He Needs Me

YouTube video posted by roxanealmario

Funny People, the latest film from director Judd Apatow opens this weekend, starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and Eric Bana. Sandler's character is a successful comedian and Hollywood star who discovers he is afflicted with a possibly fatal blood disease, and this turn allows the actor to once again play to both his comedic and dramatic strengths. 

The challenge of a more dramatic role for Adam Sandler was first introduced in Paul Thomas Anderson's brilliant 2002 film Punch-Drunk Love. This reminds us we'll have to place it on our Netflix queue again. Emily Watson and Sandler's main characters serve up an unusual slice of contemporary romance to say the least. And as they also say...all you need is love. 

Quirky love was clearly on Mr. Anderson's mind as he chose to reuse a haunting track from the 1980 movie Popeye titled He Needs Me, as sung by the actress Shelley Duvall. Ms. Duvall's rendition of the oddball song is beautiful, memorable, and timeless.     

YouTube video posted by emas05 (some adult language)

YouTube video posted by iciio

Abstract title sequence from Punch-Drunk Love with artwork by Jeremy Blake.