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Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
No more toilet humor from this toilet brush salesman.
Barry Eagan, a small-time toilet brush salesman struggles through life's insecurities and the dangers of phone sex.
The stimulus came from a Time Magazine article about one David Phillips. It seems Phillips, a University of California civil engineer, came across a loophole in a Healthy Choice/American Airlines promotion, enabling him to accumulate well over a million frequent flyer miles by purchasing $3,000 worth of pudding cups.
Knowing a good jump-off point when he sees one, Anderson optioned the man's story and combined it with a tale of his own, emerging with a buoyantly unpredictable, true original.
Representation is key to understanding the narrative structure of the movie, the car crash at the beginning of the film symbolises that something is about to crash into Barry's world, something that will change his existence and scare the hell out of him.
Also as the catalyst of Barry's change enters the movie we are then presented with the most puzzling of props - a harmonium. As this is shown to us at the same time as the love interest we can only assume that the musical instrument is used to represent the harmony found between two people when they fall in love, or in a slightly more cheesy way, the music they make together. We also see Barry using the harmonium for support at times of stress, while he's on the phone to the villain of the movie for instance, and in another scene we see him covering up a tear in the fabric of the harmonium with duct tape, essentially patching things over and making them stronger.
There is no mistaking the exceeding creativity that has gone into nearly every shot, transition, narrative choice and musical selection.
Fans of Sandler's numbskull persona from past films may find this a disappointment, or a bit over their heads, however, if you like smart filmmaking and a opportunity to re-evaluate the worth of one of Hollywood's `artists' then go and see this movie. If you happened to like past Anderson films such as `Magnolia' and `Boogie nights' then see this movie now!
The Bourne Identity (2002)
Somethin' old, somethin' new.
The Bourne Identity is based on a Robert Ludlum book and manages to represent the essence of the story without being too literal, while also managing that rather more difficult task of being a good screen adaptation.
The emphasis here is on the action, the whole `Who am I' question only serves as a plot movement to kick-start some great sequences. It's not going to come as any shock to you that Mr Bourne is a CIA operative, or that he knows exactly how to take care of himself, or anyone unfortunate to get in his way.
The action scenes themselves are nothing new, yet they are handled with such skill by the director that you never feel like you've been here before.
Another of the films strong points is its performance from the main star, Matt Damon breaks very nicely from type and leaves you feeling that he very well could kill you with just his little finger. A good supporting cast also adds credibility with Franka Potente of Run, Lola Run fame and Chris Cooper who recently won an Oscar for best supporting actor in Adaptation.
If you're looking for some good solid spy action than look no further. The Bourne Identity Proves to be a very satisfying fare into familiar territory with good performances, great direction and a particularly good car chase through the streets of Paris.