413 - Punch-Drunk Love, United States, 2002. Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

413 - Punch-Drunk Love, United States, 2002.  Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson.

Barry Egan has some anger inside him.

He has sisters.  Nothing but sisters.  In fact, seven sisters.  And they each call him and harass him into coming to their party.  Where they remember the time he got so angry he threw a hammer through the window.

He does it again.

Barry runs a company in the San Fernando Valley.  They make Fungers.

Fun Plungers.

With decorations and games at the top of the handle.  At children's height so that children can see them.

How fun!

No, the money is not flowing in.  He does make money.  He does have employees.  Including his loyal friend Lance.  But he is always one step shy of really making it.

One morning after hanging up the phone, he gets up from his desk--which sits in the corner of a large empty room in a warehouse--and follows his instincts to see what is going on outside.  He turns the corner and walks to the street.  At 10101 Canoga Avenue in Chatsworth.

He sees a car inexplicably flip over and drop a small wind organ on the side of the road before moving on.  He calls it a piano.  He is later told is a harmonium.

A woman pulls up.  Lena Leonard.  She wants to leave her car at the mechanic next door to Barry.  But they are not open.  And she has to get to work.  She hands Barry the keys.  Will you watch it for me?  And move it if it needs to be moved?

A chance encounter.

Some chance encounters are not so chance.

Barry brings the harmonium inside.  He plays with it.  He tries to play it.

He figures out a way to earn frequent flyer miles by buying cans of pudding.  Good thing he owns his own warehouse.  He buys lots of cans of pudding.

Will this lonely man ever find love?

Will his spontaneous phone call to a copulation line result in aggressive extortion or even bodily harm?

Adam Sandler steps out of his usual comedic lead to explore this dramatic role.

Emily Watson plays Lena Leonard.

Luiz Guzman plays Barry's loyal friend Lance.

And Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the conniving Dean Trumbell.  Do not mess with him.  Or he will mess you up.

Unless, maybe, he meets his match.

What happens when you start with a man who has some anger inside him?

And add to that a feeling of invincibility.  Over being in love.

What happens when a man has nothing to fear?

Any longer?

Paul Thomas Anderson explores those questions.  As he plays with light and shadows.  Anderson has a flair for flares.  And soft focus.  So if you want to see games played in the camera, check out this film.

If you want to see a different kind of love, check out this film.

If you like your love a little more, well, sans the anger, then, well . . .

Some people fall punch-drunk in love.

Some people are working through their anger.

What happens when you do forgive?