Pdl is one of my favourite movies... Interesting thing here you have told about the parallel storyline with Superman but I think the parallel just happened to be rather than pta trying to convey it and being aware of it.Maybe little bit of alienation is same but there are stronger windows of influence through which one could analyze pdl than superman's story. U have to see jon brion interview on criterion collection where he shared the talk with pta about the feelings and visual poetry of the movie....Pta apparently was at that point obsessed with 50's Hollywood musicals like singin in the rain...with the colour and mood stuff... And as the score was written before the shot was complete...it was as if movie was almost shot to music...jon brion recalls the moment when he told pta.."so this movie is a musical..like old hollywood musical but nobody breaks out on a song and choreographed dance...but there is that sense of heightened drama in everything just like hollywood musicals...So I am saying that Barry eigen jump could mean his heightened sense of fear rather than superman jump...(before barry runs..the bad guys had taken his money..punched him and already gone away in the truck..they even say sth to him..but barry just runs and runs..and that one would obviously not do in real life and jump to get away from bad people in real life but ppl don't break out in songs in real life either...but sometimes the fantasy expresses practical and normal things better due to much freedom to show character's state..in fantasy sorta state...so i think that jump you are so occupied with just maybe an extension to let us know how much barry eigen is scared...how much he wants to get away)So i am saying Pta really had the hollywood musicals and that sorta fantasy to show caharcters state....superman theory may not be the only reason fir that jump... Also , you left out the godard picture unn femme est unn femme..and it's visual influence..if u havent seen that..it's a godard picture sorta cool and anti cinematic where the director is self aware of making a film...it's cool french wave thing... So , I think u are missing those influences here too...I am just not believing only Superman was the influence..for the narrative and the character... Obvioulsy there is parallel with the superman finding strength from love...but always pt anderson characters are deeply troubled individuals who somehow manage to make spot in your heart...just make u empathize or pitiful Mark wahlberg in boigie nights.. Plainview...freddie quell ...woodcock all are disturbed heroes...at least they are nit john wayne kinda hero..who represent good... So it just seems to me pta wanted to say love gives purpose..and for that he had to oppose that idea and at last disprove the opposition ..otherwise if he just showed love gives strength and purpose and stuff throughout the movie...it would have been boring preaching movie...but that sense of finding love and strength is in all pta movies... It's an interesting way to look at pdl but u have left out some big influences in this video...u might be aware of some though...But the superman similarity i guess is only a 5% correct... At least that jump is not mimicing superman...superman flew when he was sad, angry or in agony, when he was happy with love...or when he was saving something...rarely had superman been afraid and flew to save himself.. But interesting way to look at pdl... U might have looked this up already but check out jon brion interviews in criterion collection and this link... www.a2pcinema.com/archive/PDL/influences.htm

Hey Thanks Anish for the details response. Yeah I agree, I became obsessed with this film years ago and tried to dig into all its influences and that website you shared was one of those places. This video isn't anywhere near a fully comprehensive analysis of the film its just pointing out the superman details, which I'm sure PTA wasn't fully intentionally adding, if even at all, but I did find it interesting and a fun idea to share so thats why it focuses just on those elements. I too love this film and I'm endlessly fascinated with film form used to create this film.

@@_MUSTSEEFILMS_ yes...franscis ford coppola said to pta during an interview ...pdl was nothing like he'd ever seen...you should see that if u haven't...it's coppola answering questions about film on questions of pta david o russel and twilights director...

Oh I don't care much about the sound quality, it's about the quality of the fan theory and how you lay it out.... and I love this fan theory man, probably my favorite fan theory on youtube 👍

@@mabusestestament thats awesome to hear. Someone recently sent me the original script for what PDL was before it became PDL, like an early draft of the script and it had some superman references in it, which is very bizarre, thats why this person contacted me and sent me the early script, so you never know.

Barry's parents are mentioned in the movie. When his sisters are talking about him before he enters the party. "...mom and dad had to take him to the hospital" it's hard to hear because they're all talking at the same time but it's there. I love the theory still and the references are hard to miss.

+Stephen Bushman So jealous you got to see a print of the film, bet that was awesome. I feel in love instantly with the film, a balance between the intimacy and insecurity of Barry Egan and the style, colour, lighting and music in the film!

Yeah its quite the departure for Sandler but it just shows how awesome he can be!!

I saw it in the theatres when it first came out, and literally half the people walked out. While I went a second time and bought it on DVD on the release date. Eh, some people are not very open and appreciative of anything beyond Jurassic World or Transformers.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video, always happy when people see this film, its such a personal favourite of mine.

+Adam Cohen or both? I mean.. I can see PTA wanting to be a little more broad rather than "this is my Altman film" which I hear quite a lot. Darren has some great points here. I'm not so sure about the whole Kryptonite thing but that broken glass plunger next to the "Fortress of Solitude"? That confirmed it for me. Perhaps it was to bring out similarities between the two or to add his own "superhero" on to the list of greats.

I like your Popeye theory way better. I never really liked Superman's personality. That's that, mattress man!

or both

GR8 B8

+Tom Jones He had trouble with his audio people don't have to be such dicks..

Just a little joke, mate.

Yeah I've been thinking the same

Thanks I'm glad you found it interesting, PDL is one of my favourites too, i recorded a full length commentary mentioning in real time why i love this film and pointing out little details like that, feel free to check it out here: Punch-Drunk Love (FULL LENGTH FILM COMMENTARY)

Mr. Chopstick Thanks man glad you enjoyed it, yeah i think the reason i fell for this film in the first place was because i felt like i was quite like Barry, not so much with the rage but more the feeling of isolation even when being around people and always feeling a little alienated.

Thanks glad you enjoyed it and sound like a real PDL fan, its such an awesome film, yeah i love the bit where his co-worker is trying to break it but can't, i mention that point and a whole bunch of other little details about the film in my full length commentary to PDL: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mrNxo8t-y67Fqas.html Also i love the work of Joseph Campbell, iv got some of his DVDs and been using it alot recently for a little project I'm writing. Thanks for the support!!

+Abhishek Baruah It's so tragic how things turned out.

+Zombi Pineapple It's his own fault for making those stupid, racist, comedy movies.

Politics had an effect, his support of Israel.

maybe, but choosing to be in goofy movies probably has less of an emotional toll on someone. While his movies mostly suck, they just seem like fun projects between friends. Meanwhile the average actor has to fake cry every day, be constantly in the spotlight, and jump between block busters that don't allow time with their own family.

he's supposedly playing the lead in the new Safdie Brothers film Uncut Gems produced by Scorsese!!!

Nice, glad to hear its ranked highly for other people as well, its my favourite of PTA fins, closely followed by There will be blood.

This is supported by his airplane to Hawaii line, that he has never traveled that way before, yet ...

+Ryan Steinle I know so many little things like this are so interesting, one of these alone doesn't really mean much but in the context of other supporting evidence it makes for a stronger augment that PTA might have had this in the back burner or was sub-coniously pulling from sources such as superman.

+Darren - MUST SEE FILMS Great video just re-watched the movie a second time and had to watch this video and I was thinking about why barry had trouble with words like "food" to "good" and "back" to "jack" like he'd have trouble talking about things and took a step back as well particularly with females

DUHHHHHH LISTEN TO YOURSELF quickly

Thanks Ryan, its a personal favourite, always happy when this video finds other fans of the film.

Thanks, always great to hear supportive comments, feel free to make suggestions for future videos.

Tbh I prefer that over those who are too over enthusiastic

I rewatched it. He's superman.

Anakin Skyboogie lol yep

+1qwasz12 Thanks man, this was actually my first ever analysis video, probably the worst for audio but i still love the film!

Your narration is great

Yeah I couldn't read the V because it was turned to the side, but you're right.

I would love to see PTA respond to this lol.

Thanks man, Those PTA films where an amazing place to start for me and i love those films, but i think my prisoners analysis is probably the best iv done, or my the fountain. Thanks for the supportive feedback!

foleyd87 I'll definitely watch those, thanks.

foleyd87 Looks like the copyright gestapo took your Prisoners video down, which WB shouldn't be able to do under section 107 of the Copyright Act, it's a review.

You can also view all my analysis videos on my vimeo page, including the prisoners analysis. hope this helps.

foleyd87 Ah, I see, cheers.

Thanks glad you enjoyed it, feel free to check out more of my analysis videos and suggest your favourite films for analysis.

Lena

Thanks, this was a fun video to explore, but I always cringe at how bad the production is, especially the audio, but it was my 1st video. Always learning.

haha can you imagine if he did, that would be amazing and hilarious too.

​@Slevin I would say that Inherent Vice is PTA's Big Lebowski. They both follow perpetually stoned, scruffy dudes thru some very mysterious, bizarre, but hilarious rabbit holes.

rocheyb1 Im glad to hear you gave PDL a shot, its a film that i loved instantly but have watched it sooooo many times that my love for it have deepened with each watch, i created a PDL full length commentary at discusses the film in real time and points out why i love and admire the film form in it so much, feel free to listen to that along with the film, its in my iTunes page. Hope this helps. itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/must-see-films/id908138731

Thanks man, such an awesome film, 10 years later and still love it to bits.

Thanks Steve this was my first video from a few years back, had no idea how to record audio, hopefully iv improved over the years.