A Screening of ‘Sleeping Dogs’ With Screenwriter Bill Collage

Sag Harbor resident and screenwriter Bill Collage (“Emancipation,” “Accepted,” “Tower Heist”) will present his newest film “Sleeping Dogs” (2024) starring Russell Crowe at Sag Harbor Cinema on Saturday, March 23, at 6 p.m. The screening will be followed by a conversation between the cinema’s founding artistic director, Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan, and Collage, who will discuss the film and his screenwriting process. A reception on the third floor will be held after the event.

In “Sleeping Dogs,” Crowe plays an ex-homicide detective who undergoes experimental Alzheimer’s treatment as he attempts to solve a decades-old murder. Based on “The Book of Mirrors” (2017) by Romanian novelist E.O. Chirovici, the film examines the inner workings of memory through the lens of the classic crime story.

“From the moment [director/co-writer] Adam Cooper and I read E.O. Chirovicci’s acclaimed thriller ‘The Book of Mirrors,’ we knew we had to adapt it into a film,“ says Collage. “The initial phone call between us to discuss it happened on the sidewalk right outside Sag Harbor Cinema in 2016.”

“I am very happy to welcome Bill Collage back to the cinema,” says D’Agnolo Vallan. “His gift for exciting, dramatic storytelling is on full display here as he enters the mind of a policeman struggling with acute memory loss and the ghost of an old case. Suspenseful, witty and deeply humane, ‘Sleeping Dogs’ also features one of the best performances Russell Crowe has given in a long time.”

Collage will speak about the writing and adaptation process of bringing the book to the screen. Having written comedy, drama, action, history and more, Collage will provide insight on how he navigated the unique complexities of crafting a thriller-mystery.

“The story deals with the way people tend to remember things differently — and features a protagonist who cannot remember things at all,” says Collage. “So it’s a classic whodunit, with lots of twists and turns that leaves audiences guessing until the very end.

“Suffice to say, having Russell Crowe agree to take on the lead role was a complete thrill, and he gives a brilliant performance. I cannot wait to share the movie with everyone in Sag Harbor — because a lot of it was written right here,” says Collage.

A meet and greet reception with Bill Collage will follow the screening with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a choice of a specialty cocktail “The Twist” or “Red Herring.” Tickets for the film and reception are $30 at sagharborcinema.org. Sag Harbor Cinema is at 90 Main Street in Sag Harbor.