Question about Sleepers (1996)

[Thelonious001]

I watched this movie and I was curious about where the story came from. It was written by Barry Levinson and seems to me the only thing he's written that has any connection to this kind of working class story is Bugsy (I haven't seen Diner).

Does anyone know whether Levinson has ever spoken about the origin of the story? Did he grow up in this kind of neighborhood, does the story have any basis in any actual events, etc.

I ask because people who write these kind of working class stories typically their whole body of work is riddled with this kind of stuff and this seems a one off for him, so I'm curious whether it was based on his personal experiences or he got the story from somewhere or what.

[Col. Zombie]

Here's a NY Times article written around the time of its release. It may not answer your question but might give some insight and some direction on where to go for more answers.

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/22/mo...rue-story.html

Also an article form the NYU School of Law...

http://www.forumonlawcultureandsocie...hind-sleepers/

[IndyMLVC]

I thought it was based on a book, no? Didn't that come first?

[Hucksta G]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

I thought it was based on a book, no? Didn't that come first?

Yep based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's 1995 novel of the same name.

[Troll2fan]

Originally Posted by Hucksta G

Yep based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's 1995 novel of the same name.

Excellent book and the movie was pretty good too.

[Col. Zombie]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

I thought it was based on a book, no? Didn't that come first?

Yesh!! The author claimed it was from a personal experience.

[Himmel]

Originally Posted by Col. Zombie

Yesh!! The author claimed it was from a personal experience.

[Thelonious001]

Thanks, guys!