Pam gave me a bunch of coupons that let me rent up to three movies for 99 cents each for five nights at Hollywood Video and I've been taking advantage of it.

Last time, I rented:

Band of Brothers, Season 1 Episodes 1 & 2: This is an HBO series about American soliders in World War II. It's produced by Tom Hanks and the film techniques are straight from the Omaha Beach landing scene in Saving Private Ryan. It's a bit slow at times, but there's lots of chaotic and realistic action when the fighting starts. I'll be renting the next two episodes today.

American Movie: Great stuff. I might buy this at some point. I'm a big fan of documentaries, especially ones that provide a window into the life of someone who's simultaneously exceptional and mundane and, preferably a little insane. It's no Dancing Outlaw, but it's still great. On some levels, Mark Borchardt is a walking stereotype: a 30-something, alcoholic, high school dropout from Wisconsin. However, he has a great dream in life — to create a great horror movie — he's absurdly foolhardy and disarmingly sincere in his commitment to reach that goal. And he's fucking nuts.

Punch Drunk Love: Awesome. I can't really say too much about it, because I have to spend some time thinking about it and probably watching it a few more times. Adam Sandler is a pitiful, bullied man who falls in love and finds meaning in the beauty of his emotions. And yes, there is a happy ending. Adam Sandler's performance is somewhere between his own in The Waterboy and Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. Absurd? Yes. But so are many aspects of the film — periodically we're treated to psychadelic bands of color, Lena's love for him is out of left field, and what the fuck is that harmonium for? Brilliantly filmed and I think Phillip Seymour Hoffman is just about the best actor on the planet; his range is mind-boggling.

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