Sleepers (DVD, 1997)

Four young boys are growing up in the mid-1960's in NYC's Hell's Kitchen. The boys -- Shakes (Joseph Perrino), Michael (Brad Renfro), John (Geoffrey Wigdor) and Tommy (Jonathan Tucker) -- aren't really bad boys, just kids living in a rough neighborhood. They fall under the influence of the 'hood's Mafia leader, King Benny (Vittorio Gassman) but also have a solid friendship with their neighborhood priest, Father Bobby (Robert De Niro).

When they're 14, a foolish prank costs an innocent man his life and they're sent away to reform school where they immediately become targets for the loathesome Sean Nokes (Kevin Bacon), a brutal guard who is the ringleader of a group of guards who molest and beat the boys.

Thirteen years later, all grown up, Tommy (Billy Crudup) and John (Ron Eldard) are Hell's Kitchen thugs while Shakes (Jason Patric) is a low-level newspaper employee and Michael (Brad Pitt) is an assistant district attorney. Their childhood friend Carol (Minnie Driver), now a social worker, is still loyal to all of them.

When Tommy and John encounter the despicable Sean Nokes dining at a local bar and grill, they take the opportunity to exact revenge upon him by murdering him in cold blood -- with four witnesses present.

Shakes and Michael conspire and hatch a plan to not only get Tommy and John off but also to take revenge on the other guards who Sean Nokes lead to ravage the boys when they were young.

While Michael arranges to take on the case to prosecute Tommy and John, King Benny hires an alcoholic, loser attorney (Dustin Hoffman) to defend the boys.

Will the plan work? Will Father Bobby aid the cause?

A masterful ensemble of actors. Directed by Barry Levinson who is known for his films about male bonding (Diner, Tin Men, Avalon, Rain Man). Fabulous music from the '60s and '70s. Haunting sets and cinematography.

I highly recommend this one if you can handle the intensity. Be warned that it is long but can easily be viewed in two sections -- when the boys are young and then when they've grown up.

This movie was so good. I had so many emotions all at once. All of the main characters were A listers. I thought this movie was well thought out and well played by everyone involved. You felt the pain of the abused children and there need for revenge later on in life. You realize how one simple mistake can take your life on a different path then you would have chosen for yourself. And It also boils down to sometimes bad things happen to us, we can let them change us or be a better person because of it. This movie tugged at my heart and I was glued to it until the very end. Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Patric, Kevin Bacon, does it get any better. AAAAA++++

Every once in a while a movie comes along that grips you with anger and you can actually feel the pain, shame and humiliation of some of the characters being used and violated. 'Sleepers' is such a flick. A group of young men are sent to prison for an act of mischief that went awry. In prison the boys are taken advantage of and years later they have an opportunity to set things right.
I won't give away any more of the plot, but the story is one of revenge, the fallibility of even good men and justice. It's been said that our past dictates our future. This movie is a classic example of the truism of this statement. The years in prison changed these boys' lives forever.
This is a great movie, one I recommend highly. Use discretion with youngsters as there is violence, graphic images and harsh language. Parents should watch before letting their children of any age view it.
Beach

it's a story of 4 friends, who in their younger days made a tragic mistake and paid for it in a big way. after serving time in a juvenile (prison) reform school, all of them made a pact that whatever happened to them there-no one will ever know. unfortunately, moving on with their lives 2 of them have been so scarred that they joined the life of crime. the other 2 tried their best to forget and move on. until, they crossed paths with their past again and they were all shoved into acknowleding what happened to them in that prison deserves to be brought to light.
i loved their acting, the story. i especially loved the scene in the end where they had dinner together, one last time. they are all such good actors, you can actually feel the authenticity of their friendship through the screen.

This is an excellent movie. Good acting by Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon, Minnie Driver and more. It could be based on a true story but I am not sure.