Details
Movie Description
The sci-fi satire SLEEPER is often hailed as the best of Woody Allen's early comedies, which relied mostly on slapstick and quick verbal asides, but still had more than their share of comic intelligence. SLEEPER tells the tale of Miles Monroe (Allen), who is accidentally cryogenically frozen following a minor operation. Released 200 years later, in 2173, Miles blunders his way through a bizarre future, featuring plenty of props and situations for Allen to mine for laughs. Eventually he meets vapid, hedonistic "poet" Luna Schlosser (Diane Keaton), with whom he eventually joins a rebel group opposed to the oppressive government. As in his earlier BANANAS and LOVE AND DEATH, Allen's character stumbles into a revolutionary plot, revealing the anti-authoritarianism that will appear again and again in his films.
Loosely based on H.G. Wells' novel WHEN THE SLEEPER WAKES, the film features a strong parodic bent, particularly of the type of science fiction that was being written and filmed when it was made in 1973. Oppressive, faceless governments and the technological dominance over human life (altering even the most fundamental natural actions, such as sex) are the main tropes Allen skewers, as well as playing off the futuristic production design of films like A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and THX-1138. However, SLEEPER was still considered a strong work of science fiction, winning both the prestigious Hugo and Nebula Awards, which are given to the finest works in the genre.
Synopsis
One of Woody Allen's "earlier, funnier" ones, the jokes and concepts from this stellar film have become staples of the comic repertory.
In 1973, nerdy Miles Monroe goes in for minor surgery--and ends up cryogenically frozen after his untimely and unexpected death. But 200 years later, Miles is up and about again, in a brave new world of huge vegetables, automaton servants, and orgasmatrons--the ultimate way to get sexual pleasure without having to worry about another human being. But the hapless milquetoast also becomes a victim of fate, wanted for being an alien, and gets captured by a band of guerrillas who wants to recruit him to their cause.
The 20th century sure was never like this.
Film Notes
DVD Features
Region 1
Keep Case
Double Sided - Single Layer (Full Frame/Widescreen)
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.78
Audio:
Dolby Digital Mono 2.0 - English
Dolby Digital Mono 2.0 - Spanish
Additional Release Materials:
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Additional Products:
Booklet
Theatrical release: December 17, 1973
SLEEPER was filmed on location in California and Colorado.
Allen based his screenplay on the H.G. Wells novel, WHEN THE SLEEPER WAKES.
Douglas Rain provides the voice of the evil computer, in a hilarious send-up of his legendary voice-over role in 2001 (as HAL).
Music was also provided by the New Orleans Funeral and Ragtime Orchestra.
Industry Reviews
"...[A] satire on American mores through a gleeful parody of a genre..."
Rayns
"[A] brilliant satire set in some future utopia."
Uncut - Paul Lester (12/01/2004)
"[The film] evokes the physical humor of Hal Roach comedies, and Allen even tips his hat to Charlie Chaplin's MODERN TIMES."
Premiere - Andy Webster (07/01/2006)
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
p)VOg~~_7.JPG)
jg4zkyBLFwITuYyQ~~_7.JPG)
All rights reserved.
