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Punch-Drunk Love [2003]
![Punch-Drunk Love [2003]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51M74XEQWWL._SL160_.jpg)
Though prone to fits of terrifying rage, oddball entrepreneur Barry Egan (Sandler) is essentially sweet and timid, alternately nagged and cajoled by his seven sisters, and intent on exploiting a loophole in a supermarket promotion to convert piles of cheap puddings into unlimited free flights, though he has never actually been anywhere. Over the course of a day Barry enters into two unusual relationships: with a phone-sex girl (Ashley Clark) who runs a scam with "mattress man" (Philip Seymour Hoffman)--by getting Barry's credit card information and declaring a war of extortion--and with hesitant nice girl Lena (Emily Watson), whom he impulsively follows to Hawaii while trying desperately to seem more like a dedicated romantic than a psycho stalker. Anderson's trademark use of loud background music (including a Shelley Duvall track from Popeye) and obsessively repeated bits of dialogue and business make for a controlled film that still seems on the edge of madness. The result is magical, romantic, comic and creepy. --Kim Newman
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £2.99 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
A 97-minute Paul Thomas Anderson picture, Punch-Drunk Love concentrates on a tight little story that might have made a subplot for earlier PTA epics such as Boogie Nights or Magnolia. Adam Sandler has a break-out art film lead not by abandoning his usual persona, but by playing his familiar man-child-out-of-control with far more depth than he has shown in Big Daddy.
Too intelligent and too subtle for some people
Review date: 2008-07-16 Rating: 10 out of 10
This is Adam Sandler's most interesting film to date. It's a dark comedy with excellent acting from the entire cast. Its well written with subtle and dark humour, but judging by some of Adam Sandler's previous movies and by reading some of the reviews on Amazon; it appears that this film is too intelligent for the fans of Adam Sandler.
If your expecting the usual Adam Sandler movie, like the average Happy Gilmore, then you will be disapointed. However, if you like your comedy dark and subtle; then this is for you. This is a very acomplished film.
Sandler plays a man suffering with mental issues resulting from being brought up surrounded by 7 sisters. Although he runs his own business he is socially backward and struggles in the company of others, especially women. One night rings a sex-chat telephone service and subsequently becomes the target of blackmail. But dont judge a book by its cover, he is not to be messed with.
Excellent film.
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Reviews
If I could give it minus ten stars I would still consider myself generous.
Review date: 2008-02-29 Rating: 2 out of 10
For some reason Paul Thomas Anderson is considered a great director, after watching this I cannot see why. Still I have not seen anything else he has done so I cannot judge him by this abomination alone.
Why is it so bad you ask? It is supposed to be a comedy, yet I didn't so much as smirk at any point during this film, even the later police academy films managed that. It is Adam Sandler's worst movie by far, yes even worse than Billy Madison. As a comedy it failed my pectacularly than Scoochs effort to win eurovision, so the film rests on the drama. Sadly that is also painfully bad, there isn't any Adam Sandler plays a backwards social retard who somehow finds love with an improbably desperate woman. They then.. oh who cares save ninety minutes of your life and NEVER watch this bile. The camera work is worse than a bad student project and the script is sparse, as is the film as a whole, watching it is a long and tedious 90 minutes as you will ever endure.
I have Vietnam style flashbacks of the horror I witnessed watching this
Review date: 2008-02-17 Rating: 2 out of 10
Couldn't stand its slow, subdued, near surreal, meticulously & fussily controlled style. And practically no dialogue. This film was the cinematic equivalent of a slow elevator ride into hell.
I tried to watch it twice but I couldn't. I realised that the film wasn't going to loosen up so I gave up on it about ten minutes in. One of the best decisions I ever made.
I truly hate this film. I personally feel insulted by the director, it's that awful.
Don't listen to the hype
Review date: 2008-02-10 Rating: 2 out of 10
Despite certain Radio Presenters insisting that this is a classic, it is the worst film I have ever paid to see. There is no pyschological depth here, just quirkiness, irritatingly mannered acting and the whole farrago seems to be an attempt to produce a cult movie without the necessary intellectual depth. Emily Watson is pretty, but we knew this already. The 3 other people in the cinema seemed to confirm that this is not a success.
A quirky movie with great acting
Review date: 2007-12-29 Rating: 8 out of 10
Adam Sandler as Barry plays a loner and outsider, and transcends his previous "grown-up schoolboy" image. Here he shows great vulnerability as well as occasional anger and violence. If for nothing but his acting, it is worth watching this film: it is his vehicle. To a lesser extent than in Magnolia, the director Paul Thomas Anderson reflects on the effects of apparently chance events and symmetries - the car that crashes near the start and the van that fly-tips a harmonium on the pavement. The crash seems irrelevant except as to prefigure the smashed-into car later in the film, while the harmonium, taken onto Barry's desk, seems to provide solace - Barry touches three descending semitones on the keys (a pattern that is overlaid in the music score by Jon Brion) at times of emotional stress.
What starts as a quirky movie that could have almost been made in France, with a surreal demonstration of "unbreakable" toilet brushes, and awkward romantic moments, turns darker after Barry contacts a phone sex line. The repercussions of this provide an intense feel of plot later in the film when otherwise it might have felt directionless, and the mood becomes paranoiac in one chase scene, only to be deflated by a joke, "Why are you running? We know where you live!"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, who appears in all Anderson's major films, has a small role as the angry manager of the sex line, in vast contrast to his role as a placid nurse in Magnolia. Emily Watson is also good to watch, even if we don't learn much about her character. This film was hugely entertaining, and I would watch it again.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Emily Watson
Adam Sandler
Jason Andrews
Don McManus
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Creators:
Adam Sandler (Primary Contributor)
Emily Watson (Primary Contributor)
Robert Elswit (Cinematographer)
Paul Thomas Anderson (Producer)
Paul Thomas Anderson (Writer)
Leslie Jones (Editor)
Daniel Lupi (Producer)
Daniel P. Collins (Producer)
JoAnne Sellar (Producer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5035822302037
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2003-07-28
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2002-11-01
Language: English (Original Language)