I am a huge fan of Kurt Vonnegut's novels. And, like Mr. Vonnegut, I am also a huge fan of Bob and Ray. This teleplay has been on my wish list for decades, but it is incredibly elusive. I finally found a copy of it on DVD online. It Does Exist!
In short, all of the elements of a great Vonnegut novel are there. It has some great ideas and incredible insights.
There are some elaborate visual effects which must have been state-of-the-art in 1972, but seem to be a bit dated. The effects seem to be a bit overdone by today's standards, but serve the important purpose of showing the viewer where Stony becomes "unstuck in time" to use a Slaughterhouse-5 expression.
Above all it was great to see Bob and Ray doing what they do best: Witty, yet understated humor.
My biggest fear was of being disappointed in the production. I was afraid that I had built my hopes up too much. But in the end, I must quote the film itself:
Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
In short, all of the elements of a great Vonnegut novel are there. It has some great ideas and incredible insights.
There are some elaborate visual effects which must have been state-of-the-art in 1972, but seem to be a bit dated. The effects seem to be a bit overdone by today's standards, but serve the important purpose of showing the viewer where Stony becomes "unstuck in time" to use a Slaughterhouse-5 expression.
Above all it was great to see Bob and Ray doing what they do best: Witty, yet understated humor.
My biggest fear was of being disappointed in the production. I was afraid that I had built my hopes up too much. But in the end, I must quote the film itself:
Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.