Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Typically seedy Schrader movie but worth sticking through. The plot is standard fare (dealer/addict wanting to go clean) and the beginning portion is rather grim but it all gets going soon enough. The noir atmosphere is effective and useful in reflecting the state of mind of the characters. Once the mystery starts, the plot engages although the mystery isn't as suspenseful or as clear as it could be. Still, Dafoe's strong performance as well as Sarandon's carry things along nicely. In spite of the lack of mystery, there's still some genuine intrigue (who will betray him?) in the plot as well as that potent mood make this one of Schrader's best.

I don't get it. On paper, I should like this, BUT: 1) "you don't know crack from cracker jack" 2) Drug dealers at the aforementioned restaurant 3) Susan Saradon as June Cleaver as Ma Barker trying to become "glamourous?" Fiddle dee dee. 4) "sensitive" "DD," DaFoe? "DD?" - gimme a break.4.5) "Has my luck run out?" asked the master thespian.5) Cops = bad cartoon characters "DDs" = empathetic real people 6) "We'll always have Paris?" albeit ironically. What about Uncle Vanya with a limp? At least that was actually funny.7) Corny dated music. So corny, it's actually kind of nostalgic. Maybe thats intentional. It does certainly put you right back in the era.8) Almond oil? That's just goofy enough to happen in real life. Does it work here? You tell me. Or is it extra-special inside-cutesy-wutesy.I knew a few dealers in NYC in the day, even "sensitive" ones. I didn't see them here. But what the hell, its only a movie. To the rest of the world, I guess it will pass. But even with all the latitude, its just "too." I will say that some of the addicts and nasty scenarios ring true. Also, some of the outdoor NYC shots are nice because they show it as it is, not as it is in the movies.Well worth seeing, but don't get too excited reading about it beforehand, or if you are watching it now.I'll give it a 7 anyway. Do not let me discourage you, maybe I'm just missing something here. It wouldn't be the first time.

About 10yrs ago I became aware of this movie and, as a result of the Last Temptation of Christ, I was already very curious about Willem Dafoe's other roles. I have occasionally looked for copies of this movie in small town rental stores and discount bins to no avail.I finally broke down and bought Light Sleeper on DVD and I am very happy I did. This is one of Dafoe's better roles -- his performance is almost always very good, but let's face it, he's taken on a few weak roles in the past: "Clear and Present Danger" springs to mind here. Not much script to work with.But then there's Affliction (same screenwriter as Light Sleeper), LTofC, Platoon (an over-dramatic production, IMHO), Triumph of the Spirit, To Live and Die in L.A. (good fun for Michael Mann and William Peterson fans)...so that's why I finally bought this DVD.Anyways, I think Willem Dafoe's performance was comparable to Triumph of the Spirit, as was the script and production. Susan Sarandon was a pleasant surprise - I thought she might bring the movie down by being too dramatic or "sex kitteny", but this is right around the period she began to play the role of a woman and not a girl.As far as Michael Been's songs in the soundtrack are concerned: I'm a modest fan of "The Call" and I rather enjoyed the soundtrack. It is a movie of its time in that the songs are featured more prominently in the mixing level and duration than one would expect of today.I found the story compelling: I cared what happened to the characters next. In my opinion, if a movie can't do that it's wasting precious minutes of my life. I donate exceptional movie DVDs to our local (small town) library collection, and this will be one of them.

I attended a screening of "Light Sleeper," where Paul Schrader, after the screening, stood up and said something to the tune of, "Wow. No wonder that movie didn't do well at the box office." When I think about other Schrader movies, I can appreciate the thought, but movies he's written or directed (see "Last Temptation," "Light of Day," et cetera), one can't help but notice the similarities... It seems Paul can't get past his mid-western, Christian Reformed upbringing. Instead of getting a little therapy to deal with whatever ghosts or saints or demons lay waste in his psyche, he's working it out on film... And somehow, I'm getting charged for it.OK. I will admit, Light Sleeper has great performances by Delaney, Dafoe, and Sarandon.... but if I had their character's lives, I couldn't sleep either.Five cents, Please.