7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
After awaking from cryogenic suspension, a '70s man gets mixed up with a future revolution.
Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, John Beck (II), Mary Gregory, Don KeeferSci-Fi | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (A, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Note: This film is also available as part of the set Woody Allen: Six Films 1971-1978.
The six films included in a new set from Arrow comprise some of Woody Allen’s best known and best loved offerings, but they also provide a
nice
window into Allen’s evolution from a schtick and gag laden auteur to a filmmaker with something obviously a bit deeper on his
mind
than “only” going for the gusto in terms of laughs. Tracing the kind of frankly odd route from Bananas to Interiors
may not provide much grist for a mill interested in narrative through lines, but it at least provides ample evidence that Allen, no matter how he’s
seen
currently within the context of his external “baggage,” has always been a relentlessly unique force in the contemporary film world. Allen’s
filmmaking
craft also increases exponentially over the half dozen films in this set, and one of the more interesting things to pay attention to is how his
directorial
chops noticeably improved in terms of even relatively simple things like framings and how to set up a shot for maximum impact. But Allen’s
writing
went through a similar metamorphosis, slowly but surely turning away from, or at least relying less upon, sight gags and just downright
goofiness in
favor of more intellectually prone humor. Allen continues to be a divisive figure, not just in the annals of cinema but (not to state the obvious)
for some
of the personal choices he’s made through the years (not to mention allegations that have been leveled against him), but these six films, most
done
before any major “brouhahas” had started to append “meta” analyses to his offerings, are an often stunning example of a brilliant comedic mind
who
also began to nurture his more dramatic tendencies.
Sleeper is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Academy with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Unlike several of the other films in the new Arrow Woody Allen set, Sleeper has had an American Blu-ray release, and I've attempted to replicate several of the screenshots from that review so that those interested can toggle between full screen windows to contrast and compare. Unlike Love and Death, whose Arrow release showed a slight but noticeable difference in brightness from its American counterpart, there's really no discernable difference in any major category we regularly address in our reviews between the British and American versions. The palette, grain structure, and general sharpness and clarity are very similar, if not outright identical. As Michael Reuben noted in his review of the American release, the elements are in tip top condition (though I noted a few stray signs of age related wear and tear), and detail levels are generally quite convincing. I was bit more troubled by the gritty grain structure than Michael evidently was, and therefore my personal score would probably be slightly downgraded to around a 3.75.
Sleeper features an LPCM 2.0 mono track which, like its video component, is more or less identical to the American release's DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track. Allen's sound design is fairly ambitious in this film, with some goofy sound effects and a nice jazz inflected score. Fidelity is fine, and if the soundscape is obviously on the narrow side, prioritization is fine and there is no damage of any kind to report.
Sleeper remains one of my personal favorites in the Allen oeuvre, in part because it's such a winning marriage of the silly and the smart. Graced with a fun production design and filled with some great performances and even greater sight gags, Sleeper may bring to mind a famous phrase from "another" science fiction classic: resistance is futile. Technical merits are strong, and Sleeper comes Highly recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
Arrow Academy
1971
Arrow Academy
1975
Arrow Academy
1984
Limited Edition
1976
Arrow Academy
1983
1931
1979
Arrow Academy
1991
1972
Arrow Academy
1989
Mr. Hulot's Holiday / Restored
1953
散歩する侵略者
2017
1923
Arrow Academy
1982
1951
Arrow Academy
1990
1987
Arrow Academy
1987
2011
1966