PUNCHLINE

US, 1988, 117 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hanks, Sally Field, John Goodman, Mark Rydell, Kim Greist, Paul Mazursky.
Directed by David Seltzer.

Punchline was written and directed by David Seltzer (author of The Omen). It is a serious comedy about comics and comedians. The film, produced by Sally Field's company, offers Sally Field as a New Jersey housewife who wants to be a success as a stand-up comedian. She encounters Tom Hanks, supposed to be a medical student, who also wants to succeed as a comic. in their interactions, each becomes more honest, learns something about the other. There are some effective sequences between the two, especially on the part of Hanks who has the opportunity to be comic, vulnerable and angry. It is one of his best performances.

The film relies on audiences' appreciation of the skills of stand up comics, their subjects, timing. Of course, humour is a hit and miss affair. Much of this film is particularly so, especially some of the comic routines, for example Hanks's interaction with the people in the hospital. There is ambiguity about his final performance during the contest.

The film offers a valuable look, at human beings, expectations, being oneself.

1. The title? Relationship to jokes, humour? Serious look at humour?

2. The use of New York City locations and the atmosphere of the city? New Jersey locations? Cities, clubs? The tone of the musical score, echoes of shows, of serious drama, of comedy (and echoes of Nina Rota's score for Fellini films)? The humorous use of classics like 'The Ritual Fire Dance' for the preparation of the meal, Pacobel's Canon?

3. An understanding of comedy and how It works? Serious understanding? The film offering set pieces and routines, jokes, many sequences finishing with their own punchline, for example the preparation for the meal, the meal itself? Qualities of behaviour: wit, satire, the absurd? Themes? artificial, lived experiences? Taste? Laughter?

4. The introduction to Lilah: Sally Field's style? Lilah in herself? The credits and her buying, seeming like drugs but buying, jokes? The Polish jokes? The try out, the lack of response at the club? At home, her relationship with John and her daughters, the frantic details of home life? Arguments with John, his being against the comedian's ambition, saying that she wasn't funny? The morning arguments at breakfast? The preparation for the recital and her lateness, 'The Ritual Fire Dance?' The (laughter's helping her, the actual meal, the daughter's faux pas joke? The people at the club, their interactions with them, the introduction to Steven? His cold response, following her, his wanting to sell her jokes and his rejection, to the hospital with him and appreciating his humour, his tenderness, late for the meal? Becoming more friendly with him, talking things over, hearing his vulnerable speech about his father, offering him sympathy, his helping her to think about her own experiences, to move into humour, the success and his feeding her the lines? The ride home, his approaching her about marriage? Lilah at home, Steven's phone call about the contest, John and his harshness? Her decision to go, explaining things to John and the daughters, his asking could he go, his enjoying the show? The waiting, her success in performance, Romeo and the announcement, the irony of her winning and her deciding to leave, leaving things for Steven? Finally with John, the note that he sent about her winning, the reconciliation, his offering to write jokes for her? Portrait of wife, mother, a person who wanted to make others laugh?

5. Steven and his getting up, racing to the exam, his knowledge but failing the exam, his comic routine, ousted from study? Going to the club, his performance and routines about New York tourism? Aloof from others, aloof with Lilah? The agent, discussions, possibilities of an audition? His relationship with Romeo and the club, Romeo wanting to be agent? Anxieties, need for money, ousted from his apartment by his roommate? Meeting with Lilah, wanting to sell her jokes, his harsh treatment of her? The invitation to the hospital, his very successful and funny routines, talking to the ill little boy? Becoming more friendly to Lilah? The phone calls from the talent scouts and his anxiety? Hopes, going out to perform, discovering his father and brother there? The drama of his routine in their presence, depressed, bitter, telling the story of his father and brother and their shooting, expectations? His vulnerability? His father walking out? Lilah consoling him, his teaching her more about herself, searching inside her experience for jokes, feeding her lines and her success? The proposal? His manic reaction to her caution? and the Singin' In The Rain' through the window, his dancing in the street? His ringing her about the contest? The agent and the story about the contest and his disappointment? The contest, outside with the megaphone? His manic act, the rage, insulting people? The waiting, the vote, Lilah's giving up her winning, his winning and his future? Tom Hanks's performance as funny, serious, the quality of the set pieces?

6. Romeo and the management of the gas station, compering, laughter, helping the comedians, acting as agent, the talent scouts, the contest and his enjoyment, announcing the winner and his puzzle about Lilah's behaviour? Trying to persuade her?

7. The variety of the comedians, their stand-up routines, the various men, the women? Imitations, music, the nun? The history teacher who couldn't make people laugh? His wife at the contest? Billy and his age, routines, in love with comedy, his not being in the contest, his illness but waiting?

8. John as the ordinary man in the suburbs, selling insurance, being asked not to go to her performances, in New Jersey, working hard, the kids, the arguments, thinking that Lilah wasn't funny, the expectations for the meal, the clergy and their meal? Lilah walking out? Her final explanation, his asking to go, enjoying it, the note, glad that she won, the happy ending?

9. The talent scout, her abilities, leading people on, the studios?

10. A portrait of people, insights into human nature, relationships, humour?