Sleeper [Blu-ray]

`Sleeper' is the only Woody Allen work where in addition to acting, writing, and directing, he also contributes to the music by playing clarinet in the band performing on the sound track. This is his fourth triple credit movie and I believe it may be one of his better movies before `Annie Hall', which is still two movies into the future. Unlike `Bananas' and `All you ever wanted to know about Sex...', it seems to have more and better satire than simple parody, although there is parody and homage to famous comedic bits aplenty here. The most memorable `quote' is when Allen apes the famous Marx brothers routine where Groucho thinks he is seeing himself in a floor length mirror, but he is actually seeing Harpo dressed to imitate Groucho and aping every move he makes to keep the mirror image illusion.One piece of satire that has actually improved in value over the last 25 years is the conceit that everything that was once thought to be bad for you, such as smoking, is now actually believed to be good for you. All you have to do is think back to the fate of eggs, fats, potatoes, and wine to realize that this gag is perilously close to the truth in a lot of cases.This movie does not have the long `guest star' list or even a lot of the Allen stock company regulars as we see in `All you ever wanted to know about Sex...' or `Bananas'. The only cameo of note is a brief simulated telecast by Howard Cosell. Virtually the entire movie is carried on the backs of Allen's performance and, to a much lesser extent, the fairly ordinary performance from Diane Keaton. Not much of the great work we will later see in `Annie Hall'. But then, Allen isn't writing for drama or character development. All we get is setup, setup, setup, gag, follow-up, setup, setup,...and so on. The whole story is a great big setup for comic effect.The story is that Allen goes into the hospital in 1976 for a simple procedure and is put into a cryogenic sleep. His cryogenic capsule is discovered 200 years later by a team of scientists who decide to awaken him and set him off to help overthrow a dictator because there is no trace of his identity.Early in the movie, Allen shows off how really very good he is at physical comedy, much in the tradition of Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, and the Marx brothers, although except for a bit here and there, it is never entirely clear that he is imitating any of these precursors.If this owes anything to any other movie, it is probably `Fahrenheit 451', the film with Oskar Werner and Julie Christie made of the Ray Bradbury novel.I am partial to Allen's later films, especially `Manhattan', `Stardust Memories', and `Hannah and Her Sisters', but I believe this is one of his two or three best before `Annie Hall', better than `Bananas' and `All you ever wanted to know about Sex...'.Recommended for some great jokes and some really great physical gags.

Many of you already know this is a hilarious, silly, slap-stick, satirical comedy, with a toe-tapping jazz accompaniment to its many silent comedy sketches, so rather than commenting on that, here is the underlying story . . . .For Dr. Orva and other members of the underground movement, the year 2173 brings no joy. They're unhappy with the government of the American Federation, and in particular, the Leader - who's smiling, paternal countenance can be found everywhere. Belying his apparent benevolence, under his rule, if any citizen, should have the audacity to think, say, or do anything not approved of by the government, will be labeled an "alien" and have their brain electronically simplified . . . .Recently, the underground had sniffed out the name of a new secret project the government had instigated: Project AIRES; is it a plan to eradicate the underground? It is going to be difficult to find out - the government knows everything about its citizens, tracks their movements, and monitors their actions - what they need is someone with no identity . . . .Luckily one of their members, while on a field trip, found a 200 year old cryogenic, life-preserving chamber containing a man - a man with no identity! Dr. Orva and a small team illegally reanimate the bespectacled Miles Monroe, but discover the cynical young Miles wants no part of their plan and their time to convince him runs out when the police arrive . . . .For Luna the year 2173 brings the simple joy of endless house parties to recite her poetry to her artistic guests, but her carefree life is about to change when she finally realizes her new robot servant is the wild-haired Miles Monroe . . . .Blu-ray - 2013. Sharpness, color, contrast, & brightness: good, but grainy. Sound volume normal, clarity excellent. Subtitles: English & Spanish only; French subtitles are "not included." Extra: movie trailer.

One of Woody Allen’s funniest movies! A must see! About a man transported into the future!

I first saw "Sleeper" in the theater when it was first released at Christmastime 1973. I was 18 at the time, Well I'm 64 now and I got it DVD and I appreciate even more. Woody Allen wrote along with Marshall Brickman and directed and stars along with the lovely Diane Keaton. Woody Allen plays Miles Monroe who runs a health food store in Greenwich Village in 1973 who dies on the operating table after a "minor" operation and is cyrogenically frozen and thawed out 200 years in the future. Miles wakes up to a society run by a dictator known only as , "The Leader." And Miles finds out junk food is actually good for you, encounters robot housekeepers, a chicken the size of an elephant,(Miles response "That's a big chicken.") Also Miles discovers some gigantic vegetables, sees a newspaper headline that reads "Popes' wife gives birth to twins" and finds a 200 Volkswagen Beetle that still runs. He also grabs a burger at McDonald's,(check out the McDonald's sign.)Diane Keaton plays his new lady friend named "Luna" and they join a rebellion against the government led by John Beck who Miles is jealous of. Says to Luna " Is he going to take his handsome lessons ?" The slapstick jazz music is by Woody Allen's jazz band. The extra is the trailer which is pretty funny too, a kinda of interview with Woody Allen about "Sleeper." I also got this DVD for my sister Teresa and we never get tired of watching it. The tagline for the movie poster read "Woody Allen takes a nostalgic look at the future !"

i would rate it 3.5 but its not an option, its a woody allen film but its just a lot of goofy gags which are funny and a few funny one liners. other then that there is no real plot

Funny movie