This is the first film I’m gonna watch as a part of my movie challenge. I decided to start with this one, because for me this is the most exiting one on the list.
My mother was born in 1973. The year brought us some great movies. The most iconic of them is undeniably The Exorcist directed by William Peter Blatty. Nominated for ten academy awards the film had a great impact on pop culture and still has to this day. I am not a fan of horror movies though as I get scarred easily, so no Exorcist for me.
Speaking of the Academy Awards, The Sting won the best picture that year as well as another six Academy Awards. Paul Newman and Robert Redford star as two con artist in this hugely succesful caper film. I tried to watch this movie once when I was younger, but couldn’t get through with it, I want to watch it some day, but not for this challenge.
This year also gave us my favourite romantic drama The Way We Were starring Barbra Streisand. Other popular films from this year include: Paper Moon, American Grafitti, Westworld, Enter the Dragon and Soylent Green.
All those films are great, but the film I chose and my favourite film from 1973 is
THE SLEEPER
Woody Allen directed and co- wrote this sci- fi comedy. The plot centers around a health food store owner Miles Monroe (Woody Allen) who is accidentally cryogenically frozen in 1973 and wakes up after 200 years in a police – led state. He is defrosted by members of rebellion, who assign him with the task to infiltrate the Aries project, kill the dictator and free the society. Along the way he meets Luna (Diane Keaton), who at first doesn’t want to help, but later joins the rebellion and falls in love with him.
Sleeper is a satirical look at society, government and of course, this being a Woody Allen movie, at love. The movie is an exceptional swing into a slap- stick comedy for the director and it works. There are a couple of references that flew over my head, mainly because the film is over forty years old, but the majority of jokes are still relevant and funny as hell. The sci-fi element servers more as a back-drop to Allen’s constant one-liners and observations.
Sleeper for me is the best sci- fi comedy. It uses the plot (cryogenically frozen man) to maximal comedy potential, Allen does not waste a single moment. You’re constantly laughing, even as our hero does something as simple as running from the cops.
There are not many sci-fi comedies. Ghostbusters is often described as sci- fi although I would probably place it in the supernatural genre. Other than that we have Weird Science, Paul, Galaxy Quest and the most recent Guardians of the Galaxy.
There is, however one film, that many people associate with the sci-fi comedy genre and that is Spaceballs directed by Mel Brooks. Spaceballs is a Star Wars spoof, making fun of the franchise and its characters. That is the main difference between Sleeper and Spaceballs. Allen makes fun of society, our culture whereever Brooks makes fun of pop- culture and the movie industry itself.
The Sleeper is a satire, which is a genre not many filmakers nowadays do well. In recent years there are more parody movies full of stupid jokes and toilet humour. The Sleeper is clever and no satire film after that worked quite as well.
Thank for reading. I hope this post inspires you to watch this great film. Feel free to participate in this challenge if you want.
Have a Great Day!
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