We're on the home stretch now, with two days to go until Oscar time and two movies left to review. Silver Linings Playbook is the latest David O'Russell film, who apart from directing wrote the screenplay alongside Matthew Quick, author of the original novel this movie was adapted from. This is a lovely, quirky comedy/drama that follows the story of Pat (Bradley Cooper) in his attempt to reconcile his relationships with his family and wife after spending eight-months in a mental facility for bipolar. But of course, he meets a girl, an equally messed-up Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), with whom he finds solace in their shared dysfunction. Cue the ensuing hilarity and poignancy as the pair try to weather the storm that is mental disorder, with the help of a little football and a lot of dancing.
rating: ★★★1/2
This is such a charming/adorable/meaningful film that covers all bases. Its funny and sad and confronting and oddball in all the right amounts and it finds the perfect balance in portraying mental health issues for both their comedic and destructive nature. Its a really sincere movie, and I think David O'Russell's own experience of his son's mental disorder has contributed to that greatly. You can see he's put so much thought and heart into the direction, from the camera usage to the editing to the acting, all of which helps us understand what its like to be living with something like bipolar disorder. On top of that, you have such lovable characters: Pat is erratic, but loyal and affectionate, and its surely Bradley Cooper at his best. Then there's Tiffany, who is outspoken and wild and truthful and the role is filled fearlessly by the beautiful and talented Jennifer Lawrence (who already won at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards for the part). Then there is Pat's parents, played perfectly by Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver (Aussie represent!), and Pat's best friend Danny (Chris Tucker) provides plenty of laughs.
While that's all the silver lining stuff, there was something a little off-putting about the first hour or so of the film. While the hand-held camera effect was meant to reflect Pat's mental state, I think in the beginning it was a bit too shaky, which made me feel a little uneasy. There was something that didn't sit quite right with the screenplay initially either, possibly how frank and upfront it was. I can't fully explain why, but there was just this pervasive sense of discomfort in the beginning. It didn't last though and eventually I settled in to enjoy that feel-good sensation of the warm-and-fuzzies in my tummy. This one is bound to make you smile.
Madolyn
rating: ★★★
I quite enjoyed this movie, but, unlike the other Best Picture nominees, it doesn't really stand out in any way as Oscar worthy. I guess it's nominated because of its quirky take on mental illness and relationships, putting a spin on the usual rom com, but really, it isn't revolutionary or anything. This is the 14th film in history to have nominees in all four acting categories, and I can see that they definitely deserve it. Not that they'll win, or anything, but Bradley Cooper's performance was great and made me love not only Pat, the character, but Bradley as an actor, too. I do think Jennifer Lawrence may have been too young for the role, but she seems to have pulled it off, and her bluntness and easy delivery of lines made Tiffany's character the perfect match for Bradley's. All in all, an enjoyable film, with a cute storyline and a few laughs thrown in, but definitely not the one to win the golden statue.
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