|   Punch Drunk Love | Troy
Jul 16, 2003 1:24 PM | | What a cooool movie. Understand that I truly dislike Adam Sandler's moronic antics right off the bat. But I'm a big fan of the director, Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie nights, Magnolia). Thankfully, as I suspected, it was not a Adam Sandler movie, but a PTA movie all the way. I liked this much more than Magnolia because of it's lightness mixed with the darkness always so prevalent in PTA movies.
It opens very strangely, a street scene filled with non sequiturs setting the tone for the rest of the movie perfectly.
The story is about Barry, the maximum geek-boy who owns a novelty toilet plunger business. He is horribly repressed by his 7 sisters, but he finally opens up to oddball Emily Watson is funny and tense. The budding love story takes place amid a backdrop of him being stalked and extorted by a gang (led by the always great Phillip Seymour Hoffman) with all his vital statistics culled from a phone sex interlude.
The movie's tone is ironic and sweet at the same time, a deft juggling act. Barry's emotions are on his sleeve at all times and he explodes into rages several times throughout the story. And you never know when Barry's gonna pop again. His intense showdown with Hoffman is solid, with both of them playing inarticulate idiots. I was shocked to see Sandler actually show emotional range and humanity along with a much subtler comedic sense. He held his own with some very good actors.
The cinematography is lush, and bright, yet oddly sinister. The scenes shot on Waikiki Beach at dusk have a magical quality of light that you will instantly recognize if you've ever been there. The soundtrack is indescribably strange, built up of layers of melodic found object sounds.
A strangely unpredictable movie. Resolutely arty and pointedly odd. I loved it. Possible my favorite movie from 2002.
This is NOT a movie for anyone expecting the usual Adam Sandler movie. I bet those people really HATE this movie with all their strength. |
| Thanks for the Punch Drunk review, Troy.... | audiobill
Jul 16, 2003 6:26 PM | | I appreciate the detail in your review, Troy.
I've wondered whether or not I'd like this film, since i too am not a Sandler fan. The director PTA, however, is right up my alley. Magnolia was a bit too dark for me, personally, yet if it were ligthened it would be the perfect movie.
So..... I know I'll be renting this one; who knows?? possiblly buying.
Thanks-a-ton,
audiobill |
| Punch Drunk review . . . | Troy
Jul 16, 2003 6:40 PM | | . . . is right! I wish this stoopid board had an e5dit feature. |
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