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To Sleep With Anger

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To Sleep With Anger

PG

Released Oct 12, 1990

1h 42m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Vagabond Harry (Danny Glover) pays an unexpected visit to his old chum Gideon (Paul Butler), who accepts the aimless man into his home, despite the fact that the household is already overcrowded. Hard-drinking yet charismatic, Harry both entertains and enrages Gideon and his wife, Suzie (Mary Alice). However, after Gideon falls gravely ill, Harry decides to step in and take his friend's place in the household. Unfortunately, his intentions are far from pure, and the consequences are tragic.

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Critics Consensus

To Sleep with Anger examines cultural tensions with a deft hand and a potent blend of comedy and drama, stirred skillfully to life by a strong cast led by Danny Glover.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Danny Glover stars in Charles Burnett's mood-rich blend of family discord and resurgent mythology.

Apr 14, 2020

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Melissa Anderson

Village Voice

One of the finest films to explore city versus country, old ways versus new, kin versus kin.

Sep 7, 2016

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Chuck Bowen

Slant Magazine

Charles Burnett bridges theatrical dialogue, portentous omens, and presentational acting with masterful grace.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 6, 2016

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

This sly, beguiling-if-slowly-paced tale gives the great Glover one of his best roles.

May 30, 2025

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Molly Haskell

Video Review

An unusual and richly rewarding viewing experience.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 29, 2023

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... explores the collision of rural Southern Black culture with middle class African-American urban life, folk superstitions and remedies versus religion and modern medicine, and complicated family relationships in the modern world.

Apr 8, 2023

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Alec B

What's ingenious here is how Glover is both a demonic and messianic figure, bringing long simmering family tensions to a boil . . . not to destroy the family but to save them.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

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Audience Member

What's ingenious here is how Glover is both a demonic and messianic figure, bringing long simmering family tensions to a boil. This doesn't destroy the family, it saves them.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Danny Glover is Harry. He pays an unexpected visit to his old chum Gideon (Paul Butler), who accepts the aimless man into his home, despite the fact that the household is already overcrowded. Hard-drinking yet charismatic, Harry both entertains and enrages Gideon and his wife, Suzie. Gideon then falls gravely ill, Harry decides to step in and take his friend's place in the household. Unfortunately, his intentions are far from pure, and the consequences are tragic. There's a lot of talk in here and I was quite bored. But I admire the movie having many relatable elements when it comes to this kind of family drama.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

I first watched the movie when released in 1990, and watched again. This movie is very layered and many references for African Americans - especially those of us that grew up in the south. See it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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scott s

One of Danny Glover's best films as a drifter whose presence seems to expose the hearts of the people in the household as tensions arise between brothers, siblings, and parents, and culture change.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

On its surface, Charles Burnett's To Sleep with Anger is a spuriously-written drama about an enticing yet devilish man (Danny Glover) with increasingly menacing undertones that impact an African-American family with Southern roots living in South Central. At closer look, Burnett's cult classic is a subtly prescient dramatic exploration of the existential crisis between the traditions of the past and the inevitability of modernity. More importantly, To Sleep with Anger weighs the impact of the cost/benefits of this divide on African-American life, family and culture.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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Charles Burnett

Director

Danny Glover

Harry

Paul Butler

Gideon

Mary Alice

Suzie

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Synopsis

Vagabond Harry (Danny Glover) pays an unexpected visit to his old chum Gideon (Paul Butler), who accepts the aimless man into his home, despite the fact that the household is already overcrowded. Hard-drinking yet charismatic, Harry both entertains and enrages Gideon and his wife, Suzie (Mary Alice). However, after Gideon falls gravely ill, Harry decides to step in and take his friend's place in the household. Unfortunately, his intentions are far from pure, and the consequences are tragic.

Director: Charles Burnett
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co: SVS Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.2M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Surround

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