This picture is one my favorites of all time. It was Tom Hanks breakout role, showing the American public he could have a deeply complex character and he was ready for dramatic roles. However, the picture is consistently labeled and catalogued as a comedy, which if you've seen it, you know its not. In addition, it star two Academy Award winners, both of whom brought home gold two times in their lives, Hanks and Sally Field.

"Punchline" follows the plight of two stand up comedians, Steven Gold (Hanks) and Lilah Krytsick (Field), as they fight the personal battles and their personal lives to achieve their goals.

Gold is a very talented peppered comedian in New York City, whom regional audiences adore, but has just flunked out of Medical School and is ass broke with the exception of his meager paying comedy gigs. Soon, he is given hope by a TV network talent coordinator who discovers him, promising to bring down an executive and make him a star. However, her promise is soon changed into something else.

Krytsick, a housewife from New Jersey who performs at one of the same nightly comedy clubs where Gold performs, has just started a venture into stand up. Thirteen weeks into the craft, it is obvious Lilah needs work; paying for jokes, poor delivery and stage presence. That is until she has a few arguments, and to spite her, Gold takes her under his wing to show her with the right gags, audiences will adore her.

However, Lilah has an ongoing battle at home with her husband played phenomenally by John Goodman (TV's Roseanne), who can not understand her attraction to doing stand up comedy when she has a loving family at home who doesn't care what she does. Eventually, Steven falls for Lilah, despite her being 10 years older than him, and creates a whole mess of conflict for Lilah to deal with.

Hanks' performance in this one is one of his best dramatic roles ever. His character, as a comedian, is funny, but the depth of his depression and self loathing makes watching Steven Gold sad. Hanks shows he had mastered the actor's art of understatement early in his career with this one.

Field compliments Hanks perfectly, starting as the awkward novice and finishing as a gut busting comedienne, with the teachings of Gold at her disposal. However, he scenes at home show her inner conflict as well as her outer conflict.

Goodman also has one his best supporting performances ever in "Punchline." He allows the viewer to see he can be brash, but sensitive and a little insecure all at the same time. Scenes between Field and Goodman stand out.

"Punchline" also gives a perfect example of how writing and directing go hand in hand. Writer/director David Seltzer, who also wrote one of my favorite 80s movies of all time, being "Lucas," crafted this picture masterfully. His choices of perspectives for certain arguments is perfect, and his ability to make sure every nuance of a character gets just a little emphasis using the camera is unbelievably awesome.

As the writer, Seltzer crafts this work to where each succeeding scene feels inevitable, as does every choice and action made by his characters.

Not to many movie lovers remember "Punchline," since its release in 1988, but those I know who do, remember it fondly. The disc I picked up has no special features on it, but presents the picture in widescreen, which I suggest no viewing it any other way.

Without a doubt, I can solidly say that "Punchline" is one of my five favorite motion pictures of all time.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?