Punch-Drunk Love is a 2002 romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Adam Sandler and Emily Watson. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Luis Guzmán also appear. After the release of his previous film, Magnolia, Anderson stated that he would like to work with Adam Sandler in the future and that he was determined to make his next film 90 minutes long. Sandler won positive reviews for his role in his first major departure from the broader comedies that had made him a star. Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times that "Sandler, liberated from the constraints of... formula, reveals unexpected depths as an actor. Watching this film, you can imagine him in Dennis Hopper roles. He has darkness, obsession and power." He won Best Actor at the Gijón International Film Festival and received a Golden Globe nomination. The film was produced by Revolution Studios and New Line Cinema, and distributed by Columbia Pictures; it features the video artwork of Jeremy Blake in the form of visual interludes. Barry Egan owns a company that markets themed toilet plungers and other novelty items.
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