ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Kidskycom It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Ariella Broughton It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

suite92 The Three Acts: The initial tableaux: In 1973, clarinetist and health food store owner Miles Monroe goes to hospital for a minor operation to repair ulcer damage. In 2173, he is revived from cryogenic stasis by rebel physicians.Just as his orientation starts to succeed, the police raid the health facility; his revival was illegal.To escape, Miles disguises himself as a robotic servant. He is delivered to the house of citizen Luna Schlossel, who assigns him tasks that illustrate life in 2173.Delineation of conflicts: The State, under the direction of The Leader, seeks to have everyone fully assimilated into society. Miles kidnaps Luna to escape yet another police raid. Luna is initially loyal to the State, but when captured and threatened with mind wipe, she converts to the rebel cause.Miles is captured, but not before Luna escapes with his help. Miles is assimilated by the State. Luna finds the resistance, and becomes enamored of Enro, the resistance boss, and with his ideology. By the time Luna and Miles meet again, their positions have reversed, and he does not remember her.Erno tasks Luna with getting Miles to the rebel camp. They set about restoring Miles' memory. Erno sends Luna and Miles to stop the Aries project. The State, of course, has other ideas. Miles' jealousy threatens the rebel mission.Resolution: The showdown is about the fate of the Aries project (not sure about the spelling here; I think I auto-corrected it).

rawkmonster Sleeper was originally conceived as a modern silent film, in which the inhabitants of the future are forbidden from talking. The studio didn't fancy that much, so Allen instead turned Sleeper into a tribute to cinema past; Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, the Marx Brothers. Woody is a recognisable film icon by this time, and his opening appearance takes full advantage. The film begins with conversations and movements of other characters, building our anticipation of Woody's entrance. A body is awaiting reanimation after being cryogenically frozen, and we are told that he was a clarinet player and the owner of a health food restaurant called 'The Happy Carrot'. Already we can piece together that this is Woody's entrance; he is in real life a clarinet player, and the choice of health food restaurant already puts us in mind of his neurotic film persona. The body is still covered over with tinfoil, which is slowly peeled back to reveal the famous glasses. Woody will now steal the show without saying a word, putting on a silly expression and wandering around semi-conscious causing chaos. The seriousness of an impromptu visit from security is played off against Woody staggering around, pushing food into people's faces and turning circles in a wheelchair in the middle of the tense conversation.The dystopian future setting allows plenty more opportunity for juxtaposing the deadly serious with the farcical. A doctor asks Woody to assist in identifying various artifacts they have recovered from the 20th century (he identifies Charles De Gaulle as a famous French chef and Bela Lugosi as the mayor of New York City) which ends with the placing of a pair of clockwork chattering teeth onto the desk. None of these scenes are better than the appearances of Rags, a robotic dog awarded to our hero when he is being rehabilitated into society. Its attempts to subdue a kidnap attempt from the underground is right up there with Chaplin's lunch machine from Modern Times in its ability to reduce me to tears of laughter every time.Much of Sleeper is a riot of timeless physical and visual comedy and silly one-liners, along with a few references to contemporary 1973 society which don't travel so well down the years. It's the small touches that make all the difference; the Jewish tailors, the gay robot butler, the giant chicken. Some pieces feel inserted, a sketch placing Woody as Miss Montana doesn't work quite so well, but a sketch where Allen plays Blanche Dubois to Keaton's Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski does. My favourite recurring gag is the government troops with the rocket launcher.I've heard it commented that in 1973 Woody Allen is still just a slapstick comedian, and that cinematography was not even a concern for him for another few years. A quick glance at Sleeper tells you that is clearly not true. Sets and costumes are stunning, from the little light-up bubble cars, to the way-out dress of Luna's friends, and most obviously of all in the silhouette scene. Allen and Keaton are silhouetted behind the middle of three screen panels, discussing what to do next. They break apart to each occupy the end panels and then reunite in the left. It's a moment of real art cinema.Towards the end the laughs move around to domestic squabbling between Allen and Keaton, who emerges as equally talented in the slapstick stakes. Her empty-headed histrionics give way to a sweet double-act as they find themselves in the operating theatre tasked with cloning the dead leader from his nose. She puts in a fair bit of physical comedy too, letting go of the wrong end of a bow in the forest and drowning herself in tape during yet another botched part of the mission. The pair had already separated by this stage, which conversely led into the golden era of their screen partnership. There's an easy camaraderie between them, like a pair glad to remember the fun parts of a relationship without the pressure of everyday lives and tensions.Sleeper is one of those special films that makes you feel like you belong to a club the more times that you watch it. On first viewing the volume of jokes is almost overwhelming, you're not sure whether you should be paying attention to the physical humour, the one-liners or the serious plot stuff (such as there is). Repeat viewings help you bring out all of these aspects and really fall in love with the film.

gridoon2018 "Sleeper" is packed with visual (at times it's almost like a tribute to silent comedy) and verbal gags, but personally I don't think it is quite as funny as "Bananas", or quite as imaginative as the best sketch (the closing one) of "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid To Ask)" (although the orgasmatron and the shaving-mirror scene come close), and the ending feels rushed. However, it is a very important part in Woody Allen's evolution: up to that point, his films were mostly "Woody against the world"; here, he's dancing (metaphorically, but sometimes also literally!) with a partner - and what a partner! Diane Keaton, at her sexiest and fastest, is almost like a female Woody Allen at times - that's how well-synchronized their teamwork is. Woody is so confident of Keaton's abilities that he even gives her a couple of wild comic scenes all to herself, like her Tarzan imitation, and he sometimes lets himself become the butt of her jokes ("You're dealing with one of the greatest minds you've ever encountered" - "Yeah, and his isn't so bad either!"). Apart from their heavenly pairing, the strongest asset of "Sleeper" is its wonderful jazz score. *** out of 4.

namashi_1 Woody Allen aka Mr.Cinema Delivers A Winner Once Again in his 1973 cult-classic 'Sleeper'. A Terrific Sci-Fi Comedy, that comes in-tact with a host of good laughs.'Sleeper' Synopsis: A nerdish store owner is revived out of cryostasis into a future world to fight an oppressive government.'Sleeper' is amazing work. Allen & Marshall Brickman's Screenplay is a work of genius. They come up with a terrific concept, which translates into an equally terrific film. Each & Everything works! Allen's Direction, As Always, is Awe-Inspiring. Cinematography by David M. Walsh is good. Editing & Art Design, are wonderful.Performance-Wise: Allen delivers a marvelous performance in the central role. He embodies the character & delivers one of his finest performances. He's a treat to watch from start to finish. Diane Keaton is ever-dependable. John Beck is first-rate. Susan Miller leaves a mark. Others lend support.On the whole, 'Sleeper' is simply, unmissable. Mr.Cinema RULES!