Retro Film Review: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003)

In 2003, British filmmaker Michael Hodges revisited familiar territory with his film I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, re-examining plot elements, situations, and characters from his 1971 masterpiece Get Carter. The film's protagonist is Will Graham, played by Clive Owen, a former boss of London's underworld who, after a "breakdown" a few years prior, has abandoned his career and now lives as a drifter in rural Britain, supporting himself through odd jobs. Meanwhile, his younger brother Davey, portrayed by Jonathan Rhys-Myers, has become a minor yet popular drug dealer whose clientele includes London's celebrities and aristocracy. However, Davey's hedonistic lifestyle is brutally interrupted by his abduction and violent rape. When Will decides to visit his brother, he is met with the news of Davey's mysterious suicide and the even more baffling autopsy reports. Will quickly deduces what caused his brother's death and decides to seek vengeance, even if it means returning, at least temporarily, to the violent world he left behind years ago.

Unfortunately, the slow pace that worked so well in Get Carter, allowing for the development of characters and situations to the smallest detail, fails Hodges in this film. This is largely due to Trevor Preston's script, which leaves many questions unanswered, leading to a confusing, unsatisfying, and anticlimactic ending. Some characters and subplots, such as the gang boss who wants Graham out, are unnecessary or underdeveloped. The main mystery of the film is also revealed too early, and Hodges falls into typecasting with Malcolm McDowell as the chief villain.

Despite its watchability, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is a significant disappointment to those who expected another classic in the gangster genre, based on the author's reputation.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

(Note: Original version of the review is available here.)

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