Director Focus - Paul Thomas Anderson

Film Review no. 3: Punch-Drunk Love (2002) 

★★☆☆☆

5 word summary:
Couponing can be very lucrative.

5 sentence review:
I need to start this review by saying that I intensely dislike Adam Sandler, I dislike his films and acting and persona and I found it very difficult to look past that when watching this film, so that has definitely impaired my enjoyment.
This was a confused film, I thought it was about a shy/lonely man as he struggled to feel happy, however it was actually about a very angry and violent man who ends up with the nicest woman imaginable.
At the beginning I was very confused as to why everyone was so awkward with their acting, then I realised it was because Adam Sandler was/his character but then I remembered....why is everyone awkward?
All the conversations were stilted and I got annoyed at Sandler's sister for picking on him for being 'weird' when she was equally (if not more) so, and I can't work out if it is the direction, delivery or writing.
The film itself shows some interesting ideas, however this has to be the weakest Paul Thomas Anderson out of the three I've seen.

5 good things:
1. Emily Watson
2. Luis Guzmán (I'm becoming a bit of a fan)
3. Extreme couponing.
4. Only 95 minutes.
5....

5 bad things:
1. Adam Sandler.
2. The script...delivery...direction...? All three? Just one?
3. The weird art-house fuzzy colourful lines.
4. Lack of explanation for a lot of things.
5. Violence/aggression not solve or presented as much of a problem.

Director Focus - Paul Thomas Anderson

Film Review no. 2: Hard Eight (1996)

★★★☆☆

5 word summary:
Gambling won't make you happy.

5 sentence review:
After watching Boogie Nights, this was a bit of a disappointment.
It was a very slow film (based on the Noir genre which I can't claim to be a fan of) and it focused on fairly unoriginal plot about four people who get entangled in a fairly minor crime (for cinematic standards).
The film felt  like an indie film, with techniques used such as shots of items on a diner table and the dialogue simply played over the top, and this was enjoyable to watch (because I don't watch a lot of indie films).
Despite the indie feel, I also found some moments very Hollywood, especially when Samuel L. Jackson reveals something about
Philip Baker Hall character's past which just seems oddly forced and over dramatic.
The messages were slightly crooked and I didn't know how I was meant to take the ending, however its enjoyable moments were enjoyable but there was a lot that could be improved (for my personal need-thrills-every-scene taste).

5 good things:
1. The cast.
2. The casino rate card trick.
3. Small group of characters (only 4 major).
4. It's only 101 minutes.
5. Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't always look perfect.

5 bad things:
1. Everyone smoking constantly.
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman's character only being in it for a tiny scene and with little explanation.
3. The big reveal of Sydney's motives
4. The title seemed unnecessary and any scene that mentioned a 'hard eight' didn't seem overly important to me. (Although apparently PTA wanted to call it Sydney).
5. How often they hit the hostage man.

Director Focus - Paul Thomas Anderson

Film Review no. 1: Boogie Nights (1997) 

★★★★★

5 word summary:
Inside view of porn industry.

5 sentence review:
Amazing film about an interesting, and often taboo, topic.
This doesn't skirt over some of the more unpleasant details (in fact it dwells on some of them at length) and does not present the life as glamorous or desirable a lot of the time.
Anderson gathered together a ridiculously talented cast, most of whom are still heavy-hitters today, and they deliver his clever and funny script perfectly.
It's a bright, bold and brash film, especially for such a young director, but this makes the film powerful and engaging throughout, despite its 155 minute running time.
Admittedly this film isn't for the faint hearted because there is sex, drugs and disco dancing, however if you stick with it, Boogie Nights will not disappoint.

5 good things:
1. The cast.
2. The way it is filmed (from cinematography to shot angles).
3. The clothes/hair/make up.
4. The humour throughout (it doesn't take itself too seriously).
5. Alfred Molina's scene.
(6. The soundtrack).

5 bad things:
1. Sexist (every women either provides sex or is demonised).
2. Mark Wahlberg's hair.
3. The fact I thought Burt Reynolds was Sean Connery
4. The fact Alfred Molina wasn't in it more.
5. The fact I can't think of a 5th thing (although no. 1 is a pretty big problem).