Movies - Punch-Drunk Love

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	Movies - Punch-Drunk Love

Punch-Drunk Love is a 2002 film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Adam Sandler and Emily Watson star. Anderson regulars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Luis Guzmán also appear.

Sandler won positive reviews for his role in his first major departure from the crass comedies which made him a star; Roger Ebert wrote that "Sandler, liberated from the constraints of formula, reveals unexpected depths as an actor. Watching this film, you can imagine him in Dennis Hopper roles. He has darkness, obsession and power."

Although the film was well received by critics it was not successful at the US box-office. The film had a $25,000,000 budget and grossed about $17,000,000 at the domestic box office (the studio receives about half the gross). This poor profit might have been due in part to established Sandler fans who were reportedly put off by the film's quirky, artistic style, which was more in line with independent film sensibilities than the mainstream, low-brow pictures for which he was best known.

The soundtrack was composed by Jon Brion, and features the song "He Needs Me" from the movie Popeye
. The soundtrack received an enthusiastic review from classical music critic Greg Sandow. The movie also features the video artwork of Jeremy Blake as visual interludes.

Plot summary

Barry Egan (Sandler) owns a company that markets themed toilet plungers ("fungers") and other novelty items. He has seven overbearing sisters who ridicule him regularly, and leads a very lonely life punctuated by fits of rage. In the span of one morning, he witnesses a bizarre car accident, finds a harmonium left in the street, and encounters Lena Leonard (Watson), who he later learns orchestrated the meeting after hearing about him from one of his sisters, a co-worker.

Barry tries to find solace by calling a phone sex hotline for conversation, but the operators then attempt to extort money from him and send four henchmen brothers after him. This complicates his budding relationship with Lena, as well as his plan to exploit a loophole in a Healthy Choice promotion and amass a million frequent flyer miles by buying large quantities of pudding. After Lena leaves for Hawaii on a business trip, Barry decides to follow her. When on the phone with one of his manipulative sisters, she tries to pull one of her maneuvers on him but finds herself the receiving end of a nasty verbal tirade from Barry. She ends up giving the number to Barry.

When another run-in with the brothers leaves Lena mildly injured, an outraged Barry attacks (and beats up) the four henchmen brothers with the use of his fist and a crowbar, then leaves her at the hospital and calls the phone-sex line to unsuccessfully demand an end to the harassment; he then heads to Provo, Utah to confront the hotline's owner in person. Surprised at his visit, the owner shows his true colors when, after Barry angrily tells him to leave him and Lena alone, he goes scampering for his office to hide.

When Barry returns, he tells Lena his story and asks for her forgiveness, pledging that he'll use his frequent-flier miles to accompany her on all her future trips.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Jon Brion, and features the song "He Needs Me" from the movie Popeye
. The soundtrack received an enthusiastic review from classical music critic Greg Sandow.

Jon Brion provides main vocals (in addition to playing most of the instruments) in the song "Here We Go".

Tracklisting

#"Overture" - (2:09) #"Tabla" - (2:59) #"Punch-Drunk Melody" - (1:43) #"Hands and Feet" - (3:42) #"Le Petit Chateau" - (1:36) #"Alleyway" - (0:55) #"Punchy Tack Piano" - (1:25) #"He Needs Me" - (3:31) - original vocals by Shelley Duvall, original composition by Harry Nilsson, remix and additional composition by Jon Brion and Jonathan Karp #"Waikiki" - (3:56) - performed by Ladies K, original composition by Andy Kummings #"Moana Chimes" - (3:03) - original composition by Johnny Noble and M.K. Moke #"Hospital" - (1:21) #"Danny (Lonely Blue Boy)" - (2:13) performed by Conway Twitty, original composition by Ben Weisman and Fred Wise #"Healthy Choice" - (2:10) #"Third Floor Hallway" - (3:23) #"Blossoms & Blood" - (2:05) #"Here We Go" - (4:47) #"He Really Needs Me" - (3:10)

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