I call that a cosmic screwing! (Sleeper (DVD))

Member Name: tomflint

Product:	Sleeper (DVD)
Date:	23/04/09 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Its all good

Disadvantages: If you don't like Woody Allen, You may get irritated.

This is a review of the dvd.

'Sleeper' is Woody Allen's 7th film as director, but is probably the first time his skills as writer/director/performer came together perfectly. Some of his previous films including 'Bananas' and 'Take The Money And Run' had some great moments, but appear slightly patchy compared with this.

Miles Monroe [Woody Allen] is thawed out in 2173 after being cryogenically frozen in 1973 after a routine ulcer operation went wrong, and he slipped into a coma. He is thawed out by scientists who want Miles to infiltrate the 'underground' organisation and find out about something called the 'Aries' project, which has something to do with the all powerful dictator who controls everyone's minds by having them 'electronically simplified'. It is important to point out at this stage that the entire plot/premise for 'Sleeper' is totally ludicrous, but this does not stop it from being hilarious!.

As Miles stumbles around trying to find out what's going on he encounters Luna [Diane Keaton] a young liberal artist who calls herself a 'poet' [her poems are deliberately awful!]. The two go on the run and through many amusing scrapes eventually find out about the 'Aries project' and what the dictator is up to. You really have to just watch 'Sleeper', as an explanation of the plot probably doesn't hold much water, the film is an excuse to poke fun at all the futuristic sci-fi/Brave New World type things you've ever read or seen.

Allen has many opportunities to show his considerable talent as a slapstick comedian, in the vein of Chaplin, as he falls about and does a wonderful impersonation of a futuristic robot. Some of the props featured in the film are excellent, including a field where huge fruit and vegetables are grown, great pod shaped cars that everyone travels around in, and an unforgettable scene where Allen is attempting to 'take off' whilst wearing a flying back pack. Not too dissimilar to the one Sean Connery uses in 'Thunderball'!.

'Sleeper' is stuffed full of brilliant one liners, but Woody Allen tends to irritate some people so it would be hard to totally recommend this film to everyone. If you don't like Allen's rapid fire verbal delivery, you're not going to enjoy this!. However, this is one of Woody Allen's best 'pure comedies' and has plenty to amuse most.

The film fits into the 'early funny films' period of Woody Allen, before he began doing all the chin stroking in Manhattan coffee houses stuff that dominated much of his 90s films for example. I can happily sit down and watch ANY Woody Allen film so I'm not complaining, but for those who prefer the later stuff this may not be to your liking.

'Sleeper' does not seem to have dated at all. The fact that the visions of the future are very clearly 1970s based, gives the film a kitsch charm and the production design is fantastic, I'm assuming Allen only had a modest budget to work with here as has been the case on a lot of his later films. Perhaps this was at a time when the studios were giving him a bit more money as he was more of a 'fresh face'. Whatever the case, the film looks brilliant.

The soundtrack is totally awesome as well!, performed by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Woody Allen plays all the excellent Clarinet solos himself and the music perfectly suits the slapstick/chase sequences [often the film is sped up in these scenes]. It also seems to nicely mirror Miles Monroe's character, as he used to play in a jazz band called the 'Ragtime Rascals' before he got frozen. Of course Woody Allen's talents as a jazz Clarinetist are well known, but it's nice to see him giving it an airing on the soundtrack here.

As with all Woody Allen dvd releases there are zero extras, though there is an amusing 2 minute trailer featured and the usual language/subtitle options. Allen famously NEVER watches his films after they've been released so the chances of a commentary or documentary on future dvds seems very unlikely. I've read on the Internet that there are a couple of cuts of this film in existence with some different scenes inserted for others, due to the improvised 'feel' of the film I suppose this was to be expected.

'Sleeper' is one of my favourite films, I can happily watch it anytime, I must have seen it at least 10 times already!. In many ways it has some similarities with both Chaplin comedies, and also some of Peter Sellers mannerisms from some of his film's are present here. Allen worked with Sellers on 'What's New Pussycat?' and also 'Casino Royale' and I think respected his comedic style. As a writer and director though, Allen has few comparisons. His body of work through the 70s and most of the 80s is remarkable, an absolute whirlwind of talent. Sadly his personal life in the 90s began to overshadow his work, but recently he's shown signs of regaining some of the old spark with 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' and his next project 'Whatever Works', which stars Larry David in the central role. As a big fan of 'Curb your Enthusiasm', I'll be looking forward to that!.

The dvd can be purchased for very cheap on-line at Play.com for £3.99 or Amazon. As I said there are no extras, just the film, but that is no problem as the film is very good!.

Summary: Definitely one of Woody's best films.