Review: Woody Allen's "SLEEPER" is Comedy Gold and a Sci-Fi Classic

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 53 of 2023 (No. 1942) by Leroy Douresseaux

Sleeper (1973)

Running time:  87 minutes (1 hour, 27 minutes)

MPAA –  PG

DIRECTOR:  Woody Allen

WRITERS:  Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman

PRODUCER:  Jack Grossberg

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  David M. Walsh (D.o.P.)

EDITORS:  Ralph Rosenblum, O. Nicholas Brown, and Ron Kalish

COMPOSER: Woody Allen

COMEDY/SCI-FI

Starring:  Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, John Beck, Mary Gregory, Don Keefer, John McLiam, Bartlett Robinson, Chris Forbes, Mews Small, Peter Hobbs, and John Cannon (voice)

Sleeper is a 1973 science fiction-comedy film directed by Woody Allen.  The film focuses on a store owner who is revived from a cryogenic state into a future world in which the United States has been transformed into an oppressive government that forces its citizens happy and content.

Sleeper opens in the year 2173.  The American Federation, a police state (of sorts), has replaced the United States of America, which was destroyed long ago.  The government is oppressive, but it keeps its citizens happy by giving them good jobs, plenty of food, mood-altering drugs, happiness via mind alteration, and a device called the “orgasmatron” to keep them sexual satisfied.

There is, however, an underground rebellion determined to take down the government and its mysterious “Leader.”  Towards that end, the rebels revive Miles Monroe (Woody Allen), a jazz musician who also owned of the “Happy Carrot” health food restaurant.  In 1973, Miles went in for a routine operation, which managed to go wrong, and the result was that he was cryogenically frozen.  The rebels illegally revive Miles and plan to use him as spy to infiltrate and derail the government because he would be the only member of this society without a known “biometric identity.”

As someone from the distant past, Miles is considered by the current government to be an “alien.”  If caught by the police, he will be brainwashed into a complacent member of society.  The success of Miles' spy mission and his hope of remaining free of brainwashing rest in an idle socialite and poet, Luna Schlosser (Diane Keaton), who may be too self-indulgent to become a rebel.

Coup de chance, the film Woody Allen says will likely be his final directorial effort, was released in France in September (2023).  Because of the controversies surrounding Allen the last few decades, especially the last five years, the film may not get a U.S. theatrical release.  In anticipation of somehow seeing Coup de chance, I have decided to watch the recent Woody Allen films that I missed, such as the 2015 film, Irrational Man.

I also decided to review Allen's 1973 classic film, Sleeper, because this year (2023) is the fiftieth anniversary of its original theatrical release (specifically December 17, 1973).  I have seen the film twice before, but I have previously not written a review of it.

Because Woody Allen has become such a controversial and, in recent years, such a toxic figure in American cinema and culture, people may have forgotten what a charming cinematic figure he was for at least three decades.  They may also be unaware that Allen is also an accomplished clarinetist as one can discover in Sleeper's lively Dixieland-style jazz soundtrack, which features Allen performing with “The Preservation Hall Jazz Band” and “The New Orleans Funeral Ragtime Orchestra.”

Sleeper is certainly an excellent parody of the science fiction films of its time, and it is a sharp satire of pseudo-intellectuals, pretentious artists and their patrons, self-indulgent poets, and other assorted poseurs.  The film expertly references such then current science fiction films as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971), and THX 1138 (1971).  [Douglas Rain, who provided the voice of “HAL 9000” in 2001: A Space Odyssey, also provided the voice of the medical computer in Sleeper.]

However, Sleeper is a showcase of Wood Allen's immense comedic talents, both as writer and as an actor possessing impeccable comic timing.  His skill at physical comedy is also quite impressive and reveals the influence of great performers such as Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope, and Groucho Marx, and I would add the work of the great master of silent films, Buster Keaton.  Allen uses facial expressions and the rapid delivery of dialogue, which transforms this slightly built man into a comedy force of nature.  Allen uses his body like a prop, something to abused so long as it stirs a the barrel of laughs.  The result is a winning and lovable character in Miles Monroe.

Sleeper also proves (at least for me) that Diane Keaton is the perfect comic foil and partner for Woody Allen.  Obviously, she has serious dramatic chops, but Keaton is also pure magic and sparkly delight as a comedic actress.  I could watch another hour of her and Allen in this scenario.  Sleeper may seem a bit dated in some aspects, but its leads are eternally pleasing.  Sleeper is a clever satire as well as a witty spin on dystopian science fiction.  Other than Mike Judge's 2006 satirical sci-fi comedy, Idiocracy, there is nothing like it.  Still, the treat in Sleeper is an energetic Woody Allen and an equally smart and savvy Diane Keaton.

8 of 10

A

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Friday, December 15, 2023

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site or blog for syndication rights and fees.

------------------------------

------------------------------

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from November 1st to 4th, 2017 - Update #24

Support Leroy on Patreon.

MUSIC - From YahooNews:   The last Tejano music singer, Selena Quintanilla, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Friday evening, November 3rd, 2017.

---------
BOX OFFICE - From Collider:  "Thor: Ragnarok" conquers all comers.

---------
From Variety:  "Thor: Ragnarok" looking at a $115 million opening weekend.

----------
CELEBRITY - From BET:  Beyonce shuts it down when she posts five different versions of her Halloween costume as rapper Li'l Kim.

----------
MOVIES - From THR:  Paramount pays $10 million to distribute "Book Club," a comedy starring Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and Candice Bergen in the U.S., the U.K., and France.

----------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Warner Bros. is reportedly in early talks with the estate of J.R.R. Tolkein to develop "The Lord of the Rings" into a television series.  The books have already been adapted into films twice - first as an animated film by Ralph Bakshi and then back in 2001 to 2003 by Warner's subsidiary, New Line, with Peter Jackson directing.

----------
CRIME - From VICE:  Two NYPD cops are charged with rape and didnapping after a teen's desperate public plea.

----------
SCANDAL - From Variety: Netflix has fired Kevin Spacey from its series, "House of Cards."  It has also said that it would cancel its Gore Vidal biopic, "Gore," that was set to star Spacey.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From TheWrap: "Thor: Ragnarok's" opens with a thunderous $14.5 million.

From YahooEntertainment:  Your guide to "Thor: Ragnarok."

----------
SCANDAL - From YahooEntertainment: Brett Ratner strikes back!  He sues the woman who accused him of raping her.

----------
MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  Thomas Jane describes the setup of "The Predator," the reboot of the "Predator" film franchise.

----------
SCANDAL - From YahooNews:  Did you know that there is a rape investigation involving actor Danny Masterson of "That 70s Show?"

----------
STREAMING - From TVLine:  CBS is planning a revival of "The Twilight Zone" for its streaming service, CBS All Access, with Jordan Peele's production company being involved.

---------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap:  Mark Strong is in talks to play the villian, Dr. Sivana, in the "Shazam" movie from Warner Bros./DC Comics.

----------
SPORTS - From HoustonChronicle:  The Houston Astros are the 2017 World Series Champions of Major League Baseball, after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers (National League) 5 to 1 in Game 7.  This is the Astros first World Series title.

----------
STREAMING - From TVLine:  Hulu is developing a series based on the 1994 hit movie, "Four Weddings and a Funeral," with Mindy Kaling.

----------
DISNEY - From Deadline:  Beyonce officially joins Disney's live-action remake of "The Lion King," directed by Jon Favreau.

----------
SCANDAL - From THR:  Warner Bros. and Brett Ratner part ways, in the light of sexual misconduct accusations against Ratner.

----------
MOVIES - From THR:  Buzzy actress Chrissy Metz ("This is Us") joins the horror movie, "The Will O Wisp."

----------
SCANDAL - From Deadline:  Two more men step forward to make allegations of abuse by Kevin Spacy, one in 2003 and one in the 1980s.

From YahooLifestyle:  Did Kevin Spacey hint at his behavior during his 2000 Oscar speech?

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Brett Ratner accused of sexual allegations by six women, including actress Natasha Henstridge.

----------
ANIME - From THR:  Oscar-winning Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki has come out of retirement (again) to make another animated film.  The title is "Kimitachi wa Do Ikiru Ka."

----------
SCANDAL - From TheWrap:  CBS is investigating sexual assault accusations against Jeremy Piven, star of its new series, "Wisdom of the Crowd."

----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline:  NBC has committed to the "Bad Boys" spinoff TV series starring Gabrielle Union with a pilot production committment.

----------
STREAMING - From DeadlineTV:  Diane Lane will join the slate of guest stars on Amazon's "The Romanoffs."

OBITS:

From Deadline:  Television actor, Brad Bufanda, has died at the age of 34, Wednesday, November 1, 2017.  He is best known for his role as Felix Toombs on "Veronica Mars."  He died of an apparent suicide.

From NPR:  Native American activist, Dennis Banks, died at the age of 80, Sunday, October 29, 2017.  Banks helped lead the occupation at Wounded Knee in 1973 and he was a co-founder of the American Indian Movement.

2014 Golden Globes Dances with "American Hustle," Honors "12 Years a Slave"

by Amos Semien

The Golden Globe Award is a movie accolade bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).  The award recognizes excellence in both film and television.  The annual awards ceremony is a major part of the film industry’s award season.

The 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards winners were announced Sunday, January 12, 2014.  Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the awards ceremony show, which was broadcast live on NBC.

Director Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave won “Best Motion Picture-Drama.  However, director David O. Russell’s American Hustle led the 2014 Golden Globe Awards with three awards.  The film won “Best Motion Picture-Comedy,” and also the best actress (Amy Adams) and best supporting actress (Jennifer Lawrence) awards.

In the television categories, the TV movie, Behind The Candelabra, and the television series, “Breaking Bad” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” won two awards apiece.

A previously announced honor was the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award.  It went to legendary writer-director and multiple Oscar-winner and four-time Golden Globe winner, Woody Allen.  Allen was not in attendance at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards ceremony on Sunday night, so Diane Keaton accepted the award on his behalf.  Keaton won a best actress Oscar for her performance in Allen’s 1977 film, Annie Hall, and who has appeared in multiple Allen films.

The 71st Annual (2014) Golden Globe Awards winners (for the year in film – 2013):

FILM CATEGORIES:

BEST PICTURE: DRAMA
12 Years a Slave

BEST PICTURE: COMEDY OR MUSICAL
American Hustle

BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

BEST ACTRESS: DRAMA
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

BEST ACTOR: DRAMA
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

BEST ACTRESS: COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Amy Adams, American Hustle

BEST ACTOR: COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Great Beauty

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Frozen

BEST SCREENPLAY
Spike Jonze, Her

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Alex Ebert, All Is Lost

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Ordinary Love" (Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom) – performed by U2; music written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., and Danger Mouse and lyrics written by Bono

TELEVISION CATEGORIES:

Best Television Series - Drama
Breaking Bad

Best Television Series - Comedy Or Musical
Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Behind The Candelabra

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine Nine

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Michael Douglas, Behind The Candelabra

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Elizabeth Moss, Top of the Lake

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing On The Edge

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award: Woody Allen

http://www.goldenglobes.com/

------------------------------------------------------

Review: "Mad Money" Has Mad Funny Trio

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 6 (of 2008) by Leroy Douresseaux

Mad Money (2008)
Running time: 103 minutes (1 hour, 43 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sexual material and language, and brief drug references
DIRECTOR: Callie Khouri
WRITERS: Glenn Gers (based upon an earlier screenplay by John Mister and the screenplay for Hot Money by Neil McKay and Terry Winsor)
PRODUCERS: James Acheson, Jay Cohen, and Frank DeMartini
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Bailey
EDITOR: Wendy Greene Bricmont

CRIME/COMEDY

Starring: Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, Ted Danson, Adam Rothenberg, Roger R. Cross, Meagan Fay, Christopher McDonald, Stephen Root, Sterling Blackmon, Peyton “Alex” Smith, and Matthew Greer

While watching the crime caper Mad Money, anyone who views it with a critical eye will notice that the character writing is thin and that the plot stumbles whenever the narrative jumps back and forth in time, but director Callie Khouri (who won an Oscar for writing Thelma & Louise) keeps things moving – fast and upbeat – so the viewer won’t see the cracks in this lighthearted crime escapade.

The plot is implausible, and even viewers that don’t look hard can see where the criminal conspiracy at the heart of Mad Money would fall apart early in its execution. However, this comic trio of Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes are so lovable, and this recessionary crime tale about the struggling working class and downsized middle class is both timely and rings true.

Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) discovers that she is about to lose both her home and comfortable middle class lifestyle because her husband, Don (Ted Danson), has been unemployed for a year (downsized from his job), and the couple is nearly 300,000 dollars in debt. Bridget, a stay-at-home mom, has been out of the job market for decades, and her decades-old comparative literature degree won’t help her in this tight job market. She accepts the only job she can get – as a janitor. Her custodial job is at the Federal Reserve Bank, where every day, employees destroy millions of dollars in worn out paper currency taken out of the system.

Bridget surprisingly learns that she has more in common with her new co-workers than she thought when she forges an unexpected bond with Nina Brewster (Queen Latifah), a hard-working single mother of two young boys, and Jackie Truman (Katie Holmes), a wacky and exuberant free spirit who acts as if she has nothing to lose. Looking to finally just get ahead, Nina and Jackie find themselves buying into Bridget’s scheme - steal all those 1, 5, 10, 20, etc. dollar bills meant for destruction. As their little crime syndicate amasses piles of cash, the girls think they have pulled off the perfect crime – that is until one misstep has them trying to stay one step ahead of the law.

Playing Bridget Cardigan, who must go from supportive wife to bread winner, Diane Keaton doesn’t simply play the character as merely a supportive housewife. Early in the film, Bridget is mostly boosting her husband’s confidence, but Bridget soon has to roar – to assert herself. That’s when Keaton deftly transforms her character into a bossy spitfire, a snappy malcontent not content to watch the comfortable world for which she worked so hard to attain just vanish because society considers her and Don passé. Keaton makes Bridget both sweet and sour and both fragrant and pungent. She’s a senior citizen with zest, spicy and spunky, and Keaton shows that in many scenes, especially when we get to watch Bridget go to Nina Brewster’s inner city hood, in spite of her fears.

As for the supporting characters, Queen Latifah’s Nina Brewster is by far the best of the lot. Latifah makes Nina the island of sanity in a sea full of screwballs – including Keaton’s Bridget, but Latifah also makes the sometimes dour, so-serious Nina so quite likeable. Holmes is no slouch either. Her winning Jackie Truman, always bouncing and shaking to the music of her mp3 player, is the fun chick everyone wants to know. Holmes lights up the screen with Jackie’s screwy bubbly personality.

This is one time in Hollywood fare that a movie’s plot leaves male characters as background filler material, and the girls become the action heroes. Mad Money is, however, more than just a chick flick. It does the caper film as light, but both entertaining and well-timed material, and in these times with so many worried about their finances and livelihoods, it’s darn good to watch these girls beat the system silly. All hail this queenly trio for making stealing money as sweet as honey.

6 of 10
B

-----------------------

Review: Nicholson, Keaton Sparkle in Excellent "Something's Gotta Give"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 176 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
Running time: 128 minutes (2 hours, 8 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity and strong language
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Nancy Meyers
PRODUCERS: Bruce A. Block and Nancy Meyers (uncredited)
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Michael Ballhaus (director of photography)
EDITOR: Joe Hutshing
COMPOSER: Hans Zimmer
Academy Award nominee

COMEDY/ROMANCE with elements of drama

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Amanda Peet, Keanu Reeves, Frances McDormand, Jon Favreau, and Paul Michael Glaser

In his new film, Something’s Gotta Give, Jack Nicholson plays Harry Langer, a 63 year-old New York City music executive with a taste for younger (than 30) women. He follows his latest trophy, Marin (Amanda Peet), to her mother’s East Hampton beach house, where he meets her 50-something mother, Erica Barry (Diane Keaton), who takes an immediate disliking to him. However, Harry’s world is turned upside down when he suffers a mild heart attack. When Marin goes back to the city, she leaves Harry at the beach house in the care of her mother and his doctor, Julian (Keanu Reeves). Soon Harry and Julian are competing with each other for Erica’s affections. For Harry, it’s a new stress in his life, as he’s never dated a woman Erica’s age, and Erica hasn’t loved in the decade since her divorce. Awkwardness and hijinks ensue as Jack’s film becomes Jack and Diane’s film.

Simply put, this is a fantastic film, and I enjoyed nearly every minute in; in fact, there are very few missteps in this film. Nancy Meyers, who directed the smash hit What Women Want, has proved herself to have a deft touch with romantic comedies made for the adult sensibilities. Her script is confident and exudes the assurance of a writer who knows exactly where she’s going. You can see the ending coming, but the trip there is a hoot. When it all wraps up, SGG will still surprise you with how it closes the curtain on this very nice love story amongst the senior set.

Jack Nicholson gives yet another of his great performances as an actor. This isn’t one of those times when “Jack’s being Jack.” He really tries to bring a character to life and yet still color it with the charm of his film personality. The surprise is a surprise that she’s a surprise – Diane Keaton. When it comes down to it, this is her film, and the character and situation are very similar to Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, which earned Keaton a Best Actress Oscar. She grabs Erica by the hair and gives it her all – funny, charming, witty, self-deprecating, smart, strong, vulnerable, and human.

Amanda Peet and Frances McDormand are very funny. Peet’s character is more or less just a vehicle to get the leads together, but Ms. Peet makes herself a strong presence in every scene in which she appears. The biggest pity is that Ms. McDormand could have made this film great; not only is she a fine actress, but her character is strong enough to steal scenes no matter who else is around. Each time she’s in the film, she leaves you wanting more. As for Keanu, he is what he is – a pretty face that tries hard, but fails half the time. It’s a good thing that his part is small; there’s no way he could have kept up with Nicholson and Ms. Keaton.

Something’s Gotta Give is a fine romantic comedy filled with love, loss, confusion, passion, and redemption. It’s about the surprises life, both painful and pleasurable, that life has. It’s a fun film for people with grown up minds.

8 of 10
A

NOTES:
2004 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Actress in a Leading Role” (Diane Keaton)

2001 Golden Globes: 2 nominations: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Diane Keaton) and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Jack Nicholson)

---------------------------