>The Amusement ParkThis is basically an extended PSA about the struggles of the elderly. I'd seen a few quotes from critics raving about it, but I don't think it's some kind of rediscovered masterpiece the way it's apparently been made out to be. It really boils down to the protagonist going through a series of misfortunes. On the plus side, I think it's pretty effective at creating an atmosphere of despair. I definitely appreciated the low-rent '70s production values, which I think help add to that feeling. I liked some of the library music too. There was one piece that I think I remember from Dawn of the Dead. I also liked the beginning and end with Lincoln Maazel doing double duty in the white room.
My verdict is that it's worth watching if you're a curious George Romero fan who wants to see some more of his older work, but I don't think it's something I would encourage anyone else to watch.
>SleeperThis movie is a bit unique as far as flicks with dystopian sci-fi settings go in that that it's a full-blown comedy with a Dixieland jazz soundtrack. Most of the comedy sadly didn't appeal to me. It takes inspiration from the old-school slapstick of the '20s, but contrary to the critics for whatever reason I didn't find the gags to be anywhere as good as those of the old guys. There's definitely more of a verbal element to the humor too. It doesn't emphasize clever sight gags the way the acclaimed silent comedians tended to do. This is actually the first Woody Allen movie I've ever seen (I'm not counting watching Antz once as a kid), I think I understand that Orson Welles rant about Woody Allen now. In spite of his self-deprecating persona, he comes across like he can't get enough of himself and his own cleverness. There were some parts I did find amusing. The more Jew-themed parts in particular, like the robot tailors with prominent noses and thick Yiddish accents. Speaking of Jews, Woody Allen's character competes for the romantic interest of Diane Keaton's with a more attractive character named Erno, and of course he had to make a remark about his romantic rival's "Aryan" traits.
That last part rubbed me the wrong way, but as a whole I still found the movie watchable. I liked the retrofuturistic '70s dystopianism (I thought the technologically advanced society filled with seemingly incompetent people was an interesting touch that reminds me of where society today seems to
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