Punch Drunk Love (spoilers)
 

OK, I did a search, and the interpretations were blacked out and I have to know some stuff.
I saw this movie for the first time tonight.
What was up with the SUV rolling over in the beginning?
What did the piano have to do with anything?
Why did the bad guys let him go so easily?
Why did he not want to meet the girl?
What was his sisters problem?
What was his (mental)problem?

I guess it was a pretty good movie, but very werid.

Re: Punch Drunk Love (spoilers)
 

Triple-click to read spoiler tags.

Good interpretation in the other thread.

Not sure what you mean. Can you be more specific?

For the rest of your comments, there really isn't any symbolism or anything to interpret. It was all there on the screen. Pretty much face value stuff.

Because he is very shy.

Why do people act cruel? Beats me. When they grew up with seven sisters and one brother, they probably tormented him from the beginning and people become set in their ways.

Very shy, can't express himself, can't release his emotions, doesn't have anyone he can relate to or really talk to.

Ok, It seems like he has a mental disorder, because he always seems calm and then he becomes explosive when someone calls him gayboy.

With the badguys, I mean they apparently have him by the balls and they just let him go because he stood up for himself. I think reall life gangsters would not stand for that, and just take that as more fuel for the fire.

Also what was up with all the colors he was always seeing

They aren't going after him because they are evil, they want to extort money. What they are doing is illegal, so it would be easy for him to make them stop. They just go after pushovers and people who are easily intimidated. These are just small time bullies. If he puts up a fight, they will move on to easier targets.

I think you misunderstood much of this film...

It's the type that demands multiple viewings.

Where ya goin'? We already know where you live!

Wow.. I saw this film tonight, Man did I dislike it. the music, or should I say noise just got to me. the lack of any real story or should I say Interesting story was just to much for me. I tried to like the guy but it just wouldn't happen. He had no real redeeming qualities. He was just like a big retard. Yes, yes I understand most of the metaphors and the references to things but the problem I see is they really don't mean anything unless you get me involved into the character. You can't make me feel for the guy if I can't understand were he is coming from.

Sure he was pushed around by his sisters and has this condition but it doesn't lead to anywhere. By the end of the film he is no better then where he started, Only now he's getting laid.

I wasn't expecting a typical sandler flick so don't blame that. Infact I was hoping it would be the total opposite of any sandler flick and I atleast got him acting different but man, I just didn't care for the so-called story which in itself could have been pieced together on there own to make up a different story.

Who knows, maybe if PTA actually shot for a longer film and developed the characters or presented them in a better light to actually develope them, maybe I would have liked it more.

Biggest compliant. The noise. Why did there need to be all the freak'n random noise? to bring us into his world of choas and distruction? give me a story to work with before you try to make me feel like I'm the character.

I hated it. Hated hated hated it.


No thanks, I think I'll wait intill I'm stuck in hell to rewatch it as I'm sure it will be my punishment cycling endlessly as I sit in a chair begging for it to stop..

As big a fan of PT Anderson's other work that I am, I didnt' find myself enjoying sitting through this film. Strangely, I do enjoy reading the many meanings/interpretations of the plot. I just wouldn't want to sit through it again.

Here's something pretty interesting I found on IMDB's trivia though:
!

My friend *insists* that the random noise in one scene is

I been meaning to watch it again, and it's actually showing at a crappy theater here in my town, so I could maybe go tonight. Or drive a little further to a nicer theater...

That's pretty funny. I'm going to look for that next time I see the movie (planning on seeing it again this week).

To say it again:

Best movie so far this year, and the best of Anderson's career. This is not an "interlude" but an exceptionally original film that is a complete departure from what he has previously done, and it is a welcome one at that. I am so excited to see his next work because I have absolutely no idea what it will be like, except for the fact that it will be exquisitely crafted.

SUV flipping out was a wake up call
Piano was a symbol of peace for him
His sisters were just stupid and thought they were better than him
He was very nervous to meet the girl...

the others, I give.

Still thinking about whether or not I think this is a good film. I very much liked Ebert's review, seemed to flesh out a few things for me. I think the main point to everything is the redemption that Lela brings Barry. It's a movie about extreme pain and the hope of healing, in the same vein as Magnolia.

Did everyone notice Sandler's knuckles after he punched the map in his office?

I also liked the way PTA walked away from some standard film assumptions....no opening credits and the liberal use of silence especially. That along with the jarring collisions of the automobile accidents in the film kept me on my toes. In a way I wondered if this was how Barry percieved life...lots of silence punctuated by vicious acts of violence.

One thing different for PTA films is that Barry Egan is the only character focused. In all his previous films, he tries to get into the heads of multiple characters, but here it's all about Barry. I would have liked to learn more about Lela, though.

Now that I think about it, I must say that Punchdrunk Love is invasive and IMHO a very good film.

Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

After looking at the amazing montage of "Scorsese vs. Kubrick" that was posted here. I looked for Leandro Copperfield Youtube channel and i found this very interesting video explaining "Punch Drunk Love"

Do not watch if you haven't seen the movie as there is obvious spoilers

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Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

Well, that's seven and a half minutes of my life I'll never get back.

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

PDL is one of my favorite movies ever. But this video is as wrong as all the people

Barry is real, alive, and falls in love. That's the movie. PTA was just trying to make a magical neo-French film that was less heavy and more whimsical then his previous two. I love film criticism when it is good and there is fact behind it (like Ebert's Citizen Kane dvd commentary) but this thing was just grasping at straws in every way.

I don't think sun flares and white illuminations signify anything other than the fact that PTA is kinda an artsy fartsy movie director. Ugh.

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

You misspelled "Puck Drunk Love" in the subject header.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2...5037636743.jpg

"Lord, what fools these mortals be!"

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

Barry is dead. Lena is an angel. "Explained" through broken English interstitials and half-assed clip editing.

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

Is there ANY piece of literature or film that hasn't been interpreted by some psuedo-intellectual as "the main character is dead"?

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

Dammit I don't think i have the proper rights to change it :gah:

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

Yes.

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

Awesome. Thanks for ruining that for me. You need to spoilerize shit, seriously. If I would have known there as a spoiler for Lost in a thread that had nothing to do with it I wouldn't have clicked on it just like I avoid the Lost threads in tv talk.

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

That isn't a spoiler.

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

Awesome, same thing happened to me. I have yet to finish the final season so thanks for that.

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

Says who? Sounds like one to me.

What if I was one of those people who felt that way before the spoiler, or at least WOULD have without seeing that.

It's not like it's hard to type a spoiler tag honestly, and people need to start erring on the side of caution instead of posting it and then asking without the tags if it needs one. It takes 3 seconds to add the tags, that's what they are there for.

I've seen people get banned or warned for excessive spoilers so I think they are pretty serious about that here.

Re: Puch Drunk Love Explained
 

Caddyshack II?