Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

After anticipating and finally being able to watch 'Inherent Vice', Paul Thomas Anderson's offbeat style led to another one of those times where I discover a writer and director that I admire. This time, I wasn't so surprised about a generally mediocre actor (Sandler) starring in an 'art' film, instead I was pleasantly surprised by how one of the director's previous titles managed to surpass his most recent work. 'Punch-Drunk Love' is another unusually captivating masterpiece that manages to feel fresh and exciting despite following the conventions of a "quirky" formula recurring in these types of films. One of those conventions is the psychologically troubled protagonist, this time portrayed by Adam Sandler who genuinely accelerates in the role, with a handful of mostly negative as well as positive encounters as the wonderfully engaging character of Barry Egan. In addition to this, the whole experience of the film is made even more compelling through intriguing visuals and a vastly elaborate soundtrack switching from abrupt and monotone to melodic and charming. In general, the constantly switching tone of the film succeeds every time it does so, whether it attempts comedy or suspense it handles each genre excellently. Each actor pulls off a phenomenal performance, fitting into the light-hearted yet profound feel of the film - Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance for example, although brief, was executed perfectly. In fact, all of the interactions between Sandler, Emily Watson and all the other actors were highly memorable and undoubtedly struck a chord with me. ‘Punch-Drunk Love’ delivered a heartfelt punch right to the core through its atmospheric exploration of a psychologically troubled hero - Paul Thomas Anderson propelled in crafting a quirky masterpiece that’ll stick with you for a long time.