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First off, let me say that this film succeeds not by Adam
Sandler's new and exciting turn as a performer, but by director
Paul Thomas Anderson's finesse and style as a filmmaker.
Now, I don't want to take anything away from Sandler's
performance, because it is his best yet, but most critics are
saying that he is treading new ground. That is an incorrect
statement. As Glen Kenny of Premiere magazine noted,
Sandler's Barry Egan is not too different from his character Billy
Madison. What works so well is the way P.T. Anderson using
Sandler's acting ability to the advantage of the film, delivering
one of the most powerful and original films of the year, making it
also quite possibly the most unusual film of the year.
Adam
Sandler (in his best performance to date) stars as Barry Egan.
Barry sells parts for toilets and is constantly reminded of his
goofiness and shyness by his seven sisters, who continually
discuss how they use to torment him as a child. And, at the
beginning, Barry is extremely shy and plainspoken, a well dressed
businessman with not a lot to say. However, he eventually
falls in love a woman named Lena Leonard (Emily Watson), who
desperately tries to help Barry overcome his shyness. Enter
a sub-plot involving enormous amounts of pudding and a trip to
Hawaii, and a pissed off Dean Trumbell (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
The
opening shots of this film let you know right away that this is
not the traditional screwball Sandler flick. As he watches
the twilight early on, we can see by his expressions that he isn't
about to start singing some stupid song or do one of his character
voices. He looks peaceful and at ease with himself, until
something very unusual happens (see it to find out). Though
I mentioned earlier than this is not a new approach for Sandler, I
kind of need to add to that. This is essentially the same
type of character Sandler usually plays, but with surprising depth
and emotion. I still do not believe Sandler has what it
takes to make it as a serious actor, like a Jim Carrey or a Tim
Allen, but he was lucky enough to work with a director who could
use his humor and routine to churn out a wonderfully powerful
piece about love and growth.
I
have been a P.T. Anderson fan since "Hard Eight".
"Boogie Nights" was absolutely fabulous, and
"Magnolia" was one of the best films I have ever seen.
"Punch-Drunk Love" is right up there with Anderson's
best. Though it lacks the peculiarity and shock of
"Magnolia", it still manages to throw in a few Anderson-esque
surprises. This film is also short for an Anderson piece.
"Magnolia" was just over three hours, and
"Punch-Drunk Love" clocks in at barely over ninety
minutes, though not taking away from the validity of the picture.
The
reviews of a couple critics have mentioned that Sandler should be
considered for an Academy Award, which I think is completely wrong
and ungrounded. Sandler's is good in the role, but doesn't
do something so exceptional as to call for that kind of
recognition. Jim Carrey deserved an Oscar for "The
Truman Show" and "Man on the Moon" because he
stretched himself out there. Bill Murray deserved an Oscar
for "Rushmore" because we saw a side of him we had never
seen before. Sandler, in this film, does very well, but does
essentially the same thing he always does, take a character of
unusual demeanor and run with it. P.T. Anderson just knows
how to exploit that really well.
Now
that I have enjoyed "Punch-Drunk Love" so thoroughly, it
makes me excited about the film "8 Mile". Why?
Because, just as this film was a departure for Anderson (working
with Sandler), "8 Mile" is a departure for the great
Curtis Hanson (working with Eminem). This gives me hope that
there are some more actors out there waiting to surprise us.
"Punch-Drunk Love" is one of the best pictures of the
year, and P.T. Anderson is one of the Top 5 great directors out
there today. This is an unusual film, yet a touching and
powerful film and I feel everyone who sees it will enjoy it.
If you are a hard core Adam Sandler fan, however, I am willing to
bet you will be highly disappointed, which should say something
deeply profound about your taste in movies and reasons for
watching them. Kudos to Sandler and Anderson for this
beautiful film.
-- Billy
Ray ( 4 out of 4 pops )
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about this film with other Popkorn Junkies |
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Other Junkie's
opinions.....
James ( 3 out of 4
pops )
What the heck is the point of this movie? I liked it, the acting
was great-- Adam Sandler
gives the performance of his lifetime and
Emily Watson, wow, just wow, but the story sucked. I dunno, I
still was entertained, but I like the entire cast of this film
so that's why. Is this
better than Magnolia? Not on your life.
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