In today's world, America is often portrayed as the epitome of everything wrong with Western civilization. Its commercially-driven culture is deemed shallow, its economy driven by corporate greed and imperialist wars, its military consisting of ruthless individuals eager to harm innocent civilians, and its democracy viewed as a facade where elections are rigged, and power is concentrated in the hands of a select few in backroom deals. As an alternative to this negative image of America, Europe is often romanticized as a place where kindness, honesty, integrity, democracy, and high aesthetic ideals prevail, with power resting in the hands of the people. However, recent European history has shown that European countries have their own share of controversies and conspiracies, as depicted in films like JFK. One such event that sparked intrigue was the mysterious death of Italian banker Roberto Calvi in London in 1982, which involved the Vatican, Free Masons, and the Italian government. This real-life scandal served as the inspiration for The Innocent Sleep, a 1995 British thriller directed by Scott Mitchell.
The film follows the protagonist, Alan Terry (portrayed by Rupert Graves), a young man who has hit rock bottom. After losing his job, his wife, and spending all his money on alcohol, he finds himself living on the streets of London. One night, he witnesses a ritualistic execution orchestrated by a group of ominous individuals led by an Italian-speaking man (played by Franco Nero). To his shock, the incident is reported as a suicide. When Alan attempts to report what he saw to the police, he discovers that Detective Inspector Matheson (played by Michael Gambon), the investigating officer, is one of the perpetrators. Alan realizes he is in danger and tries to protect himself by going to the media. However, American reporter Billie Hayman (played by Annabella Sciorra) remains skeptical of his claims.
The Innocent Sleep was filmed on a modest budget, but the production values are impressive. Alan Dunlop's cinematography captures the eerie and surreal atmosphere of London, while Mark Ayres' music score adds to the tension. The performances are top-notch, with Rupert Graves, Michael Gambon, and Franco Nero delivering strong portrayals. Despite a promising start, the film falters in the second half with implausible plot twists and a melodramatic finale. While the film had potential, it falls short of delivering a satisfying conclusion.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
(Note: This review was originally posted on the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on June 24th, 2004)
Watch the trailer here.
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