Movie Review: ‘Sleeping Dogs’

The prisoner has a month left before his execution. During his ten-year incarceration, he has maintained his innocence of the brutal murder of Dr. Joseph Wieder (Martin Csokas) to which he confessed. He makes one final request to an advocate for prison inmates – to meet face-to-face with his arresting officer.

The officer, Roy Freeman (Russell Crowe), has since retired and recently undergone experimental surgery for Alzheimer’s. His home is filled with reminders taped to the walls telling him where the door is, which faucet is hot water, what his name and phone number are. He doesn’t feel he could be of much help to the prisoner but agrees to a meeting.

Before visiting the prisoner, Issac (Pacharo Mzembe), Roy goes through boxes of old files until he comes to the one dealing with the Isaac case. Slowly the events of the night of the murder begin to return to Roy’s memory. Issac claims he was high on drugs when Roy and his partner forced him to sign the murder confession. In spite of his faltering memory, Roy agrees to reexamine the case. Roy also arranges to meet with his former partner, Jimmy (Tommy Flanagan), who was with him at the crime scene.

The two pals enjoy a beer at their favorite bar. Jimmy has a good memory but doesn’t reveal any details that would be of much help to Roy.

What Roy does discover is that Wieder was a highly respected professor, researcher, writer and lecturer. In speaking with his former assistants and friends Roy also discovers there is a dark side to the doctor. A research assistant claims that all the discoveries claimed and published by Wieder were made by her and she received no recognition for them.

Another suspect present at the crime scene, and whose presence was never investigated, was Richard Finn (Harry Greenwood). He had been documenting Wieder’s nefarious actives with the love-of-his-life as well as other members of his staff, students and a mystery woman.

Finn was threatening to forward video tapes and the journal to the police of the doctor’s sexual activities. There was additional proof that Wieder had lied when claiming the work the research assistants had done was his own. After Finn’s recent, curious and untimely death, his widow gives Roy the journal and tapes from her late husband. The truth about the other side of the doctor and his activities is clearly outlined. They also reveal who the real murderer might possibly be.

Roy’s therapist is pleased with his improvement. Her suggestion to activate his mind by doing jigsaw puzzles and other brain activities has paid off. His medications also proved effective.

Each day Roy gets closer and closer to remembering the events of the night of the murder. He is also moving further away from considering Issac as the perpetrator. Reading Flynn’s journal, he is finally able to get a clear picture of the murder scene. It is a picture that Jimmy failed to discuss with him and one Roy finds horrific to remember.

Directed by Adam Cooper (Credits: His debut film), “Sleeping Dogs” runs 111 minutes and is a “should see” for an intriguing, well-acted detective story with a surprising conclusion.