Johannesburg - Jamie Foxx is at it again. This time, he’s Vincent Downs, an undercover policeman trying to do good in this thriller that is set in the heart of a city overrun by corruption and crooked cops.
Sleepless contains all the twists and turns you’d expect from a good action thriller, as nothing is quite what it seems. Tip Harris, better known as T.I, plays Foxx’s partner Sean, who makes a mistake that leads to the pair ripping off the wrong mob boss.
Downs’ wife, Dena, played by Gabrielle Union, and his son get caught up in the drama, and Downs must race against time to make things right.
This movie is stylishly shot and, for the most part, carried by Foxx in a way that only an A-List actor can. Support comes from Michelle Monaghan, who gives a solid portrayal as an internal affairs officer.
The main villain is played by Scoot McNairy, who you may recognise from 12 Years a Slave. His depiction of a young mob boss’ son trying hard not to fail his father is stirring. He shares chilling exchanges with everyone and is genuinely unsettling.
However, there were a few disappointing elements in the movie – it would’ve been cool to actually see the mob boss, but it seems like he will only be revealed in the sequel (if there is one). Also, Downs’ son, played by Octavius Johnson, could have been portrayed by a slightly better-known actor.
Director Baran Odar does well with this feature, and even gets an acceptable performance out of T.I.