elshikh4
First of all, it was main reason of my failure at one exam during my college days. Yes, at the night of the exam I wasn't that ready to tell you the truth, however instead of reviewing the course, I sat to view this movie, then I burned all the midnight oil reviewing it. And the result was pernicious.Well, it's one way to say that I loved it! I didn't regret at all. I just kept asking what was this movie about? And why it's magical? After 11 years, I ran into it again. Ohh, I felt like meeting an old friend who I've been missing for a long time. I was so happy out of re-seeing it, contemplating every second, being dazzled. Damn, I do love it.But despite its nice drama it got me confused. What was it about ? Hmm, maybe it's about how we meet in our dreams, yet not our goals. That makes a perfect "impossible love story". Yet (Punchline) wanted another thing which is being a movie about the stand-up comedians and their world. And when it came to this second purpose it didn't achieve. I believe someone like (Scorsese) would have made it with the 2 missions yet in longer movie.Its magic comes mainly from its characters and its simple way of showing them. (Steven Gold), played by Tom Hanks, is so dramatically attractive. He's talented, lonely and complicated since his childhood. He's afraid of love, but when he thinks that he found it he loses it. It can fit the meaning of the one who makes the smile in the people's life the most is the one who doesn't meet it in his own. And again we can dream together, but at the end we might not get together. The melancholy of the movie remains in the way (Gold)'s storyline ends, since he finds success at last, but not love; meaning that success can be enough love.Another character. (Lilah Krytsick) the mom, played by (Sally Field). This woman just wants to know does she funny or not? She got everything but the assurance that she can make laughs. So she lived her victory the moment her husband knew that she can. Hence her winning at last meant nothing, and her giving up the award was natural since she doesn't need it, as she already won what she originally dreamed of. So while (Gold) wanted the recognition of the world, (Krytsick) wanted the recognition of just her husband. As you see, success was his love, and love was her success.One last character, the club's owner. This guy, played smartly by (Mark Rydell), got no dream but investing the other's dreams as long as they bring him money. He meets with the successful one, since they're successful, then throws them down afterwards if they lost their glamour. He's so practical. Success, according to him, is money. Not real love he gives or takes. So, sarcastically, his name was Romeo ! I loved many feelings it gives. For instance the desire to be something else the image which has been forced on you (Hanks wants to be a stand-up comedian instead of a doctor), unnoticing that the most expensive love is the free one around us (Goodman makes his wife feel good about her hair), and the over pressing craving to succeed (aren't all we? ALL THE TIME TOO ?!). Let alone the feel of lost love; certainly we all got respect to the noble loser lover.You may say it's about chasing different dreams in the same track; (Lilah) wanted her self-confidence and her family, (Steven) wanted the breakthrough that his talent needed, (Romeo) wanted the money, and (Emperato), the comedian played by (Taylor Negron), wanted the recognition of (Steven), or something higher than it. Or it's about the comedy clubs' life. Or it's about the pains of the funny guys (Did you see Hanks dancing, slaughtered, in the rain ?!). Many issues huh ?! Frankly this non-concentrated condition was a shortcoming! The crowded presence of many interesting characters (the different comedians, especially the old one) so unused in the background causes a feeling of a deficiency of something good or an excessiveness of something wasn't done. Furthermore, I bet the persona of (Hanks) at the time as a comic star plus the publicity of the movie as a comedy destroyed it utterly. It can be perfectly misunderstood whether as comedy without a punchline, or disappointing romance. While it isn't both.Actually it's about none other than the recognition; it has many faces as the same number as the ones who dream of it, and every face clarifies its dreamer's real purpose, hence self. And as every joke has its different, very own, punchline, every one has a goal that uncovers their marrow in the end. Anyway, despite any problems (Punchlibe) has, it still holds up as fine time. It got deep and hot characters. It got such a smooth and warm feel. And it got me thinking and entertained. It achieves entertaining time like any comedy yet more touching. And ends happily like any usual romance yet in its own way.The 1980s was magical itself. And it's a rare time to feel that one movie is your friend. Well, dear friend is the word.
RT Firefly
This movie is erroneously listed under the comedy category. A fair warning, this is not a comedy, it is comicide. It would be more accurately listed as a horror film. The screenplay is the only thing that is laughable. The comedians have lockers back stage? Why, so they can change out of their "comedy costumes"? If a comedian bombs too much, does he lose his locker and get his gear "bagged" like in Rocky? Why not have them punch a clock as they get on and off stage? How much research did writer/director David Seltzer do? He has no idea what it's like to be a comedian. Worst of all, the stand up material that is used in the film is atrocious. You would think if you were going to write a movie about stand up comedy, you might want to get that part right. Seltzers comprehension of stand up comedy is so clueless he couldn't even have a comedian bomb the right way. David, I have news for you, when audiences don't like a comedian, they don't sit in rapt silence, they boo. They yell things like, `get off the stage' or "you suck and you know it". Which leads me to another question, how the hell did this film ever get made? Hey, I have an idea, lets have the guy that wrote The Omen do a film on Stand up comedy!Hanks is a great comedic actor, but does not have what it takes to play a stand up. Robin Williams or someone with stage experience would have been a much better choice, but I doubt anything could save this comedic tale from bombing.Spoilers!!!This film sucks.
dataconflossmoor
So much for my family, my kids, my sanity, and my discretionary money, what little of it I have...I want to tell jokes!!!...This bittersweet relationship between Tom Hanks and Sally Field has husband, John Goodman, totally perplexed...The nightclubs, the fast food, the partial housewife thing, the spending money on jokes..None of this makes any sense for a struggling married couple..Yet somehow, Sally Field must find herself..."Be supportive of my quirkiness!!"This was a precarious instinct that Sally Field felt compelled to necessitate!! The film "Punchline" spends most of the time making personality confusion the culprit to domestic shaky grounds, but in the end, it shows how Sally Field can be a good wife, a good mother and yet express a part of herself for herself by being a stand-up comic...The challenge stand-up comedy represents by being as painful as Russian roulette with five bullets, plays itself out as a frustrating dilemma that confuses both Tom Hanks and Sally Field!!!!...What was finally attainable in both their lives was recognition at a humanistic level...What is seemingly unacceptable to the run of the mill rational person, as opposed to a stand-up comic, is that there is no comprehension of the fact that a stand-up comic views the ability to make people laugh as one of the most coveted qualities in the world!! To be funny is more rewarding than wealth, power, and/or a wonderful physical appearance!!! Stand-Up Comedy is not necessarily a lucrative talent, and you do not have to constantly make people laugh, but when Sally Field won the contest that night, it meant she had the ability to be a stand-up comic,,this was important to her!!!! The desire Sally Field had to tell jokes at various New York nightclubs, transcended selfishness, and merely pointed out that having a family and a husband does not mean your life stops totally!!..Bottom line, if Sally Field were on trial for negligence and self centered preoccupation, she would have been acquitted!! Ultimately what gave her stand-up comic hobby a sense of gratification was the emerging approval and encouragement of her family!! The "Singin in the Rain" scene that Tom Hanks performed was FABULOUS!!! as this film just oozes with talent...This movie is identical to the plot of this movie...BEING DIFFERENT IS BETTER...JUST ASK SOMEONE WHO OWNS A ROLLS ROYCE!!!!
