SLEEPNESS NIGHT – Fantastic Fest Review

SLEEPLESS NIGHT is a fitting title for Frederic Jardin’s adrenaline-pumping film about a detective and father who puts everything on the line in the name of doing what’s right. The film is an exciting, non-stop, action/suspense flick that begins by jumping right into the guts of the situation, pulling the audience into the beef of the adventure within the first 30 minutes. From here, SLEEPLESS NIGHT is a fast-paced, kinetically-driven story that builds momentum, upon momentum, upon even more momentum until the very last moment, climaxing at the precise point in the story where one minute more would have been too much. SLEEPLESS NIGHT is the best French film of its type since JCVD (2008).

When Vincent (Tomer Sisley) appears to be a cop gone bad, pulling what seems to be a heist on a local crime boss in the name of desperation for his family, we’re inclined to head down a very specific path of logic. What we quickly realize, however, is that nothing is quite what it appears on the surface in this multi-layered crime drama with shifting angles. SLEEPLESS NIGHT combines textured, thoughtful storytelling of Michael Mann’s HEAT with the ferocity and energy of the Jason Bourne franchise, shot almost entirely with hand-held Steadicam, but with a continuity and fluidity many felt was lacking from the Bourne films.

Sisley delivers a demanding, believable performance as a father who will do literally whatever it takes to protect his son, while inspector Lacombe (Julien Boisselier) serves up a more straight-laced, mission-oriented approach to his investigation of Vincent’s connection to a number of recent criminal deaths. In the latter half of the film, Sisley and Boisselier prove themselves as worthy action stars, propelling and punishing each other repeatedly, each fighting the other for their own righteous reasons. An extended, superbly choreographed fight scene between these two characters reminded me of a less tongue-in-cheek version of the infamous fight scene between Roddy McDowell and Keith David in THEY LIVE! (1988) while the ongoing fights and action present within the film reminds me of Jackie Chan’s heydays, a la FIRST STRIKE and RUMBLE IN THE BRONX.

The “true” criminals in SLEEPLESS NIGHT are played well, but played more toward the typical representation. Marciano (Serge Riaboukine) is the “sophisticated” crime boss and dope distributor, while Feydek (Joey Starr) is more of the street-smart, muscle-driven drug profiteer. Many other characters, both good, bad and somewhere in between become involved at varying points, adding flaky layers of rich, buttery cardiac-inducing excitement to the evolution and arc of the story. Not once did I find myself removed from the film, my eyes wide and my back lifted so slightly from my chair in anticipation of the withheld payoff.

Frederic Jardin steps into a treacherous arena of genre filmmaking, asking the viewer to literally keep up with Vincent’s predicament, engaging them in such a way it leaves little down time for the viewer to formulate theories of the film’s outcome. SLEEPLESS NIGHT is superbly directed, masterfully staged and choreographed, providing the audience a rare treat in the form of a highly effective and artistically accomplished action flick with a meaningful story. Much like trying to stop after the first run on your favorite roller coaster, SLEEPLESS NIGHT could possibly have you itching for a second viewing.