You’re always in for a dose of obscurity when you watch a Paul Thomas Anderson film. Like Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine, Adam Sandler switches gears from his usual comic antics and settles into a serious, quirky role. Punch Drunk Love is actually quite charming once Sandler and the enormously talented Emily Watson become romantically involved (it takes far too long for this breakthrough to occur). If I could harbor any major complaints I’d say this movie is being different for different’s sake and needs a slight dose of reality to make the story hold. Not a terrible movie, but I doubt I’ll watch it again.
Eithan sez: 6 outta 10.
March 4, 2008 at 11:43 am
Don’t give up on the Sandler Triumph…. ordinarily, the guy just makes a clean get-a-way with my nine dollars, —not in Punch-Drunk. He, along with Ryan Gosling in ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ strike at the heart of the imprisoned man-child. They / the writers / the directors know exactly what they are doing. (That is to say that some non-gay guys (internally) gave up on women before even turning 18… you never leave the self constructed prison for fear of the cruelty and complete failure —unless there is a miracle… you turn into Lars …and/or Barry Eagan …and/or Travis Bickle.) Just give it one more chance. Give it one more chance.