Viewing Thread:
"Punch-Drunk Love"

The 4th from Paul Thomas Anderson, after Hard Eight, Boogie Nights and Magnolia.
Now if you didn't like any of those, don't bother to read further or rent/buy the film.
If, like me, you think Adam Sandler is annoying, stupid-voice manchild then read on.

Punch-Drunk Love.
Plot?
Barry Egan (Sandler) is a repressed, put-upon everyman given to fits of psychotic rage when needled. He buys puddings for the frequent flyer miles and decides to phone a sex-line one night, for company.
His sister brings one of her colleagues to visit Barry at work, and presents her saying "Why don't you go out with her?"

I wont say anymore for fear of ruining this film, and you need to see it with as little pre-knowledge as possible. Not because of spoilers, but because it would spoil each and every magical moment that follows.
Not a typical love story by any means, but from the perspective of a man that wrote Magnolia.
It's emotional, believable, uplifting, surreal, magical, beautiful and a whole lot more.
Has Anderson's style all over it, from long tracking shots to the use of colour and music to tell his story (Shelley Duvall's rendition of "He wants me" from Popeye is used to absolute perfection.
And his usual supporting cast of people like Louis Guizman and Phillip Seymour Hoffman pop up to make Anderson devotees smile.

From the quiet, peaceful start of Barry walking out to the street, pre-dawn to the sudden...well...I won't spoil it but it's random, has no relevance and just *is*, and the dumping of a harmonium in the street afterwards, right up to the finale - it's a joy from start to finish.
I can't stand Adam Sandler, haven't enjoyed any of his movies but he's note-perfect here.
By turn vulnerable, sweet, nervous, psychotic, stammering, determined (his "I have a strength you cannot comprehend, I have a love in my life and that gives me more power than you can ever possibly imagine" speech is fantastic),

Punch-Drunk Love is an off-kilter romance with the most unconventional romantic pillow talk ever ("I want to smash your face off with a sledgehammer and hold it in my hands"), incredible visuals set to music, excellent acting and the most horrible sisters since Cinderella ("Remember when we used to call you Gayboy?" "...no" "Yeah we did! Are you gay yet?" "...I dont know")

If you liked Anderson's early efforts, check it out.
If you like slightly odd movies, check it out.
If you believe that there exists a person out there no matter how strange you are will accept and want you, check it out.

Just dont check it if you liked "Big Daddy" or other Adam Sandler films and expect the same.

Could've been worse, could've been Daredevil with Bin Assrip in it.

Happiness - not exactly the perfect film to rent if you're having mates over for a popcorn-style night in.

I never got to choose a film again.

Happiness is the nastiest thing he's ever been in.
Overweight, sweaty shut-in making porno calls to a neighbour that actually likes it.

Eurgh

(Philip Seymour Hoffman, by the way)

Anyone seen that Love Liza film with him in it? Kinda like the same thing I think, about a man who loses his wife. And flies model planes.

Just think - he was in Hannibal. Ugh.

Poncy film dude!!

Yeah, I was looking on the PTA website about the "little things" in the film, the woman in red is there but apparently 1st time it's a beardy man.

I loved this film, his shaking her hand and walking away until she phones downstairs with "I really wanted to kiss you just then", stilted conversations at first etc.
Superb film, PTA does it again.

And Phillip Seymour Hoffman should be recognised as a true cinema hero, along with Guizman.

oops, I forgot I'd registered on my other e-mail address.. But that's me just underneath :o)

I went to see this with seven other people and while four, including me, loved it and went to see it again, the other four thought it was the most pretentious piece of crap they'd ever seen.

And on the subject of weird little things you don't notice first time round...

Go to the scene where Barry is shopping for pudding first time round.. Look in the background.. who's that out of focus red-dressed woman who dodges quickly out of view again? She's stalking him...

And I'm pretty sure the scene where he takes her back to her room is a parody of "Things to do in Denver". In that Andy Garcia schmoozes girl back to her room but says he never does more than kisses on a first date and schmoozes his way off again. Cue shot of girl with back to door looking elated but disappointed. Then suddenly a knock. Garcia schmoozes "Ah I've just seen the clock it's twelve so technically it's now our second date". Punch Drunk Love is much more realistic, because no one does things like that in real life. Barry walks off because he doesn't know how he's meant to do things, it's almost as if he thinks that that's the way he should act from having seen Hollywood movies, and so when he finally does get back to her room, he's left saying something really clunky like "I wanted to kiss you back then".

And that's what it's like.. how a clunky love story gradually becomes harmonious. Everything out of joint at the start, the titles come in randomly, the camera's tilted, the frame's are unbalanced, there's lens flare and the music is jarring.

And casting Adam Sandler was genius. Because if you watch all of Sandler's other films he gives exactly the same performance, but he's supposed to be being funny, and he just comes across as odd and disturbed. Here he's supposed to be odd, childish and disturbed, and so it looks like he's giving an inspired performance.

I've seen the film around 5 times now, and every time I watch it I spot something new.. Seriously; it's the best film of the past year.

****** SPOILER ALERT ********














Ok, when Lena tells Barry in the restaurant that she only went to drop her car off to meet him and that she was nervous.
Initially, when I watched the start, she just drives up and leaves him with her keys and walks off.

But watch it again now you know she was trying to pull him.
She's nervous, brushing her hair from her face, flirty.
And when she walks away, in the distance when Barry leans out and watches her leave, she gives the briefest, tiniest look back and smile. If you blink you miss it.
And her walking away, smoothing her skirt over her hips and making sure he notices she's a woman.

I just didnt get any of that the 1st time, but watch again and it's so blindingly obvious.
Like with Kevin Spacey in Usual Suspects checking out the noticeboard in the police office - 1st time it's just a bloke looking about, 2nd time it's Keyser Soze grabbing inspiration for his story.


*************** End Spoiler**************

Settled then, I'll watch it tonight. Don't know what you're talking about with the car bit at the beginning, must have missed it.

I also have Frailty and Intacto to watch yet.