As I walked into the cinema, I had a laundry list of reasons not to like Silver Linings Playbook beyond the fact that I was only watching it because of “girlfriend rules.” I didn’t particularly like the cast, the premise, and the genre; I was tired and hungry; it was raining out and there was lots of traffic; big government continues to blow up our national deficit; the Celtics are barely over .500; and my refrigerator was broken. So long story short, there was no way I was going to walk out of this theater liking this movie. But then a funny thing happened; two hours and a package of M&M’s later, I actually did.
The movie tells the story of Bradley Cooper’s Pat Solitano, a former teacher who is released from a mental institution and finds himself dealing with bi-polarity and anger issues, an estranged ex-wife, and the challenge of moving back in with his parents. When he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a young widow dealing with her own emotional issues, the two strike up a friendship they hope to be mutually beneficial.
Right off the bat, I want to say that the cinematography is merely adequate, but directory/writer David O. Russell fares much better in the latter capacity. The plot is compelling and maintains an interesting balance between dark subject matter and very organic light humor, which is no easy accomplishment. But to me, the reason this movie plays so well is the strong work of the cast with whom I was not so enamored with at the outset. So here is how each fared:
Bradley Cooper: Hollywood really tried to convince us for a while that he was the next big thing, but to be honest, I hadn’t really enjoyed his work in anything besides The Hangover. This movie represents the first time he successfully plays something other than a breezy sarcastic misogynist. Sure, his performance unravels at times, but fortunately he is surrounded by strong supporting players to keep things on track.
Jennifer Lawrence: I liked her in X-Men: First Class; thought she was okay in The Hunger Games; and avoided House at the End of the Street altogether. Her portrayal of Tiffany – a troubled woman who is both strong and vulnerable - in this film marks the first time she delivers a spot on character performance. She is the heart of the film and at a few key junctures rescues the film from veering off track.
Robert DeNiro: Welcome back, Bobby D. For years I have lamented watching his films because the man behind some of the most iconic cinematic performances in history had morphed into a caricature of himself. In this movie, we get a lot less of the typical DeNiro mannerisms and more dedication to the details associated with the character of Pat Solitano, Sr – a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan and low-rent bookie.
I have read in some circles that this movie will get Oscar consideration and I don’t doubt this as this is the type of movie Academy voters love to reward, but I am not willing to go that far in my praise. It’s not ground breaking, mind blowing, or life altering. In fact, you probably won’t think too much about it fifteen minutes after you leave the cinema, but it is a well-acted film that is highly entertaining. Does it warrant a visit to the theater? Probably not, but I would put it high up on your Netflix queue or whatever list of “movies-to-watch” that you may keep. And for all you Jennifer Lawrence fans, next up for the Silver Linings MVP is The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in 2013.
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