After a string of clunkers, director Barry Levinson rebounds (sort of) with Sleepers, a harrowing tale that includes a preposterous court case, an-eye-for-an-eye moral, and fine acting from a star-packed cast. It's the story of four boys growing up in Hell's Kitchen during the late '60s, where their heroes range from mobster King Benny (Vittorio Gassman) to down-to-earth priest Father Bobby (Robert De Niro). The boys' lives change after they steal a hot dog vender's cart and injure a passer-by. Sent to reform school, they are subjected to sexual abuse from the guards, who are led by Sean Nokes (Kevin Bacon).

It's when the film fast-forwards to the boys' lives as adults that it loses believability. Lorenzo (Jason Patric), the film's narrator, who is now a writer, and Michael, a district attorney (Brad Pitt), join forces to prove their obviously guilty boyhood pals Tommy (Billy Crudup) and John (Ron Eldard) innocent of Nokes's murder and bring the reform school down. Ending the movie is a sillier-than-O.J. trial that's held together by Dustin Hoffman's funny performance as a bumbling, alcoholic defense attorney. At the Cheri, the Fresh Pond, and the Chestnut Hill and in the suburbs.