Silver Linings Playbook Review:
Silver Linings Playbook is the latest film from director
David O. Russell, famous for making such films as The Fighter and Three Kings.
It tells the story of Pat Solitano, played by Bradley Cooper, a man with
bipolar disorder recently released from a 8 month stay in a mental hospital. It
also tells the story of Tiffany, played by Jennifer Lawrence whose husband
recently passed away and is grieving and also somewhat crazy. When these two
people meet it makes for an awesome love story that is hands down one of the
finest films of 2012.
Performances: Bradley Cooper is a misunderstood actor. He is
well known for his rash comedic roles in the Hangover and the Hangover Part II,
and I never really considered him to be an actor of any note. However, his turn
in the 2010 thriller Limitless (which is a brilliant movie), really makes him
out to be a promising new actor. He finally proves his worth in this film,
where in my opinion he delivers a standout performance that not only deserves
to be nominated, but also possibly win best actor. Jennifer Lawrence is equally
brilliant in her role as Tiffany, she conveys the sadness of the character
while also being quite emotional but also funny. I believe that she will win
best actress this year. Robert De Niro is also better than I have seen him in
several years, and Jacki Weaver as the mother is great. Chris Tucker isn’t bad
at all as a pal of Cooper.
Plot: The plot of this film is typical, but it easily rises
above the clichés and delivers something unique and interesting. It starts off
with Bradley Cooper being released from the hospital, and it shows him becoming
more normal until the end where he has fallen in love with her and become a normal
man. The middle of the film involves a bet with De Niro where Cooper and
Lawrence must make a 5 in a dance competition so that he can start his
restaurant, and it is mostly them training with Cooper and Lawrence having
awesome chemistry. At the end of the film you are completely rooting for them
to get together as a couple and to find happiness in themselves, which luckily
they do, and they regain some of the composure that they always wanted to have.
Entertainment: The main entertainment factor in this movie
is the relationship between Cooper and Lawrence. They are both shown as being
disturbed people with many emotional and mental problems, and they both bring
it. Together they are an awesome couple, and the entire movie you want for them
to become a couple. I haven’t felt this way about a movie couple for a long
time. The only other couple from this year that I truly liked were the children
from Moonrise Kingdom, and that was the first and only movie for both of those
actors. Cooper and Lawrence make it seem like they were made for each other and
it is a great thing that most of the movie is based off of their relationship.
However, De NIro is also touching in his role as the Philadelphia Eagles
obsessed father who just wants to regain some of the time he lost with his son
when he was younger.
Overall: Silver Linings Playbook is one of the best films of
the year. It easily rises above the clichés of it’s genre in order to bring
something new and interesting. Each member of the cast brings along an awesome
performance, especially the two leads, and the directing style Is awesome. This
movie makes you want to both work out and become educated, and in doing so
become a better person. I really liked this movie, and I would put it easily in
the top five films of 2012.
Overall Grade: A
