list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Punch-Drunk Love on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Punch_Drunk_Love/209826/default.aspx Title: Punch-Drunk Love
Year: 2002
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Plot: Adam Sandler and Emily Watson star in Punch-Drunk Love, an odd romantic comedy from gifted young director Paul Thomas Anderson. Sandler plays Barry Egan, a shy sad-sack with a great deal of repressed anger that occasionally bursts forth in sudden violent outrages, who falls in love with Lena Leonard (Emily Watson), a co-worker of one of Barry's seven sisters. After calling a phone-sex line, Barry is extorted by bad-guy Dean Trumbell (Anderson regular Philip Seymour Hoffman), who eventually sends four goons to assault Barry and get the money. This film was screened in competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, where Paul Thomas Anderson was named Best Director. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 68
Number of Lists: 87
Number of blog posts: 67
Number of discussion threads: 12
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:26:28 GMTPunch-Drunk Love2002Paul Thomas Anderson<a href="/players/P____62990/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Adam Sandler</a> and <a href="/players/P___221329/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Emily Watson</a> star in Punch-Drunk Love, an odd romantic comedy from gifted young director <a href="/players/P___231996/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Paul Thomas Anderson</a>. Sandler plays Barry Egan, a shy sad-sack with a great deal of repressed anger that occasionally bursts forth in sudden violent outrages, who falls in love with Lena Leonard (<a href="/players/P___221329/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Emily Watson</a>), a co-worker of one of Barry's seven sisters. After calling a phone-sex line, Barry is extorted by bad-guy Dean Trumbell (Anderson regular <a href="/players/P____32716/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Philip Seymour Hoffman</a>), who eventually sends four goons to assault Barry and get the money. This film was screened in competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, where <a href="/players/P___231996/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Paul Thomas Anderson</a> was named Best Director. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide68Tag Target (>10)8767123http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t37969gsnhg.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Punch_Drunk_Love/209826/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/risselada/archive/2009/9/16/43916.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Risselada Blog
Post Date: 9/16/2009 12:35:10 PM
Body: This is the fifth feature length film I've seen by director Paul Thomas Anderson. I chose to watch this film based on previous good ratings I've given other films by this director and to better my favorite directors by algorithm listing. There Will Be Blood I'd seen all of P.T. Anderson's other films up to this point. I had been hoping to see There Will Be Blood in the theater because I had huge expectations for it. The reason being is that Anderson's trend for me was that I thought each of his subsequent films was better than the last. It seemed like maybe he was going to keep on perfecting himself in my eyes. Now however the trend has ended. There Will Be Blood for me did not surpass Punch-Drunk Love (which may forever remain my P.T. Anderson favorite) or even Magnolia (also pretty darn close to perfect), but apart from those comparisons it is still an exceptionally great film. Of course the film has a lot different about it from any of his past films. It's the first period films he's ever done, and the first adapted from another source (although apparently loosely). And although he's done other films that achieve running times of two and a half hours or more, those other films are much more of ensemble films than this one. When you put Daniel Day-Lewis in your movie you have to expect him to steal the show. And this film is really singularly about him with only the character of Eli Sunday coming anywhere close to being as important of a character. Thus because the film is really about one person than an ensemble, it feels a lot longer to me. I can't fault anything about the film. Captivating story. Amazing sets. Fantastic acting. I guess unlike most of Anderson's other films though, I couldn't find anyone to really sympathize with. Also it was lacking a bit in some of the same kind of humor as his other films. But again, I'm comparing a bit unjustly probably. It's fantastically done for what it is. Paul Thomas Anderson:Total feature length films seen: 5Previous average film score: 9New average film score: 9 Rating: 9/10
]]>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:35:10 GMTRisseladaRisselada Blog9/16/2009 12:35:10 PMThis is the fifth feature length film I've seen by director Paul Thomas Anderson. I chose to watch this film based on previous good ratings I've given other films by this director and to better my favorite directors by algorithm listing. There Will Be Blood I'd seen all of P.T. Anderson's other films up to this point. I had been hoping to see There Will Be Blood in the theater because I had huge expectations for it. The reason being is that Anderson's trend for me was that I thought each of his subsequent films was better than the last. It seemed like maybe he was going to keep on perfecting himself in my eyes. Now however the trend has ended. There Will Be Blood for me did not surpass Punch-Drunk Love (which may forever remain my P.T. Anderson favorite) or even Magnolia (also pretty darn close to perfect), but apart from those comparisons it is still an exceptionally great film. Of course the film has a lot different about it from any of his past films. It's the first period films he's ever done, and the first adapted from another source (although apparently loosely). And although he's done other films that achieve running times of two and a half hours or more, those other films are much more of ensemble films than this one. When you put Daniel Day-Lewis in your movie you have to expect him to steal the show. And this film is really singularly about him with only the character of Eli Sunday coming anywhere close to being as important of a character. Thus because the film is really about one person than an ensemble, it feels a lot longer to me. I can't fault anything about the film. Captivating story. Amazing sets. Fantastic acting. I guess unlike most of Anderson's other films though, I couldn't find anyone to really sympathize with. Also it was lacking a bit in some of the same kind of humor as his other films. But again, I'm comparing a bit unjustly probably. It's fantastically done for what it is. Paul Thomas Anderson:Total feature length films seen: 5Previous average film score: 9New average film score: 9 Rating: 9/10 http://www.spout.com/blogs/jan4/archive/2009/1/6/39173.aspx Post By: jan4
Post To: jan4 Blog
Post Date: 1/6/2009 9:40:20 PM
Body: don't have any preconceptions - watch & enjoy
]]>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:40:20 GMTjan4jan4 Blog1/6/2009 9:40:20 PMdon't have any preconceptions - watch &amp; enjoy http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/12/17/38505.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 12/17/2008 6:00:27 PM
Body: One of the many things Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich did this week — instead of resigning from his position, as many people desired — was sign into law an increase on tax credits for films produced in his state. So, it should be only appropriate, and somewhat bittersweet, for the inevitable movie about his life and corruption hearings to be shot there. Now that we’ve got a location for the film, it’s time to cast the players in Blogojevich’s scandalous tale. The Washington Post has already published a list of possible actors to portray the lead (John Travolta, Sean Astin, Gary Cole, Stephen Baldwin, Tom Cruise, Ray Liotta, Charlie Sheen, Mike Myers and Steve Carrell), but more difficult than casting Blogojevich (see our pick below) is determining what other significant figures should be prominently featured. A straight biopic calls for way too many characters, so we’ve narrowed the film down to focus on just Blagojevich’s arrest and subsequent (forthcoming) trial. As always, if there’s another character to be included or another thespian suited to a role we’ve cast, chime in with a comment. Also, due to the fact that we’ve previously done posts about Barack Obama casting, let’s just assume that he’ll only be portrayed by a voice on the phone, a la Al Gore in Recount. Sam Rockwell as Governor Rod Blogojevich The perfect look-a-like casting choice would be former Attorney General Janet Reno, but Sam Rockwell (Frost/Nixon) is also a pretty close match. The actor has already played a lot of sleazy characters, including the lead role in Choke, for which he was recently named one of the “most offensive male characters” of 2008 by the Women Film Critics Circle. Rockwell also has experience portraying a conceited and delusional celebrity in George Clooney’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. If that actor-director pair could link up again for this movie, Rockwell could certainly be looking at his first well-deserved Oscar nomination. Mary Lynn Rajskub as Patti Blogojevich Rockwell is a tad young for the role of Blogojevich, so it’s fair that we also aim younger in casting the actress to play Illinois’ First Lady. Few women are more perfect for the part than Mary Lynn Rajskub (TV’s 24), who is about 8 years Blogojevich’s junior, anyway. Talented for playing cranky and/or two-faced women (mainly we’re thinking of her character in Punch-Drunk Love), she would be excellent as the allegedly foul-mouthed wife of the Governor. Mario Van Peebles as U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. Fittingly the son of an important African American leader (though being an icon of black cinema is admittedly not quite the same as being an icon of the civil rights movement), Mario Van Peebles (Ali) is conversely too old to play this part, especially since Jackson looks a lot younger than he is. But he’s a great, underrated actor (too good for All My Children, that’s for sure) and he could easily pull off a portrayal of the congressman, who was one of the contenders for Barack Obama’s now-vacant Senate seat, and who has apparently been a longtime informant to feds regarding Blagojevich’s shady dealings. Martin Donovan as U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald One idea for the part of the federal prosecutor in this case is Richard “John Boy” Thomas. He does look a little more like Fitzgerald, but Martin Donovan (Saved!)  got the Irish-American thing going for him, and it would be more interesting to see if he can do the Brooklyn accent. Plus, Donovan often works with Mary-Louise Parker, who would be perfect for the part of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan if she were an included character in the film. Brian Cox (or Albert Finney) as Defense Attorney Ed Genson An immediate idea following a Google image search was to jokingly cast actor Kevin Scannell, who played wheelchair-bound lawyer “Gar Girard” in The Player. But as it turns out, contrary to most photos available on the web, Genson no longer has such a handicap. So, a more appropriate suggestion for the famously tough lawyer (often called “the bulldog of the court room”), who formerly won R. Kelly’s child-pornography trial and who will now defend Blagojevich, is The Bourne Identy’s Brian Cox (not ever called “the bulldog of cinema,” though he should be). Or, in the event that you too think he’s easily interchangeable with Cox, Albert Finney (The Bourne Ultimatum) would also be suitable. Whichever of the two is cast, he’ll have to either get Genson’s accent down or have his dialogue overdubbed by William Hurt. James Woods as Lt. Governor Pat Quinn He may not really look like Quinn, but James Woods (Ghosts of Mississippi) is terrific at changing his appearance for Oscar-worthy supporting roles. This might not be a big enough part for an actor of his stature, but he’d be great at aping the wide-eyed expressions Quinn does when speaking publicly. Stanley Tucci as Antoin “Tony” Rezko It’s not certain yet if convicted fundraiser Tony Rezko will be involved in Blagojevich’s trial, though his testimonial would serve the prosecution well. If he is a major player, then Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada), with a puffy makeup job and fake mustache, should fill the role. Although Tucci is not Syrian like Rezko, he did once play a Middle Eastern assassin in The Pelican Brief. William Petersen as John Harris As Blagojevich’s former Chief of Staff, who resigned from his position after his joint arrest with the governor last week, William Petersen (TV’s CSI) would callback to his similar role as a political scandal figure in The Contender. “The Football” as Itself One of the harshest punishments for Blagojevich would be for the feds to deny the Governor his beloved hairbrush, which is nicknamed “The Football” (after a term used for the president’s possession of bomb codes). Then, producers of the Blagojevich film should purchase the item for a cameo appearance. Because, as the Governor would declare, there’s no substitute for it. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:00:27 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com12/17/2008 6:00:27 PMOne of the many things Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich did this week — instead of resigning from his position, as many people desired — was sign into law an increase on tax credits for films produced in his state. So, it should be only appropriate, and somewhat bittersweet, for the inevitable movie about his life and corruption hearings to be shot there. Now that we’ve got a location for the film, it’s time to cast the players in Blogojevich’s scandalous tale. The Washington Post has already published a list of possible actors to portray the lead (John Travolta, Sean Astin, Gary Cole, Stephen Baldwin, Tom Cruise, Ray Liotta, Charlie Sheen, Mike Myers and Steve Carrell), but more difficult than casting Blogojevich (see our pick below) is determining what other significant figures should be prominently featured. A straight biopic calls for way too many characters, so we’ve narrowed the film down to focus on just Blagojevich’s arrest and subsequent (forthcoming) trial. As always, if there’s another character to be included or another thespian suited to a role we’ve cast, chime in with a comment. Also, due to the fact that we’ve previously done posts about Barack Obama casting, let’s just assume that he’ll only be portrayed by a voice on the phone, a la Al Gore in Recount. Sam Rockwell as Governor Rod Blogojevich The perfect look-a-like casting choice would be former Attorney General Janet Reno, but Sam Rockwell (Frost/Nixon) is also a pretty close match. The actor has already played a lot of sleazy characters, including the lead role in Choke, for which he was recently named one of the “most offensive male characters” of 2008 by the Women Film Critics Circle. Rockwell also has experience portraying a conceited and delusional celebrity in George Clooney’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. If that actor-director pair could link up again for this movie, Rockwell could certainly be looking at his first well-deserved Oscar nomination. Mary Lynn Rajskub as Patti Blogojevich Rockwell is a tad young for the role of Blogojevich, so it’s fair that we also aim younger in casting the actress to play Illinois’ First Lady. Few women are more perfect for the part than Mary Lynn Rajskub (TV’s 24), who is about 8 years Blogojevich’s junior, anyway. Talented for playing cranky and/or two-faced women (mainly we’re thinking of her character in Punch-Drunk Love), she would be excellent as the allegedly foul-mouthed wife of the Governor. Mario Van Peebles as U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. Fittingly the son of an important African American leader (though being an icon of black cinema is admittedly not quite the same as being an icon of the civil rights movement), Mario Van Peebles (Ali) is conversely too old to play this part, especially since Jackson looks a lot younger than he is. But he’s a great, underrated actor (too good for All My Children, that’s for sure) and he could easily pull off a portrayal of the congressman, who was one of the contenders for Barack Obama’s now-vacant Senate seat, and who has apparently been a longtime informant to feds regarding Blagojevich’s shady dealings. Martin Donovan as U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald One idea for the part of the federal prosecutor in this case is Richard “John Boy” Thomas. He does look a little more like Fitzgerald, but Martin Donovan (Saved!)  got the Irish-American thing going for him, and it would be more interesting to see if he can do the Brooklyn accent. Plus, Donovan often works with Mary-Louise Parker, who would be perfect for the part of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan if she were an included character in the film. Brian Cox (or Albert Finney) as Defense Attorney Ed Genson An immediate idea following a Google image search was to jokingly cast actor Kevin Scannell, who played wheelchair-bound lawyer “Gar Girard” in The Player. But as it turns out, contrary to most photos available on the web, Genson no longer has such a handicap. So, a more appropriate suggestion for the famously tough lawyer (often called “the bulldog of the court room”), who formerly won R. Kelly’s child-pornography trial and who will now defend Blagojevich, is The Bourne Identy’s Brian Cox (not ever called “the bulldog of cinema,” though he should be). Or, in the event that you too think he’s easily interchangeable with Cox, Albert Finney (The Bourne Ultimatum) would also be suitable. Whichever of the two is cast, he’ll have to either get Genson’s accent down or have his dialogue overdubbed by William Hurt. James Woods as Lt. Governor Pat Quinn He may not really look like Quinn, but James Woods (Ghosts of Mississippi) is terrific at changing his appearance for Oscar-worthy supporting roles. This might not be a big enough part for an actor of his stature, but he’d be great at aping the wide-eyed expressions Quinn does when speaking publicly. Stanley Tucci as Antoin “Tony” Rezko It’s not certain yet if convicted fundraiser Tony Rezko will be involved in Blagojevich’s trial, though his testimonial would serve the prosecution well. If he is a major player, then Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada), with a puffy makeup job and fake mustache, should fill the role. Although Tucci is not Syrian like Rezko, he did once play a Middle Eastern assassin in The Pelican Brief. William Petersen as John Harris As Blagojevich’s former Chief of Staff, who resigned from his position after his joint arrest with the governor last week, William Petersen (TV’s CSI) would callback to his similar role as a political scandal figure in The Contender. “The Football” as Itself One of the harshest punishments for Blagojevich would be for the feds to deny the Governor his beloved hairbrush, which is nicknamed “The Football” (after a term used for the president’s possession of bomb codes). Then, producers of the Blagojevich film should purchase the item for a cameo appearance. Because, as the Governor would declare, there’s no substitute for it. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/12/9/38154.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 12/9/2008 7:02:15 PM
Body: Is romance dead? David Carr seems to think so, at least in American cinema (both Hollywood and “Indiewood,” as he inclusively clarifies). While celebrating the subway station meet-cute from the beginning of Milk, a scene he claims to be of an increasingly rare sort, Carr states that American filmmakers “can do romantic pathology and entropy, but the kind of love for the ages, a big-movie kind of love? Not so much.” If you agree with him, blame the back-to-back Best Picture winners Titanic and Shakespeare in Love for feeding us the kind of romance that’s so cheesy it clogs our arteries and gives us a coronary. Left with a burst heart and a lack of quality Nora Ephron movies, most of us have been cynics when it comes to love stories these past ten years. Yet cynics can still be swept off their feet, and American filmmakers have adequately supplied them with new kinds of love for the ages. Just take a look at these ten films from the past decade. They may be full of cynicism, but they’re also filled with big-movie love, in their own way. If you can’t see the romance, then the problem is with you, not the movies. Love & Basketball (2000) This underrated film has something for everyone: sports for the boys and romance for the girls; and sports for the girls and romance for the boys. See, it’s a love story that avoids clichés and speaks to both sexes equally. And as far as meet-cutes go, it’s hard to top Quincy’s first encounter with Monica: she beats him at basketball, he knocks her to the ground, and they instantly fall in love, at the age of 13. Plenty of recent films have done the whole love-since-childhood thing, including the contrived Love Me if You Dare and this year’s less-sexually-balanced Slumdog Millionaire. But while others treat this kind of story as fairy tale, Love & Basketball is more real, and true love is definitely more romantic than fantastical love. Punch-Drunk Love (2002) Who knew that Adam Sandler, as a modern-day Popeye, could be so romantic? Apparently Paul Thomas Anderson did, and he was able to transform the typical Sandler man-boy persona into an old-fashioned man-as-protector sort of romantic hero. A bit sexist and a little creepy, sure, but Sandler’s Barry Egan manages to fall on the right side of the fine line between stalker and sentimentally drastic admirer (kind of like a male “Amelie”). All the Real Girls (2003) The direction this film may seem too ironic and cynical to be considered truly romantic, but then think of how cynical our favorite romantic classics are. Gone With the Wind and Casablanca? Neither is as positive and hopeful as we pretend Hollywood romance to be. And while those films’ dialogue may be memorable after all these years, none of their lines are as simply and sweetly romantic as the stuff said by Paul (Paul Schneider) and Noel (Zooey Deschanel) to each other when they’re still falling in love. Cold Mountain (2003) Nicole Kidman and Jude Law may be the worst actors to play romantic leads, considering how stiff and plastic they are. But forgetting the performances and concentrating on the epic love story, this relatively modernized take on The Odyssey (set during the Civil War) is as classically romantic as it gets, right down to the tragic denouement. Surprisingly, it was not well received by either critics or audiences. The problem may have been the fault of Kidman and Law, whose characters were hardly believable as in love, although their compatibility is beside the point. The romantic quest made by Inman (Law) to get back to his barely-familiar sweetheart is powered by the concept of love more than the certainty of love. 50 First Dates (2004) Another Adam Sandler movie? That’s right, and this one is even sweeter and more thoughtfully romantic than Punch-Drunk Love. The plot, which is like a reciprocal Groundhog Day, is a tad too gimmicky to grab your heartstrings right away, but the final scene (ironically in the Arctic) could warm the center of even the most pragmatic, unemotional viewer. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Two of the best films of 2004 were deconstructions of love. But while Jonathan Glazer’s Birth shattered romance to pieces, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind showed us what it’s made of. The film also somewhat argues that love and romance aren’t necessarily about “happily ever after,” even if the two main characters do seem destined to be together at the end, nor are these concepts limited to good times. The Notebook (2004) It doesn’t get more traditionally romantic than this: forbidden love; correspondence; longing; a World War. But how is this more beloved than either Pearl Harbor or Australia? And why is Nicholas Sparks more respected and read than most romance novelists? Well, if it were that easy to determine, Hollywood wouldn’t keep failing in its attempts to make more films like this. Or, maybe it’s just that The Notebook doesn’t seem to be trying too hard –– it just tells a genuine love story without tugging or overreaching for your presumed romantic buttons. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) If Amelie is the most romantic non-American film of the last ten years, and if Punch-Drunk’s Barry Egan is the male Amelie, then Miranda July’s character is simply the American Amelie. She’s a little weird, a little too forthcoming, but she’s so sweet and creative in her pursuits that she’s not just forgivable; she’s completely lovable. Of course, lovable doesn’t exactly equal romantic, but then there are plenty of oddly romantic scenes in the film, too, such as the metaphoric first walk shared by July and John Hawkes’ characters. It’s frank, it’s harsh, but it’s also the best flirtation seen in American cinema in a long time. Brokeback Mountain (2005) It’s upsetting to think of any story involving adultery as being romantic (though Unfaithful almost made this list for other, spoilerific reasons), but the two lovers in Brokeback Mountain are given an exception because of the society they live in. The unapproved affair also makes for one of the most heartbreaking romances ever put on screen. And of all the films selected, this is easily the one that’s liable to make you lose your cynical perspective, at least for a couple of hours. WALL-E (2008) In a way, this animated film is not romantic at all for humans, who are viewed as plump slugs with no real interaction with other people (seriously, a time when we all just use video chat, even when we’re in the vicinity of one another, is not too far off). But for robots, it’s the most romantic thing to come along since the implied relationship between C-3PO and R2-D2. And it’s gender-equal (or, if you believe the characters are gender-neutral, the film is partner-equal) as far as the pursuing, the rescuing and the responsibility go regarding WALL-E and EVE’s relationship. Hopefully, this most recent film on the list will inspire future romantic films to be so progressive and so lacking in cynicism (such optimism: even two humans seem to fall in love at the end). Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:02:15 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com12/9/2008 7:02:15 PMIs romance dead? David Carr seems to think so, at least in American cinema (both Hollywood and “Indiewood,” as he inclusively clarifies). While celebrating the subway station meet-cute from the beginning of Milk, a scene he claims to be of an increasingly rare sort, Carr states that American filmmakers “can do romantic pathology and entropy, but the kind of love for the ages, a big-movie kind of love? Not so much.” If you agree with him, blame the back-to-back Best Picture winners Titanic and Shakespeare in Love for feeding us the kind of romance that’s so cheesy it clogs our arteries and gives us a coronary. Left with a burst heart and a lack of quality Nora Ephron movies, most of us have been cynics when it comes to love stories these past ten years. Yet cynics can still be swept off their feet, and American filmmakers have adequately supplied them with new kinds of love for the ages. Just take a look at these ten films from the past decade. They may be full of cynicism, but they’re also filled with big-movie love, in their own way. If you can’t see the romance, then the problem is with you, not the movies. Love & Basketball (2000) This underrated film has something for everyone: sports for the boys and romance for the girls; and sports for the girls and romance for the boys. See, it’s a love story that avoids clichés and speaks to both sexes equally. And as far as meet-cutes go, it’s hard to top Quincy’s first encounter with Monica: she beats him at basketball, he knocks her to the ground, and they instantly fall in love, at the age of 13. Plenty of recent films have done the whole love-since-childhood thing, including the contrived Love Me if You Dare and this year’s less-sexually-balanced Slumdog Millionaire. But while others treat this kind of story as fairy tale, Love & Basketball is more real, and true love is definitely more romantic than fantastical love. Punch-Drunk Love (2002) Who knew that Adam Sandler, as a modern-day Popeye, could be so romantic? Apparently Paul Thomas Anderson did, and he was able to transform the typical Sandler man-boy persona into an old-fashioned man-as-protector sort of romantic hero. A bit sexist and a little creepy, sure, but Sandler’s Barry Egan manages to fall on the right side of the fine line between stalker and sentimentally drastic admirer (kind of like a male “Amelie”). All the Real Girls (2003) The direction this film may seem too ironic and cynical to be considered truly romantic, but then think of how cynical our favorite romantic classics are. Gone With the Wind and Casablanca? Neither is as positive and hopeful as we pretend Hollywood romance to be. And while those films’ dialogue may be memorable after all these years, none of their lines are as simply and sweetly romantic as the stuff said by Paul (Paul Schneider) and Noel (Zooey Deschanel) to each other when they’re still falling in love. Cold Mountain (2003) Nicole Kidman and Jude Law may be the worst actors to play romantic leads, considering how stiff and plastic they are. But forgetting the performances and concentrating on the epic love story, this relatively modernized take on The Odyssey (set during the Civil War) is as classically romantic as it gets, right down to the tragic denouement. Surprisingly, it was not well received by either critics or audiences. The problem may have been the fault of Kidman and Law, whose characters were hardly believable as in love, although their compatibility is beside the point. The romantic quest made by Inman (Law) to get back to his barely-familiar sweetheart is powered by the concept of love more than the certainty of love. 50 First Dates (2004) Another Adam Sandler movie? That’s right, and this one is even sweeter and more thoughtfully romantic than Punch-Drunk Love. The plot, which is like a reciprocal Groundhog Day, is a tad too gimmicky to grab your heartstrings right away, but the final scene (ironically in the Arctic) could warm the center of even the most pragmatic, unemotional viewer. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Two of the best films of 2004 were deconstructions of love. But while Jonathan Glazer’s Birth shattered romance to pieces, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind showed us what it’s made of. The film also somewhat argues that love and romance aren’t necessarily about “happily ever after,” even if the two main characters do seem destined to be together at the end, nor are these concepts limited to good times. The Notebook (2004) It doesn’t get more traditionally romantic than this: forbidden love; correspondence; longing; a World War. But how is this more beloved than either Pearl Harbor or Australia? And why is Nicholas Sparks more respected and read than most romance novelists? Well, if it were that easy to determine, Hollywood wouldn’t keep failing in its attempts to make more films like this. Or, maybe it’s just that The Notebook doesn’t seem to be trying too hard –– it just tells a genuine love story without tugging or overreaching for your presumed romantic buttons. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) If Amelie is the most romantic non-American film of the last ten years, and if Punch-Drunk’s Barry Egan is the male Amelie, then Miranda July’s character is simply the American Amelie. She’s a little weird, a little too forthcoming, but she’s so sweet and creative in her pursuits that she’s not just forgivable; she’s completely lovable. Of course, lovable doesn’t exactly equal romantic, but then there are plenty of oddly romantic scenes in the film, too, such as the metaphoric first walk shared by July and John Hawkes’ characters. It’s frank, it’s harsh, but it’s also the best flirtation seen in American cinema in a long time. Brokeback Mountain (2005) It’s upsetting to think of any story involving adultery as being romantic (though Unfaithful almost made this list for other, spoilerific reasons), but the two lovers in Brokeback Mountain are given an exception because of the society they live in. The unapproved affair also makes for one of the most heartbreaking romances ever put on screen. And of all the films selected, this is easily the one that’s liable to make you lose your cynical perspective, at least for a couple of hours. WALL-E (2008) In a way, this animated film is not romantic at all for humans, who are viewed as plump slugs with no real interaction with other people (seriously, a time when we all just use video chat, even when we’re in the vicinity of one another, is not too far off). But for robots, it’s the most romantic thing to come along since the implied relationship between C-3PO and R2-D2. And it’s gender-equal (or, if you believe the characters are gender-neutral, the film is partner-equal) as far as the pursuing, the rescuing and the responsibility go regarding WALL-E and EVE’s relationship. Hopefully, this most recent film on the list will inspire future romantic films to be so progressive and so lacking in cynicism (such optimism: even two humans seem to fall in love at the end). Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_Romantic_Films/190/36048/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 10/8/2008 3:41:56 PM
Body: It was hard for me to make a list of a definiative five. For some reason I feel better just naming these two. Punch-Drunk Love Surviving Desire
]]>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:41:56 GMTRisseladaTop 510/8/2008 3:41:56 PMIt was hard for me to make a list of a definiative five. For some reason I feel better just naming these two. Punch-Drunk Love Surviving Desire http://www.spout.com/groups/From_Here_To_Awesome/Re_Johnny_AppleWEED_FHTA/586/30180/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: SkyPilot
Post To: From Here To Awesome
Post Date: 5/30/2008 11:04:40 AM
Body: This looks pretty freewheelin. I've always appreciated it when a drug movie can induce the sort of feelings it demonstrates on screen, even when the viewer is perfectly sober. I don't consider Punch Drunk Love a drug movie, but it does make me feel pretty drunk (those sounds, the sudden animated sequences, etc). The Big Lebowski does this to me too. It looks like Johnny Appleweed might just trigger the same kind of experience...
]]>Fri, 30 May 2008 15:04:40 GMTSkyPilotFrom Here To Awesome5/30/2008 11:04:40 AMThis looks pretty freewheelin. I've always appreciated it when a drug movie can induce the sort of feelings it demonstrates on screen, even when the viewer is perfectly sober. I don't consider Punch Drunk Love a drug movie, but it does make me feel pretty drunk (those sounds, the sudden animated sequences, etc). The Big Lebowski does this to me too. It looks like Johnny Appleweed might just trigger the same kind of experience... http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmgaming/Re_Recasting_GHOSTBUSTERS_1984/563/28089/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: SkyPilot
Post To: Filmgaming
Post Date: 5/2/2008 9:10:41 AM
Body: Wow, it was hard to pick a winner, but it’s frozenhamster for his 4/20 post-- “Ghostbusters: London Calling. An Edgar Wright Film …England is about to get slimed! When ghosts get a passport to Europe they take London by storm and it's up to a special team of British parapsychologists to save the city. Killing ghosts and making jokes, all before tea time.” Steve Coogan (24 Hour Party People) as Peter Venkman, Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz) as Ray, Martin Freeman (Tim on the British Office) and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) as Winston. Besides being a really fun idea, I like it because it’s its own thing and doesn’t try to “replace” anyone, especially the inimitable Bill Murray. Second prize: minerwerks – your post is a tour de force of film history, and thank you for directing our thoughts to the demented world of David Heavener (Kill Crazy). I'd also like to mention lazyalchemist's post. I especially liked imagining Rainn Wilson (The Office’s Dwight) as Egon, Michael Cera (Juno) as the male student, and Alan Rickman (Sheriff of Nottingham!) provide the voice of Gozer. I can see Vince Vaughn doing a pretty good Peter Venkman, too. You’ll notice that Vince was the popular favorite for Venkman. I’ve got to salute some others:smcassidy also went with Vince Vaughn for Peter, but he followed that with two perfect sucker punches: Jerry O’Connell (Joe’s Apartment) for Ray, and David Duchovny (X-Files) as Egon. Luis Guzman (Punch-Drunk Love) would make a great Winston (thanks LMCBoy).Keira Knightley is a surreal and inspired choice for Gozer (thanks PlantPage55). And mercurial, I may have less faith than you do in the Broken Lizard (Super Troopers) comedy team, but these are good picks.
]]>Fri, 02 May 2008 13:10:41 GMTSkyPilotFilmgaming5/2/2008 9:10:41 AMWow, it was hard to pick a winner, but it&rsquo;s frozenhamster for his 4/20 post-- &ldquo;Ghostbusters: London Calling. An Edgar Wright Film &hellip;England is about to get slimed! When ghosts get a passport to Europe they take London by storm and it's up to a special team of British parapsychologists to save the city. Killing ghosts and making jokes, all before tea time.&rdquo; Steve Coogan (24 Hour Party People) as Peter Venkman, Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz) as Ray, Martin Freeman (Tim on the British Office) and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) as Winston. Besides being a really fun idea, I like it because it&rsquo;s its own thing and doesn&rsquo;t try to &ldquo;replace&rdquo; anyone, especially the inimitable Bill Murray. Second prize: minerwerks &ndash; your post is a tour de force of film history, and thank you for directing our thoughts to the demented world of David Heavener (Kill Crazy). I'd also like to mention lazyalchemist's post. I especially liked imagining Rainn Wilson (The Office&rsquo;s Dwight) as Egon, Michael Cera (Juno) as the male student, and Alan Rickman (Sheriff of Nottingham!) provide the voice of Gozer. I can see Vince Vaughn doing a pretty good Peter Venkman, too. You&rsquo;ll notice that Vince was the popular favorite for Venkman. I&rsquo;ve got to salute some others:smcassidy also went with Vince Vaughn for Peter, but he followed that with two perfect sucker punches: Jerry O&rsquo;Connell (Joe&rsquo;s Apartment) for Ray, and David Duchovny (X-Files) as Egon. Luis Guzman (Punch-Drunk Love) would make a great Winston (thanks LMCBoy).Keira Knightley is a surreal and inspired choice for Gozer (thanks PlantPage55). And mercurial, I may have less faith than you do in the Broken Lizard (Super Troopers) comedy team, but these are good picks. http://www.spout.com/blogs/fa531/archive/2008/4/21/27607.aspx Post By: fa531
Post To: fa531 Blog
Post Date: 4/21/2008 7:23:00 PM
Body: This movie one needs to have a couple of beers before it starts. As the movie progresses then add a couple more. That is what I should have done before I started to watch the Adam Sandler character that is tormented by his sisters. Not to mention whatever is going on in his head. The only solution to the movie is like I have stated is to watch it while getting a buzz and keeping a buzz while enjoying the beer, oh and not to mention the movie. From the beginning when he is asking about the frequent flyer miles on American Airlines and getting his Healthy Choice food it just seemed as though the two companies paid for the entire production. Barry Egan is Sandler's character’s name as he somehow falls in love with Lena. She is right up there with Barry missing a few cards from the deck. Between both of them you might be able to get a full deck, but don’t quote me on that. Barry calls a phone sex line and gets the squeeze put on him for money. (I should have had a third beer by now) He then gets an idea to call them back and requests his money back. Oh boy it gets better. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, makes the movie worth watching. Dean is his character’s name. He sends some of his hoodlums to take care of Barry. He gets pinched for some money then the movie turns sappy by him going off to Hawaii where he meets up with Lena. Barry then gets this testosterone filled persona and takes on the phone sex thugs and whips them good. He then takes on Dean as he goes to Utah and gets into a yelling match. I was waiting for the both of them to get into this knock down drag out midnight alley fight that lasted a long time. I was waiting at the end of my seat as all they did was yell. (This was the time I should have opened my fourth beer) It was a good movie that was better seen with a buzz. Would I see it again? Yes, even though I am not a drinking man I just might understand it more if I had a beer buzz going into it. Frank
]]>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:23:00 GMTfa531fa531 Blog4/21/2008 7:23:00 PM This movie one needs to have a couple of beers before it starts. As the movie progresses then add a couple more. That is what I should have done before I started to watch the Adam Sandler character that is tormented by his sisters. Not to mention whatever is going on in his head. The only solution to the movie is like I have stated is to watch it while getting a buzz and keeping a buzz while enjoying the beer, oh and not to mention the movie. From the beginning when he is asking about the frequent flyer miles on American Airlines and getting his Healthy Choice food it just seemed as though the two companies paid for the entire production. Barry Egan is Sandler&#39;s character&rsquo;s name as he somehow falls in love with Lena. She is right up there with Barry missing a few cards from the deck. Between both of them you might be able to get a full deck, but don&rsquo;t quote me on that. Barry calls a phone sex line and gets the squeeze put on him for money. (I should have had a third beer by now) He then gets an idea to call them back and requests his money back. Oh boy it gets better. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, makes the movie worth watching. Dean is his character&rsquo;s name. He sends some of his hoodlums to take care of Barry. He gets pinched for some money then the movie turns sappy by him going off to Hawaii where he meets up with Lena. Barry then gets this testosterone filled persona and takes on the phone sex thugs and whips them good. He then takes on Dean as he goes to Utah and gets into a yelling match. I was waiting for the both of them to get into this knock down drag out midnight alley fight that lasted a long time. I was waiting at the end of my seat as all they did was yell. (This was the time I should have opened my fourth beer) It was a good movie that was better seen with a buzz. Would I see it again? Yes, even though I am not a drinking man I just might understand it more if I had a beer buzz going into it. Frank http://www.spout.com/blogs/risselada/archive/2008/4/17/27423.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Risselada Blog
Post Date: 4/17/2008 3:58:41 PM
Body: This blog entry is part of my “movie year countdown round #2”. Read more about that here.Hard EightP.T. Anderson's Magnolia and a Punch-Drunk Love are two of my favorite movies. I also think Boogie Nights is a very good movie, although it doesn't affect me as profoundly as those other two. I just watched Hard Eight, and have yet to see There Will Be Blood.So far my feeling is that each of Anderson's movies have been subsequently better. Hard Eight is a solid movie with good characters and good use of a style that would come to be perfected. Boogie Nights may just not appeal to me as much because I can't get entirely invested into the world of the pornography industry. But it is still well done. Magnolia is simply perfect, and Punch-Drunk Love is somehow even better in it's own way. Due to this trend in my personal enjoyment of his movies and the unbelievable amount of praise I've heard from both the general public, critics, and close friends, There Will Be Blood is certain to be amazing. And because of that I'm kind of putting it off to watching it until a day I feel like I need to see something I know will be great.Anyways, as for Hard Eight there is no reason to gripe. Some of Anderson's techniques are in more primitive stages, but it has wonderful moments (see a pack of matches spontaneously combust in John C. Reilly's pocket) and I like that he started out with a more simple story before moving into the more epic quality of his next two movies.Rating: 8/10
]]>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:58:41 GMTRisseladaRisselada Blog4/17/2008 3:58:41 PMThis blog entry is part of my &ldquo;movie year countdown round #2&rdquo;. Read more about that here.Hard EightP.T. Anderson&#39;s Magnolia and a Punch-Drunk Love are two of my favorite movies. I also think Boogie Nights is a very good movie, although it doesn&#39;t affect me as profoundly as those other two. I just watched Hard Eight, and have yet to see There Will Be Blood.So far my feeling is that each of Anderson&#39;s movies have been subsequently better. Hard Eight is a solid movie with good characters and good use of a style that would come to be perfected. Boogie Nights may just not appeal to me as much because I can&#39;t get entirely invested into the world of the pornography industry. But it is still well done. Magnolia is simply perfect, and Punch-Drunk Love is somehow even better in it&#39;s own way. Due to this trend in my personal enjoyment of his movies and the unbelievable amount of praise I&#39;ve heard from both the general public, critics, and close friends, There Will Be Blood is certain to be amazing. And because of that I&#39;m kind of putting it off to watching it until a day I feel like I need to see something I know will be great.Anyways, as for Hard Eight there is no reason to gripe. Some of Anderson&#39;s techniques are in more primitive stages, but it has wonderful moments (see a pack of matches spontaneously combust in John C. Reilly&#39;s pocket) and I like that he started out with a more simple story before moving into the more epic quality of his next two movies.Rating: 8/10 http://www.spout.com/blogs/amacduff/archive/2008/4/16/27381.aspx Post By: amacduff
Post To: amacduff Blog
Post Date: 4/16/2008 8:14:14 PM
Body: Where to start. Well, first, a note about the director. Paul Thomas Anderson, in his third feature film, seems to be developing a penchant for the odd and random. But then, when your full length film debut is a pic about porn, where do you really go from there? Well, one option might be an over-the-top artsy film featuring a huge ensemble cast, more plotlines than the average moviegoer is willing to tolerate, and frogs falling from the sky. For his third film, Anderson made a character study, if you will. Punch Drunk Love is a journey into the psyche of Adam Sandler.It’s got all of the elements from Sandler’s best known films, but taken from a more realistic perspective. Unlike most Adam Sandler films, this one is set in a bit more realistic world, where crude behavior and rage blackouts are not considered to be acceptable behavior. Sure, the characters in the movie are caricatures of your average human being, but their behavior is not presented as a picture of normalcy. The story takes place in a “”real world” setting, and therefore, the characters’ actions seem more exaggerated, more odd. When you start with a white canvas, bright colors stand out more.Awkwardness.Adam Sandler has always played awkward well. Really well. And usually it’s funny. Who doesn’t laugh when a grown man speaks gibberish, or hallucinates oversized penguins drinking cocktails? However, in Punch Drunk Love, Anderson gives us a reason for the behavior. He has seven nagging sisters. Sure, he’s still socially awkward, but now at least we have some sort of explanation for it. Barry Egan has what could be construed as a sort of clinical depression, hence the loneliness and the crying. And in a completely new twist, he recognizes that there is something wrong, that somehow he is not quite right. Most of Sandler’s films don’t attempt to explain the behavior for two reasons. One is that most of his films are comedies that are meant to be taken at face value, and forgotten once you leave the theater. Not much point in pondering the existential values of Happy Gilmore. However, Punch Drunk Love is a film with a bit more depth to it, so these issues must be addressed. The other is that people have come to expect this kind of behavior, because for the most part, Sandler plays the same character all the time. Adam Sandler, at this point in his career, has become a household name, and his character and all of his strange quirks are somewhat familiar to the average moviegoer.Rage.It’s a part of just about every Adam Sandler movie ever made. The part in which he flies off the handle. Why not? It’s funny. Some of the deepest, hardest laughs are produced in reaction to people fighting with opponents they really shouldn’t be fighting, like animals or the elderly. But in Punch Drunk Love, for the first time, this pattern is seen realistically, as a problem. Instead of the usual comedic effect, it makes you realize that, wow, this guy has issues. And again, it stems from the fact that this film takes place in a more realistic setting, where rules of civil conduct are followed a bit less loosely. Kicking in a sliding glass door or tearing apart a public bathroom are not behaviors that are considered to be acceptable. It is all too obvious that Mr. Egan has a hard time expressing himself, as well as severe anger management problems. He has seven sisters who treat him as an outcast and take every opportunity to demean him, and it is apparent that growing up in this kind of atmosphere has stunted his social and emotional growth. It is only after he finds love that he begins to focus his anger towards protecting the woman he loves, rather than destroying the things around him. So in this film, we are able to see more clearly the problem, but also a possible solution, where other films fail to address the issue.Phone Humor.To truly delve into the psyche of Adam Sandler, one must also consider his comedic career. And to this end, Paul Thomas Anderson is no slouch. Using material that parallels Sandler’s professional discography, Anderson is able to show us a different side of the characters. In his albums, Adam Sandler often uses telephone based humor featuring phone sex or just general insult comedy. Rarely used in his films, this type of phone humor is helpful in showing us another side of the characters, as they act a bit different when connected by telephone. His sisters seem more abrasive on the phone. For the most part, though, the phone sequences are used to show an important part of the Sandler character, that being that he is a timid man who, not knowing how to release his pent up emotions, is sitting on the edge of an explosion of hostility.Dance.One aspect of the Adam Sandler character that remains intact and untouched, is the Sandler Dance. Used in several of his movies, Sandler’s little “happy dance” is used, to the same effect. Finger wagging and all. The socially awkward Barry Egan, just like his predecessors, dances a curious little dance, obviously of his own design, conceived on the spot by a man who, throughout his life, hasn’t had much reason to dance.Conclusion.The psychological profile of the Adam Sandler character portrayed in film is a complex one. A man with fairly low self-esteem, who finds it hard to connect with people. He suffers from a crippling inability to show emotion, and as a result is constantly on the verge of either a blackout or a breakdown. Deep down he is a sensitive, caring person, full of curiosity and desperation, but with a pinch of “I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” At the conclusion of the film, we have our expected happy ending, but with a deeper and more fulfilling feeling, because not only did he get the girl, but he now seems to be on a healthy path towards normalcy. Not the usual cheering from an adoring crowd, but rather a quiet, personal triumph. The cheering is implied.
]]>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:14:14 GMTamacduffamacduff Blog4/16/2008 8:14:14 PMWhere to start. Well, first, a note about the director. Paul Thomas Anderson, in his third feature film, seems to be developing a penchant for the odd and random. But then, when your full length film debut is a pic about porn, where do you really go from there? Well, one option might be an over-the-top artsy film featuring a huge ensemble cast, more plotlines than the average moviegoer is willing to tolerate, and frogs falling from the sky. For his third film, Anderson made a character study, if you will. Punch Drunk Love is a journey into the psyche of Adam Sandler.It&rsquo;s got all of the elements from Sandler&rsquo;s best known films, but taken from a more realistic perspective. Unlike most Adam Sandler films, this one is set in a bit more realistic world, where crude behavior and rage blackouts are not considered to be acceptable behavior. Sure, the characters in the movie are caricatures of your average human being, but their behavior is not presented as a picture of normalcy. The story takes place in a &ldquo;&rdquo;real world&rdquo; setting, and therefore, the characters&rsquo; actions seem more exaggerated, more odd. When you start with a white canvas, bright colors stand out more.Awkwardness.Adam Sandler has always played awkward well. Really well. And usually it&rsquo;s funny. Who doesn&rsquo;t laugh when a grown man speaks gibberish, or hallucinates oversized penguins drinking cocktails? However, in Punch Drunk Love, Anderson gives us a reason for the behavior. He has seven nagging sisters. Sure, he&rsquo;s still socially awkward, but now at least we have some sort of explanation for it. Barry Egan has what could be construed as a sort of clinical depression, hence the loneliness and the crying. And in a completely new twist, he recognizes that there is something wrong, that somehow he is not quite right. Most of Sandler&rsquo;s films don&rsquo;t attempt to explain the behavior for two reasons. One is that most of his films are comedies that are meant to be taken at face value, and forgotten once you leave the theater. Not much point in pondering the existential values of Happy Gilmore. However, Punch Drunk Love is a film with a bit more depth to it, so these issues must be addressed. The other is that people have come to expect this kind of behavior, because for the most part, Sandler plays the same character all the time. Adam Sandler, at this point in his career, has become a household name, and his character and all of his strange quirks are somewhat familiar to the average moviegoer.Rage.It&rsquo;s a part of just about every Adam Sandler movie ever made. The part in which he flies off the handle. Why not? It&rsquo;s funny. Some of the deepest, hardest laughs are produced in reaction to people fighting with opponents they really shouldn&rsquo;t be fighting, like animals or the elderly. But in Punch Drunk Love, for the first time, this pattern is seen realistically, as a problem. Instead of the usual comedic effect, it makes you realize that, wow, this guy has issues. And again, it stems from the fact that this film takes place in a more realistic setting, where rules of civil conduct are followed a bit less loosely. Kicking in a sliding glass door or tearing apart a public bathroom are not behaviors that are considered to be acceptable. It is all too obvious that Mr. Egan has a hard time expressing himself, as well as severe anger management problems. He has seven sisters who treat him as an outcast and take every opportunity to demean him, and it is apparent that growing up in this kind of atmosphere has stunted his social and emotional growth. It is only after he finds love that he begins to focus his anger towards protecting the woman he loves, rather than destroying the things around him. So in this film, we are able to see more clearly the problem, but also a possible solution, where other films fail to address the issue.Phone Humor.To truly delve into the psyche of Adam Sandler, one must also consider his comedic career. And to this end, Paul Thomas Anderson is no slouch. Using material that parallels Sandler&rsquo;s professional discography, Anderson is able to show us a different side of the characters. In his albums, Adam Sandler often uses telephone based humor featuring phone sex or just general insult comedy. Rarely used in his films, this type of phone humor is helpful in showing us another side of the characters, as they act a bit different when connected by telephone. His sisters seem more abrasive on the phone. For the most part, though, the phone sequences are used to show an important part of the Sandler character, that being that he is a timid man who, not knowing how to release his pent up emotions, is sitting on the edge of an explosion of hostility.Dance.One aspect of the Adam Sandler character that remains intact and untouched, is the Sandler Dance. Used in several of his movies, Sandler&rsquo;s little &ldquo;happy dance&rdquo; is used, to the same effect. Finger wagging and all. The socially awkward Barry Egan, just like his predecessors, dances a curious little dance, obviously of his own design, conceived on the spot by a man who, throughout his life, hasn&rsquo;t had much reason to dance.Conclusion.The psychological profile of the Adam Sandler character portrayed in film is a complex one. A man with fairly low self-esteem, who finds it hard to connect with people. He suffers from a crippling inability to show emotion, and as a result is constantly on the verge of either a blackout or a breakdown. Deep down he is a sensitive, caring person, full of curiosity and desperation, but with a pinch of &ldquo;I&rsquo;m mad as hell and I&rsquo;m not gonna take it anymore!&rdquo; At the conclusion of the film, we have our expected happy ending, but with a deeper and more fulfilling feeling, because not only did he get the girl, but he now seems to be on a healthy path towards normalcy. Not the usual cheering from an adoring crowd, but rather a quiet, personal triumph. The cheering is implied. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspxlove
Number of films tagged: 12478

Number of people who tagged: 338

Number of times used: 1480

]]>Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:28:29 GMT124783381480Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Great/MemberTagFilms.aspxGreat
Number of films tagged: 231

Number of people who tagged: 202

Number of times used: 371

]]>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:11:49 GMT231202371Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/romance/MemberTagFilms.aspxromance
Number of films tagged: 7162

Number of people who tagged: 169

Number of times used: 1004

]]>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:01:30 GMT71621691004Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Quirky/MemberTagFilms.aspxQuirky
Number of films tagged: 131

Number of people who tagged: 110

Number of times used: 249

]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:54:25 GMT131110249Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Best/MemberTagFilms.aspxBest
Number of films tagged: 78

Number of people who tagged: 91

Number of times used: 122

]]>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:01:38 GMT7891122Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/weird/MemberTagFilms.aspxweird
Number of films tagged: 90

Number of people who tagged: 83

Number of times used: 131

]]>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:57:36 GMT9083131Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/film/MemberTagFilms.aspxfilm
Number of films tagged: 657

Number of people who tagged: 82

Number of times used: 190

]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:35:41 GMT65782190Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Creepy/MemberTagFilms.aspxCreepy
Number of films tagged: 170

Number of people who tagged: 81

Number of times used: 211

]]>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:55:54 GMT17081211Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/genius/MemberTagFilms.aspxgenius
Number of films tagged: 227

Number of people who tagged: 56

Number of times used: 96

]]>Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:26:43 GMT2275696Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/satire/MemberTagFilms.aspxsatire
Number of films tagged: 170

Number of people who tagged: 55

Number of times used: 120

]]>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:27:25 GMT17055120Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/underrated/MemberTagFilms.aspxunderrated
Number of films tagged: 139

Number of people who tagged: 48

Number of times used: 156

]]>Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:34:46 GMT13948156Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/emotional/MemberTagFilms.aspxemotional
Number of films tagged: 66

Number of people who tagged: 45

Number of times used: 106

]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:02:06 GMT6645106Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/awkward-moments/MemberTagFilms.aspxawkward-moments
Number of films tagged: 46

Number of people who tagged: 28

Number of times used: 80

]]>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:29:18 GMT462880Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/visual/MemberTagFilms.aspxvisual
Number of films tagged: 140

Number of people who tagged: 28

Number of times used: 161

]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:54:25 GMT14028161Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/perfectly-quirky/MemberTagFilms.aspxperfectly-quirky
Number of films tagged: 28

Number of people who tagged: 27

Number of times used: 70

]]>Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:37:43 GMT282770Tag