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Regular
Price $29.98
Starring:
Directed By:
Clark Johnson,
Ziad Doueiri,
Leon Ichaso,
Guy Ferland,
Leslie Libman,
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Release Date: 2005-10
Studio: Showtime Ent.
Format:
Box set,
Closed-captioned,
Color,
DVD-Video,
NTSC,
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Editorial Reviews and
DVD Information about
Sleeper Cell
Product Description
Sleeper Cell takes viewers behind the veil of an U.S. home-grown terrorist group tracking the harrowing challenges faced by a FBI agent determined to learn its secrets. Having posed as a prisoner inside a federal penitentiary a young agent (Michael Ealy) develops contacts that enable him to infiltrate an Islamic terrorist cell in Los Angeles. The cell is led by an intimidating charismatic extremist (Oded Fehr) who considers all acts of violence moral when serving the greater good of his cause. But early in the investigation something goes wrong placing lives and the integrity of a three-year mission in serious jeopardy.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLERS UPC: 758445210927 Manufacturer No: SHO21092D
Amazon.com
As a praiseworthy effort to enlighten viewers about peaceful practice of the Muslim faith and lesser-known aspects of domestic terrorism, Sleeper Cell succeeds as a conventional thriller with its heart in the right place. Originally broadcast in late 2005, Showtimes's 10-hour limited series owes more to familiar Hollywood plotlines than to the precise realities of radical extremism, and authenticity frequently takes a backseat to well-crafted suspense. So, while it may not earn a high score in terms of absolute realism, the series works far better on an emotional level, beginning with the revelation that newly released prisoner Darwyn Al-Sayeed (Michael Ealy, from Barbershop and Their Eyes Were Watching God) is actually an undercover FBI agent and practicing Muslim, recruited to infiltrate a sleeper cell of Islamic radical extremists led by Farik (played by Israeli-born actor Oded Fehr, from The Mummy and The Mummy Returns), the mastermind of a Jihadist plot to detonate a chemical bomb in a crowded Los Angeles sports arena. Representing a broad spectrum of anti-American sentiments, Farik's band of holy warriors includes a hot-tempered Frenchman (Alex Nesic), a Bosnian chemist (Henri Lubatti), and a young, Berkeley-born American (Blake Shields) with a post-military beef against the U.S. government. While clandestinely reporting to his FBI handler (James LeGros), Darwyn is forced into deadly circumstances that continuously threaten to blow his cover and get him killed. His ill-advised romance with a single mother (Melissa Sagemiller) poses further threat to the integrity of his investigation, which ultimately involves everyone from local LAPD detectives to the senior staff of the White House. As the terrorist plot unfolds, Sleeper Cell is by turns intense, dramatically involving, and philosophically illuminating as Darwyn struggles to reconcile his undercover activities (which connect him to murder, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, etc.) and his passionate devotion to Islam as a peaceful religion. With a number of Islamic consultants, writers, and directors, series creators Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris (the team responsible for Bulletproof Monk) have admirably attempted to balance national fear of terrorism with a very sympathetic and positive depiction of the law-abiding Muslim majority. In a subtle but somewhat one-dimensional performance, Ealy conveys the spiritual anguish of Darwyn's stressful situation, while Fehr provides stark contrast, portraying Farik as a smart, charismatic source of constant threat, ruling over his fellow terrorists with passionate conviction. As the series nears its powerful two-hour finale, their clash of ideologies plays out like an above-average episode of 24, sharing elements of Reservoir Dogs as each isolated member of the sleeper cell nears his individual fate. With plenty of surprises along the way, Sleeper Cell grabs your attention and never lets go, even when you're aware that a real-life scenario would play by a different set of rules. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews for
Sleeper Cell
very very well done..
i watch lots of tv and have seen pretty much everything created 4 tv. owning this 1st season of sleeper cell is like decorating your perfect xmas tree with a perfect ornament. very worthy of being in your dvd collection. the 2nd season isn't nearly as good thoughSleeper Cell
Sleeper review I
A very thought provoking series. Gives different avenues as to how a terrorist cell could thrive in the US and go undetected. Also, gave some insight into how individuals define his/her religious beliefs differently. Sleeper Cell is a good series and I would suggestion it to everyone.Sleeper Cell
PULLS NO PUNCHES
The government inserts an undercover agent in a sleeper cell of Islamic radicals who plan to kill thousands of Americans in Los Angeles. Edgy and controversial, SLEEPER CELL pulls no politically correct punches. Instead, the radicals are shown to be fanatical killers and devoted practicioners of Sharia Law, which all of us they don't kill will be subjected to. The fact that this series itself is a "sleeper" and not getting much notice from the liberal press and media, proves to me that a chord has been struck by SLEEPER CELL.Sleeper Cell
I wish I could review these DVD's!
Haven't received my DVD's yet and the e-mails reporting that fact have not yet been answered.Sleeper Cell
Expected better from this show.
It has such a great idea for a story, but, sadly fails on all counts. Read the other truthful reviews to understand why, I won't repeat over what was written before.
If you want a better experience and more action/excitement grab "The Grid" it's more realistic and a lot more entertaining and researched better.Sleeper Cell
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