Punch-Drunk Love

2002 | Paul Thomas Anderson | Adam Sandler | Philip Seymour Hoffman Never, never would I have thought that I would give an Adam Sandler film 5 stars. I'm still a bit unsure, but I would say that "Punch-Drunk Love" is my favorite Paul Thomas Anderson film so far. Everything about this film is absolutely perfect. Adam Sandler delivers what is probably the best performance of his career and plays this interesting and multi-layered character extremely well. I didn't know that I needed Adam Sandler beating up some guys with a crowbar, but I need it. Sometimes so much happens that the first hour passed in no time and the pacing of the film is great. Paul Thomas Anderson's direction is on point and every shot, every cut and every sound is perfect. The film has a strange intensity and a unique energy and is very captivating. The atmosphere created by what generally happens, the behavior of the characters, the music and the cinematography is outstanding and partly intimidating and uncomfortable and sometimes feels very awkward and odd, but still the film is sometimes extremely funny in its situational comedy. The feeling the film sometimes creates is pretty difficult to describe, but everything you see and hear contributes and makes for a unique experience. As I said, the music is excellent and contributes significantly to the feeling of the film through the sounds it contains, and the cinematography with the many long and straight camera movements is also great. I think my enthusiasm can best be described by the fact that after the film ended, I said ‘wow’ several times. The film is that great.