#843: ANDERSON, Paul Thomas: Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

ANDERSON, Paul Thomas (United States)
Punch-Drunk Love [2002]
Spine #843
Blu-ray


Chaos lurks in every corner of this giddily off-kilter foray into romantic comedy by Paul Thomas Anerson. Struggling to cope with his erratic temper, novelty-toilet-plunger salesman Barry Egan (Adam Sandler, demonstrating remarkable versatility in his first dramatic role) spends his days collecting frequent-flier-mile coupons and dodging the insults of his seven sisters. The promise of a new life emerges when Barry inadvertently attracts the affection of a mysterious woman named Lena (Emily Watson), but their budding relationship is threatened when he falls prey to the swindling operator of a phone sex line and her deranged boss (played with maniacal brio by Philip Seymour Hoffman). Fueled by the careening momentum of a baroque-futurist score by Jon Brion, the Cannes-award-winning Punch-Drunk Love channels the spirit of classic Hollywood and the whimsy of Jacques Tati into an idiosyncratic ode to the delirium of new romance.

95 minutes
Color
5.1 Surround
2:39:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2016
Director/Writer


Paul Thomas Anderson was 32 when he wrote and directed Punch-Drunk Love.

The Film

A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Ten-page wraparound featuring an essay by filmmaker, author, and artist Miranda July.

Commentary

None.

Blossoms & Blood

A short 2002 piece by Anderson featuring Sandler and Watson, along with music by Jon Brion.

Interview

With Brion.

Piece

Featuring behind-the-scenes footage of a recording session for the film’s soundtrack.

Conversation

Between curators Michael Connor and Lia Gangitano about the art of Jeremy Blake, used in the film.

Additional artwork

By Blake.

Cannes Film Festival

Press conference from 2002.

NBC News

Interview from 2000 with Davie Phillips, the “pudding guy.”

Twelve Scopitones

Deleted scenes

Mattress Man commercial

Trailers

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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