Russell Crowe’s Highly Divisive Noir Thriller Sleeping Dogs Finds Redemption on Paramount+

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The Academy Award-winning actor has starred in many popular movies, though not every one was a critical success. One lesser-known film, a 2024 crime thriller, didn’t receive much positive attention from reviewers.

The movie Sleeping Dogs, once a cult classic, is now gaining popularity again thanks to streaming. According to FlixPatrol, it recently appeared on the streaming charts at ninth place on Paramount+ through Amazon Channels.

With Sleeping Dogs, Russell Crowe continued to take on roles as complex characters grappling with their histories, similar to his performances in The Nice Guys (2016), Unhinged (2020), and Poker Face (2022). The film marked Adam Cooper’s first feature film as director; he co-wrote the script with Collage, adapting the 2017 novel The Book of Mirrors by E.O. Chirovici.

This suspenseful thriller centers on Roy Freeman, a former detective now struggling with Alzheimer’s. He’s trying a new treatment to recover his lost memories, and his investigation is sparked by an old, unsolved murder case detailed in an incomplete manuscript.

The novel is told in three sections: first, through the eyes of the literary agent who initially received the manuscript; second, following a former reporter investigating the manuscript’s disappearance; and finally, from the perspective of Roy, who revisits the original case. In Sleeping Dogs, Russell Crowe’s character, Roy, is central to the story as he attempts to solve the mystery while also piecing together his lost memories.

In addition to Russell Crowe, the cast of Sleeping Dogs included Karen Gillan, Marton Csokas, Tommy Flanagan, and Harry Greenwood.

Sleeping Dogs Divided the Critics and Audiences

The film prioritized a mysterious atmosphere over exciting action, and critics weren’t impressed. It currently holds a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 42 reviews, earning it a ‘rotten’ designation. Reviewers felt that even Russell Crowe’s performance couldn’t overcome the film’s weak and unoriginal mystery.

Viewers really liked the mystery thriller, giving it a strong approval rating of around 80%. One reviewer called it a “masterclass in restrained storytelling,” highlighting both the excellent acting and the cleverly built plot. Many people also enjoyed the story and praised the film’s direction.

I was so excited to finally discover Sleeping Dogs! It’s a shame it didn’t get released in the US, but I learned it actually did pretty well overseas. Box Office Mojo says it made over $2.1 million worldwide, which is fantastic for a film that didn’t get a big domestic launch.

Sleeping Dogs is streaming on Paramount+.

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2026-01-11 23:06