Friday, June 7, 2013

Old Reviews: Punch-Drunk Love and The Lady Eve

VERY GOOD to PERFECT rom-coms.

Paul Thomas Anderson's 2002 "Punch-Drunk Love" is one of the best of the last decade. Adam Sandler, Philip Seymour Hoffman, the standard PTA whip-pans, the beautiful lens flares, and the stressful percussion all wrapped up in a funny little make-you-want-to-smash-the-face-of-your-loved-one-with-a-sledge-hammer-because-you-love-them-so-much romantic comedy results in a near perfect film that can be enjoyed on multiple viewings. PTA definitely deserved best director at Cannes that year. It's streaming on Netflix, youse!

Preston Sturges's 1941 "The Lady Eve" is one of the most romantic and funny movies I have ever seen. Indeed, it's one of my all-time favs. Barbara Stanwyck is a beautiful man-eating con-artist and Henry Fonda is a rich snake expert who falls hopelessly in love with Stanwyck's character. It's got one of those happy, feel-good classic hollywood endings that do not feel tacked on, Spielberg-style. My favorite scenes are, of course, when Stanwyck's character is putting her spell on Fonda's character. He's so hopeless. She's so sexy! Give it a try; it's on Netflix Instant. You won't regret it!

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