annabella Sciorra and Michael Gambon! Funny, I don't remember this at the cinema! But surely it can't miss! Oh, but it did... What a weird little movie! Featuring, amongst other delights, Ms Sciorra in a Rhona Cameron hairdo, Gambon playing a Detective Chief Inspector who talks like a cockney barrow boy (**SPOILER** Though there's a clue in the way everyone calls him "Inspector" rather than "Chief Inspector"**END SPOILER**), and a performance from John Hannah that's not so much phoned in as scrawled on a piece of paper in bed, fashioned into a paper airoplane and thrown through the window. What was Annabella thinking? Appearing in this dreck was like Michael Stipe singing with Chas and Dave. It reaches its nadir when Gambon and fellow corrupt cops(straight from central casting) in order to get rid of the pesky tramp who can undo them, visit a homeless encampment and set fire to it, then stand there sneering! If only they'd had moustaches, so they could have twirled them...
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