A dark and troubling fable leavened by streaks of hope and redemption, "Sleepwalking" follows Tara Reedy (AnnaSophia Robb, "Because of Winn-Dixie") and her young uncle James (Nick Stahl, "Carnivale") after Tara's mother Joleen (Charlize Theron) abandons them. After James loses his job and Tara suffers through the foster-care system, the two set off on a road trip that leads to a heart of darkness: The farm where James and Joleen grew up, where their father (Dennis Hopper) still lives. The bleaker side of "Sleepwalking" is redeemed not so much by the affection that grows between James and Tara (which feels a bit forced and precious) as by the emotional commitment of the cast. Stahl turns in what may be his best performance yet, delving into the weak and aimless qualities of James yet keeping an active presence in the movie. Robb and Theron, two emotionally compelling actors well-cast as mother and daughter, turn in high-quality performances; Hopper creates another portrait of chilling brutality, all the more terrifying for being so ordinary. The rest of the solid cast includes Woody Harrelson, Matthew St. Patrick ("Six Feet Under"), and Deborra-Lee Furness ("Shame") as a coworker sympathetic to James. --"Bret Fetzer"

Stills from "Sleepwalking" (Click for larger image)














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