Sleeper is a 1973 comedy by Woody Allen and one of the last of his free-wheeling 'early funny ones'. In the early seventies Allen came up with an idea for a three hour film. The first half would be a New York comedy set in the present day. After an intermission, Allen's character would be frozen ... Read review
IfInteriorswas Woody Allen's Bergman movie, andStardust Memorieswas his Fellini movie, ... more
then you could say thatSleeperis his Buster Keaton movie. Relying more on visual/conceptual/slapstick gags than his trademark verbal wit,Sleeperis probably the funni...
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IfInteriorswas Woody Allen's Bergman movie, andStardust Memorieswas his Fellini movie, ... more
then you could say thatSleeperis his Buster Keaton movie. Relying more on visual/conceptual/slapstick gags than his trademark verbal wit,Sleeperis probably the funni...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Drawing on the great tradition of silent comedy Sleeper is Woody Allen’s first film ... more
to tame his verbal wit and showcase his emerging skill with visual and physical comedy. Starring Diane Keaton (directed by Allen for the first time) Sleeper is ...
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Drawing on the great tradition of silent comedy, Sleeper is Woody Allen's first film to ... more
tame his verbal wit and showcase his emerging skill with visual and physical comedy. Starring Diane Keaton (directed by Allen for the first time), Sleeper is 'a biz...
The enemy is here... As a praiseworthy effort to enlighten viewers about peaceful ... more
practice of the Muslim faith and lesser-known aspects of domestic terrorism Sleeper Cell was originally broadcast in late 2005 an 11 hour limited series owing plenty to familiar Hollywood thriller conventions. Newly released prisoner Darwyn Al-Sayeed (Michael Ealy) is actually an undercover FBI agent and practicing Muslim recruited to infiltrate a sleeper cell of Islamic radical extremists led by Farik (Oded Fehr) the mastermind of a Jihadist plot to detonate a chemical bomb in a crowded Los Angeles sports arena. Representing a broad spectrum of anti-American sentiments Farik's band of holy warriors includes a hot-tempered Frenchman (Alex Nesic) a Bosnian chemist (Henri Lubatti) and a young Berkeley-born American (Blake Shields) with a post-military beef against the U.S. government. While clandestinely reporting to his FBI handler (James LeGros) Darwyn is forced into deadly circumstances that continuously threaten to blow his cover and get him killed. His ill-advised romance with a single mother (Melissa Sagemiller) poses further threat to the integrity of his investigation which ultimately involves everyone from local LAPD detectives to the senior staff of the White House. As the terrorist plot unfolds Sleeper Cell is by turns intense dramatically involving and philosophically illuminating as Darwyn struggles to reconcile his undercover activities (which connect him to murder obstruction of justice conspiracy etc.) and his passionate devotion to Islam as a peaceful religion... Episodes Comprise: 1. Al-Fatiha 2. Target 3. Money 4. Scholar 5. Hero 6. Family 7. Immigrant 8. Intramural 9. Youmud Din (Part 1) 10. Youmud Din (Part 2)
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Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Advantages: Very funny Disadvantages: Bit dated in places
Sleeper is a 1973 comedy by Woody Allen and one of the last of his free-wheeling 'early funny ones'. In the early seventies Allen came up with an idea for a three hour film. The first half would be a New York comedy set in the present day. After an intermission, Allen's character would be frozen and wake in the future. The idea was rejected by the Studio but they asked him instead to make the second half of his proposed project, a comedy with a futuristic ... ...to Macdonalds.
Sleeper doesn't have a huge budget and the future is depicted by bubble cars and isolated pieces of strange architecture that Allen and his crew found in the Californian countryside. It isn't exactly Bladerunner but Allen, growing in confidence behind the camera, is inventive in giving the film an interesting look.
After being unwrapped, Monroe staggers around and then takes control of a motorized wheelchair. ... more
Sleeper is a 1973 comedy by Woody Allen and one of the last of his free-wheeling 'early funny ones'. In the early seventies Allen came up with an idea for a three hour film. The first half would be a New York comedy set in the present day. After an intermission, Allen's character would be frozen and wake in the future. The idea was rejected by the Studio but they asked him instead to make the second half of his proposed project, a comedy with a futuristic setting and sci-fi element. The end result was Sleeper.
Allen plays Miles Monroe. Monroe is a typical early Woody Allen character; nebbish, cowardly, neurotic and very funny. Cyrogenically frozen after a routine operation, Monroe wakes 200 hundred years into the future ("I knew it was too good to be true," sighs Monroe. "I parked right near the hospital!") in a futuristic 2173 that is a bit like George Orwell's 1984 but with camp seventies fashions (there is a lot of black leather in this film). The future society is projected as a shallow, depersonalized place where everybody still goes to Macdonalds.
Sleeper doesn't have a huge budget and the future is depicted by bubble cars and isolated pieces of strange architecture that Allen and his crew found in the Californian countryside. It isn't exactly Bladerunner but Allen, growing in confidence behind the camera, is inventive in giving the film an interesting look.
After being unwrapped, Monroe staggers around and then takes control of a motorized wheelchair. Sleeper is almost the last Allen film where you see him clowning and concentrating on as many jokes as possible. Monroe is immediately considered dangerous by the totalitarian government but finds himself aided by a group of rebels, a bit like his earlier film Bananas.
Allen's early films consisted of placing his nerdy and sharp comedy persona in unusual settings. Monroe's fish out of water character is frequently hilarious as he battles with this strange new world and the new expectations of him. "I'm not the heroic type," whines Monroe when told that he must resist the government. "I was beaten up by Quakers." Monroe is asked to look at various historical artifacts. He tells his futuristic hosts that Charles de Gaulle was a French Chef and that Howard Cosell's broadcasts were used as a form of toture by the government of the time! The joke is made more funny by the thought that , as the deadpan Monroe is the only live witness to this period, they probably believe him!
He meets Luna Schlosser (Diane Keaton), a spoilt rich girl who eventually joins the resistance with him. The chemistry and banter between Allen and Keaton is, as always, very funny and enjoyable. Monroe and Luna end up being charged with the responsibilty of stealing the leader's nose. The nose is all that's left of him and he is due to be cloned. Allen and Keaton pose as Doctors to steal his nose in the hospital. Mistaken for the surgeons, they desperately try to bluff for time. "Do you want me to leave room for a mustache?" asks Monroe. Allen and Keaton make a great team as they bicker and clown.
Sleeper, despite the setting, uses an old fashioned jazz score to great effect. The film also doffs its cap to great comedians of the past like Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton with more physical comedy than many Allen films. The elements of slapstick and the traditional score work wonderfully with the unusual setting that Allen has created as when Monroe poses as a domestic servant robot to escape in scenes played out to the upbeat jazz soundtrack.
Allen uses the sci-fi element to make some gentle digs about American society but the main object of Sleeper is to throw as many jokes as possible at the viewer. As with other Allen comedies, he doesn't always hit the target, but when he does he's funnier and more inventive than any other comedian of his generation or perhaps ever. Monroe describes an old girlfriend as "A Trotskyite, who became a Jesus freak, and was arrested for selling pornographic connect-the-dot books." He slips on a ten-foot banana skin after finding some monstrous genetically altered futuristic fruit and struggles at various times to make a James Bond hoverpack work. Allen's ongoing theme of being at odds with machines and technology is firmly in place in Sleeper and very funny.
Sleeper is not a long film and moves past at a fast clip with the toe-tapping soundtrack. The juxtaposition of Allen's deapan comedy persona and his extraordinary situation in Sleeper makes for some great comedy. Told that he has woken up in the future Monroe mutters that his rent is '2,000' months overdue!
It's this sort of thing that I love most of all about the early Allen films. The irreverent approach and the sharp throwaway dialogue.
Sleeper is highly recommended.
Extras Woody Allen doesn't do extras! Just a trailer.
Woody Allen .... Miles Monroe Diane Keaton .... Luna Schlosser John Beck .... Erno Windt Mary Gregory .... Dr. Melik Don Keefer .... Dr. Tryon John McLiam .... Dr. Aragon Bartlett Robinson .... Dr. Orva Chris Forbes .... Rainer Krebs Directed by Woody Allen 1973.
Advantages: Consistently funny Disadvantages: The directors reluctance towards extras
"It's hard to believe that you haven't had sex for 200 years"
"204, if you count my marriage."
Woody Allen films may as well be hardcore Dutch pornography as far as my social circle goes. A subject I shouldn't mention, or be seen to be buying, and if I do insist on watching his stuff, it had better be behind closed doors. Girlfriend after girlfriend was completely mystified by the man and his movies, and while I thought that 'Broadway Danny Rose' ... ...fidgeting and sighing suggested otherwise.
So here I am, admitting it publicly, hell, I've already admitted to liking Dr Who on Ciao, how much worse can it get?
'Sleeper' is as good a movie as any to try and introduce people to his work. Made in 1973 while Allen was still in his slapstick phase, it is the story of Miles Monroe, mild mannered health food store owner, who awakes after routine surgery to discover he is 200 years into the future. Far ...
dadmancat 07.02.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sleeper (DVD)
Advantages: Funny, captivating. Disadvantages: Must like slapstick humour.
...new world being cloned. Sleeper is the film which I would consider to be Woody Allen's finest work. It is genuinely funny, well filmed and the comic acting is top class. Diane Keaton is especially funny also. A science fiction story helped me enjoy the film although it is not technical enough to put you off if sci-fi isn't your thing. It's just a peg to hang the plot on. Factoid: Woody Allen confirmed the feasibility of his scientific ideas with ... ...fun of many sections of society. The Jewish tailor-robots were particularly amusing, one being voiced by Jackie Mason. The leisuretime-rich population enjoy endless dinner parties. Even their sex lives are catered for with the provision of Orgasmotrons and Pleasure Spheres which are handed around as one would a "jazz-cigarette". Random Fact: The futuristic home featured in the film was offered for sale in 2004 for 10 million dollars. Truth-nugget: ...
WoodsM_UK 16.04.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sleeper (DVD)
Advantages: Great film Disadvantages: Where are the extras??
...masses (any more, at least). Sleeper is one of his early comedies, and one of his very best. It keeps on the right side of cynical (which is something you can't say about some of his later works, especially post Mia Farrow films like Deconstructing Harry and Celebrity). Woody's only full blown sci-fi movie, it focuses on Miles, an owner of a health food store in Greenwich Village, who is woken up 200 years after he officially died (after complications ... ...the moment. Maybe Woody will come around someday,
Sleeper ranks as one of Woody's best, which in a career where he has been involved with over forty movies, is quite an achievement. If you liked this, I recommend Bananas and Love and Death, both for classic early Woody laugh-a-thons. ...
Rosebud1985 30.07.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sleeper (DVD)
Advantages: Funny, funny, funny, funny... Disadvantages: Getting on a bit
...hour and a half. However Sleeper did just that and I have to say - I felt the worst for wear after that!
I know that slapstick comedy doesn't appeal to everyone, but I've watched this film with people who look down on slapstick humour, but they found it hilarious and to their liking. The tagline says it all: "A love story about two people who hate each other".
This is Woody Allen at his best. I find it baffling how he manages to come up with all ... ...good entertaining hour and a half.
Miles Monroe (Allen) has a been in a coma since the 1970s, and is revived some 200 years later. In this futuristic world much has changed. For example scientists have found that everything which was once considered to be bad for you, like tobacco, sugar, butter etc is now very good for your health. He is immediately urged by anti-government radicals to opress the government and help fight in the resistance movements. ...
razor_2006 07.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Sleeper (DVD)
Advantages: Classic film, adds to the collection Disadvantages: makes no use of DVD's potential
Like all of Woody Allen's comedies from the 1970s, "Sleeper" is a must-buy, simply because you know you'll watch it over and over. Like most of the DVD releases of his films, however, it makes very little use of the format's possibilities.
The storyline is rich in satire and accurately apes a genre of social message sci-fi films from the period (Planet of The Apes, The Omega Man, Silent Runnings etc.)A health food store owner from the 70s is defrosted ... ...to be good for you and where America is under totalitarian rule. That's about as serious as it gets - the scenes best remembered (the orgasmatron, the inflatable suit, Allen as a robot) are more Harold Lloyd than H.G. Wells.
It's typical Woody - well shot, great music, high and low humour, with his best co-star, Diane Keaton playing an almost uncannily similar character to Patty Hearst.
The DVD, though seems to be done purely as a catalogue filler ...
Aarch 07.03.2001 (05.03.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Sleeper (DVD)
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Advantages: A deep and moving plot based on a real story & exceptional actor performances. Disadvantages: Some disturbing scenes of sexual and physical assult.
Sleepers (DVD)
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The leader of the prison guards Nokes (Kevin Bacon), lawyer Danny Snyder (Dustin Hoffman) and Hell's Kitchen King Benny (Vittorio Gassman)
~~~The Plot~~~
The film opens in Hell's Kitchen in the summer of 1966, populated by a multinational labouring work force of so called "hard men living hard lives." Domestic violence is rife despite the religious faith of this rough community. Narrated by Jason Patric as an adult looking back at his days as a youth ...
e.j.kingham 15.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sleepers (DVD)
Advantages: Interesting film, important topic Disadvantages: Disturbing Story
Last week I was flicking through the channels and a film had just started called 'Sleepers' I had no idea what it was so decided to watch, once I started I was hooked. As I watched this on TV I am unable to tell you if the DVD has and special features.
1996, Sleepers Writer/Director/Producer: Barry Levinson is a great director; he has been responsible for films such as 'Rain Man' for which he received the 1988 Best Director Oscar, in 1987 he directed 'Good Morning Vietnams' starring Robin Williams.
The Story
Set in the 1960's this film follows the life of four young boys who are great friends, they love to hang out with each other and work at the church as choirboys, and they are good boys. One day they decide to pull a prank on a hot dog vender and the consequences are disastrous. As a result of their actions on that summer ...
LIZKEMPO 03.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sleepers (DVD)
Advantages: Compelling first half, very astute Disadvantages: Lacklustre in parts, uncomfortable viewing at times
therefore it would seem that it?s the end of their revenge however it?s not long before the two other men who were subjected to the abuse, Michael (Brad Pitt) and Lorenzo (Jason Patric) feel the need to pay back their tormentors too? but in the most unusual and cunning way.
Having only heard about this film recently I was intrigued to see what it was all about, with glowing reviews all over Amazon I wasted no time in purchasing the DVD and with a who?s who of Hollywood A-List including the likes of: Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Kevin Bacon this film was bound to be compelling viewing wasn?t it?
The simple answer to that question is yes; with a running time of 147 minutes this film is split up into what could be described as three segments. We first see the four boys at around 14 years old as we?re introduced to them, their ...
Great_reviewer07 10.12.2009
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After being frozen alive for two centuries, Woody Allen awakes to find himself in a crazy paranoid society where pleasure is the most sought after item and a rebel group needs his help to destroy the evil Dictator's nose before scientists can clone it back to power.
Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Hearing Impaired Language
English, German
Technical information
Special Features
Original Theatrical Trailer, Interactive Menu, Chapter Selection
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen, 16:9 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital English French German Italian Spanish
DVD Description
In 1973, nerdy Miles Monroe (Woody Allen) goes in for minor surgery--and ends up cryogenically frozen after his untimely 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 wanted man and gets captured by guerrillas who want to recruit him to their cause. This hilarous retro-futuristic comedy also stars the always-endearing Diane Keaton.
![Sleeper [DVD] [1973]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78537296.jpg)
![Light Sleeper Dvd [1991] | Clennon Sealed](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/107410953.jpg "Light Sleeper Dvd [1991] | Clennon Sealed")
![Sleeper Dvd [1973] | Keefer Sealed Free Uk P&p](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/127708368.jpg "Sleeper Dvd [1973] | Keefer Sealed Free Uk P&p")
![Light Sleeper [DVD] [1991]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/72158944.jpg "Light Sleeper [DVD] [1991]")
