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Movies / On DVD / Sleeping Dogs Lie
Sleeping Dogs Lie

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Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006)

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Reviews Counted:50

Fresh:32

Rotten:18

Average Rating:6.1/10

Consensus: Though Sleeping Dogs Lie treats its subject and characters humanely, it's unable to overcome the low-budget production and Bobcat Goldthwait's pedestrian directing.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for strong and aberrant sexual content, drug use and language.

Runtime: 89 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Oct 20, 2006 Limited

Synopsis: Bobcat Goldthwait, the frantic, shrieking comedian who gained fame in several POLICE ACADEMY films, follows up his debut feature as a writer-director--1992's SHAKES THE CLOWN--with SLEEPING DOGS... Bobcat Goldthwait, the frantic, shrieking comedian who gained fame in several POLICE ACADEMY films, follows up his debut feature as a writer-director--1992's SHAKES THE CLOWN--with SLEEPING DOGS LIE, a surprisingly tender romantic black comedy. Melinda Page Hamilton gives a terrific lead performance as Amy, a young woman with a deep, dark secret, something very stupid that she did in college. Eight years later, as her relationship with John (Bryce Johnson) intensifies, she considers telling him what she did, as he believes in total honesty. When she finally does, her entire world comes crashing down. Her rather strange mother (a very funny Bonita Friedericy) and hunk of a father (Geoff Pierson) won't speak to her; her drug-addicted loser of a brother, Dougie (Jack Plotnick), revels in her failure and agony; and John is not sure he can spend the rest of his life with someone who has committed such an outrageous act, even if it was a silly mistake that she regrets. Amy, a teacher, finds solace in Ed (Colby French), a coworker going through his own marital problems, but everyone else has abandoned her. Goldthwait has written and directed a very funny, very poignant film, one that looks seriously at the meaning and importance of truth and honesty--and when it is okay to keep some things to oneself. The supporting cast is excellent, including a wry turn by comedian Brian Posehn as Randy, Dougie's drug-addled dealer, who has a crush on Amy. The soundtrack features "You Got It" by Roy Orbison, who actually figures prominently in the rather twisted but charming plot. [More]

Starring: Melinda Page Hamilton, Bryce Johnson, Geoffrey Pierson, Colby French

Starring: Melinda Page Hamilton, Bryce Johnson, Geoffrey Pierson, Colby French, Jack Plotnick, Bonita Friedericy, Brian Posehn, Morgan Murphy, Steve Agee

Director: Bob Goldthwait

Director: Bob Goldthwait
Producer: Marty Pasetta Jr.
Composer: Gerald Brunskill
Studio: IDP Distribution

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Release:

Apr 10, 2007

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Reviews for Sleeping Dogs Lie

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1 - 20 (sorted by source)
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I liked the film but thought the bestiality theme held it back. A lot of people won't want to see the movie.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
04/04/07
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

An inexplicable sleeper hit on the festival circuit, this one-joke movie's bestiality premise is all you'll remember after the credits roll.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
10/21/06
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
BBC

There’s no way around it, but the movie’s modest success is undercut by its micro budget and Goldthwait’s pedestrian direction.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
10/20/06
Mark Keizer
Mark Keizer
Boxoffice Magazine

This low-budget comedy-drama may not have the glossiest of coats, but nor is it the dog you might be expecting.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
03/16/07
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Channel 4 Film

Bobcat Goldthwait has produced a flm that understands something about the gulf between what men claim they want from women, and the way they behave when we give it to them.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
02/01/08
Karina Longworth
Karina Longworth
Cinematical

There really isn't much of a premise in this flat romantic sex comedy which tends to lose its way as it goes along.

Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment Comment
10/19/06
Edward Douglas
Edward Douglas
ComingSoon.net

Toys with the notion that keeping mum is often best policy, but the movie's ugly photography threatens to sink the story.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
08/16/06
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

The final line of the film is far wiser than the person who first discovered that 'honesty' and 'policy' rhymed. It's too bad it's an afterthought instead of an exclamation point.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
01/27/06
Erik Childress
Erik Childress
eFilmCritic.com

You can rely on Goldthwaite to demolish sentimental notions with the power of a force ten gale, but clumsy filmmaking seriously hampers his idea's own effectiveness, resulting in a rather plodding black comedy.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
03/13/07
Sam Toy
Sam Toy
Empire Magazine

But being neither fish or fowl, the thing just doesn't work.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
10/06/06
Eric Lurio
Eric Lurio
Entertainment Insiders

A scrappily funny and observant takeoff on the secrets that complete even the ''normal'' among us.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
10/18/06
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The premise alone is more interesting than 90 percent of what comes out of Hollywood.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
02/18/06
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

There's an ingratiatingly quirky spirit which keeps bubbling up in Sleeping Dogs Lie and merrily propels it along

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
David Noh
David Noh
Film Journal International

Stay mostly lacks cinematic vision, as the direction utilizes similar set-ups found in any primetime sitcom, which discourages any room for comment. With that said, however, Stay is a nice little film that marks a big step-up for Goldthwait.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
01/24/06
Michael Ferraro
Michael Ferraro
Film Threat

stays on the periphery of the issues and never attempts to really plunge into the psychosis of these situations

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
10/19/06
Chris Cabin
Chris Cabin
Filmcritic.com

Improbably, the movie manages to regroup after its outrageous opening and turn into an unpredictable, almost sweet, romantic comedy about the limits of candour.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
11/03/06
Liam Lacey
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An evenly paced, gently acted and subdued black comedy with a subversive moral at its heart.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
03/16/07
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]

We can hear the French barking "auteur" already... Beneath the profanely preposterous premise, Stay is a rather sweet and conventional love story that perambulates around the notions of trust and acceptance.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
09/01/06
Duane Byrge
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter

A large part of the movie's appeal is Page's ability to make both the entire story believable and her character entirely sympathetic, while Goldthwait muses on the price of absolute honesty with your mate.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
11/03/06
Jane Stevenson
Jane Stevenson
Jam! Movies

Amy's sin never for a second rings true, and eventually grows tiresome.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
10/19/06
Chuck Wilson
Chuck Wilson
L.A. Weekly
 
 
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