|
Product Details
If Interiors was Woody Allen's Bergman movie, and Stardust Memories was his Fellini movie, then you could say that Sleeper is his Buster Keaton movie. Relying more on visual/conceptual/slapstick gags than his trademark verbal wit, Sleeper is probably the funniest of what would become known as Allen's "early, funny films" and a milestone in his development as a director. Allen plays Miles Monroe, cryogenically frozen in 1973 (he went into the hospital for an ulcer operation) and unthawed 200 years later. Society has become a sterile, Big Brother-controlled dystopia, and Miles joins the underground resistance--joined by a pampered rich woman (Diane Keaton at her bubbliest). Among the most famous gags are Miles's attempt to impersonate a domestic-servant robot; the Orgasmatron, a futuristic home appliance that provides instant pleasure; a McDonald's sign boasting how-many-trillions served; and an inflatable suit that provides the means for a quick getaway. The kooky unthawing scenes were later blatantly (and admittedly) ripped off by Mike Myers in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. --Jim Emerson
Product Reviews
 (5 stars) - Slapstick rarely looks this fresh...
It's like Chaplin (or Keaton if you will) meets Godard with that undeniable Allen touch. `Sleeper' is equal parts slapstick and political satire with enough `Alphaville' thrown in to make it a complete delight of a film. You team up this solid scripting with the talented duo of Woody and Diane and you have a surefire hit that is hilarious from start to finish.
These two need to work together again soon.
The film is a hilarious romp from start to finish that tells of cryogenically frozen Miles Monroe who is thawed out 200 years into the future only to be thrust into a conspiracy, being chased by police who want to erase his memory and make him a `model citizen', while he struggles to uncover a secret government project that will change the lives of everyone. When he disguises himself as a robot servant to the ditzy Luna he finds a partner in crime so-to-speak, who helps him (at first begrudgingly) join `The Underground' to foil the evil plots to the new world leader.
The gags here are nearly all flawless (the initial thawing scene is just brilliant) and even when they don't really work (I found the cloning scene a little longwinded) there is a charm that Allen and Keaton possess that makes the scenes likable despite their flaws.
Anyone who wants to know why Allen is so loved as a film director should really see this movie. It represents a different side of Allen, a talented filmmaker who understands how to stay true to himself while unveiling many different shades of his skill. His films all contain a similarity, yet none of them really feel old-hat to me. One can watch `Hannah and Her Sisters' or `Interiors' or `Sleeper' and instantly recognize Allen's distinct voice, yet each film is a film unto itself. He has mastered his craft and continues to do so (albeit a little sloppily these days; aside from the BRILLIANT `Vicky Cristina Barcelona').
`Sleeper' is a marvelous satire that delivers on just about every front!
 (3 stars) - Childish comedy from Woody Allen
The Bottom Line:
Made during Allen's less mature phase of including every gag he could think of in a film without regards for plot or consistency, Sleeper has a few laughs but its vision of the future dated quickly (as they tend to do) and its scattershot construction doesn't help matters--all things considered, it's a decidedly imperfect film from a director still learning about cinema.
2.5/4
(5 stars) - Comedy as comedy should be
This is comedy as comedy should be, and not what today's directors try to pass off as funny.
Hopefully no one will try to do a remake today with one of today's so called comedians ... that would be the same as trying to replace Peter Sellers as the Pink Panther. Can't be done.
Order this, sit back for some slapstick and comedy without flesh and four letter words - a chance to use your imagination again.
Lotsa laughs without the PG-13 or R rating! Woody Allen when he was at his best.
 (4 stars) - The best of the 'funny' Allen movies
I'm generally not a fan of the early "funny" Woody Allen movies. I'm sure he does them very well. I just don't have a taste for slapstick. But even I, who seem to have a big chunk of funny bone missing, can appreciate "Sleeper." It's really a funny film.
Of course it has the slapstick that I just don't get, and the slapstick is enhanced by the musical score, played by Allen's own Ragtime Rascals ensemble. Some of it is genuinely funny, others of it I can do without. But what I especially appreciate is the social satire embedded in the film's gags: the silliness of celebrityhood and conventions seen from a distant (future) perspective, the cult of personality that builds up around leaders, the deadly seriousness of freedom fighters, the pretensions of the artistic and beautiful crowd, and the new heights to which we jaded insisters on immediate gratification will go (the orgasmatron and the drug ball) to get our next fix. Good stuff all.
Allen in character is what fans of his earlier movies have come to expect and love: neurotic, over-sexed, and lovable. But for my money, the primary selling point of the film is the performance put in by Diane Keaton. Her metamorphosis from spoiled and bubble-headed member of the dystopian society to hard-boiled but still a bit bubble-headed guerilla fighter is masterfully portrayed. The chemistry between her and Allen, which culminates in "Annie Hall," is already obvious.
 (2 stars) - Certainly Lives Up To Its Title!
I found it very difficult to stay awake watching much of this film and it certainly was a "sleeper" for me although a few of Allen's one-liners were actually really funny even for today's audiences although the vast majority of the film and consequently the jokes do not age well. To call this Allen's "tribute" to Keaton and Marx would actually be insulting to both whose works although a lot older than this are a lot funnier.
The picture quality is VHS quality and the sound quality is poor and there are no special features worth speaking about on this dvd version of the film. "Take the Money and Run" by the way is a far, far better comedy and film and thankfully Allen as a movie maker vastly improves his output over the years since this film.
A real sleeper and certainly not Allen's or anyone else's for that matter better moments makes this not recommended.
Popular Searches in DVD videos de musica, wayne brothers movies, girl uncensored, kids sing along video, wayne brothers, mary kate and ashley, taboo charming mother, power rangers, dvd, unrated horror movies, granny video, dragonball dvd box sets, barney video, farscape dvd, bill gaither homecoming, pokemon, teletubbies video, lucky number slevin, video xxl, strawberry shortcake, More |
