Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook
You know, I have to hand it to David O'Russell.  There are not a lot of good dramas out there.  Oh, there are some that are diverting enough, I suppose, but nothing to write home about.  And most are sappy, formulaic, cookie cutter messes.  And then here comes David O'Russell (fresh off the equally excellent The Fighter) with his terrific adaptation of Matthew Quick's novel, Silver Linings Playbook.

Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) suffers from bipolar disorder.  As the movie begins, he is being released from the mental hospital, where he was sentenced after almost beating his wife's lover to death.  Now living at home with his parents (played by Jacki Weaver and Robert DeNiro), Pat is trying to get his life back in order and hopefully convince his wife to get back together with him...of course, that would involve finding a way around that darn restraining order.  The solution to his little problem presents itself in the form of Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a young widow who knows Pat's wife.  And she will pass on a letter for him if he agrees to help her with her dance competition.

So this sounds like a serious drama until you read the dance competition part of my synopsis, which makes this sound like just another one of those formulaic romantic comedies.  Well, yes and no.  There is a bit of a formula here, sure, but when it is so superbly acted, written and directed, you can still find yourself surprised by what you are seeing on screen.  And make no mistake, Silver Linings Playbook is superb, full of heart and humor and a lot of crazy. 

O'Russell supposedly wanted to make this film because his own son is bipolar.  He tackles the subject with a great deal of heart and wisdom in both his directing and writing.  But his greatest strength is the way he depicts family.  I don't think anyone working today is as adept at creating a real family dynamic as he is.  He showed this skill in The Fighter, too.  There are no neatly defined family "roles" here like in other films; this is family and it is messy.  They love each other, they hate each other, they talk over each other, play little manipulative games, bicker and feud, and then hug it out.  These scenes are among the most heartfelt and funny in the movie.

And the acting is excellent!  This is the first film in a long time that has received an Oscar nomination in all four acting categories, and deservedly so.  Cooper, Lawrence, DeNiro and Weaver all develop fully formed human beings, with both good qualities and bad.  Cooper shows a true depth and maturity in his performance that you would not have imagined from his other films like A-Team or The Hangover.  Let's give this guy meaty roles like this!  And as for Jennifer Lawrence...between X-Men: First Class, The Hunger Games, and Winter's Bone, I am beginning to wonder if there is anything she can't do.  All the supporting players are all terrific, as well, including Julia Stiles and Chris Tucker.  And where the hell has Chris Tucker been anyway?  He hasn't made a movie since 2007's Rush Hour 3.  And while I was growing tired of his shtick by that sequel, I forgot how effective he can be when he is used in the right way!

There is one thing that bothered me in the movie...it's a small thing, but it kept nagging at me.  The police are pretty clear that if Pat has one more bipolar outburst, he is going back to the mental institution.  He proceeds to have a bunch of violent and destructive outbursts (in public even!), and yet he is never sent back.  He just keeps getting more warnings.  But poor harmless Chris Tucker keeps getting dragged back for no reason.  Okay, this is a small complaint, but it bothered me.  Silver Linings Playbook is a great film, funny and touching, and I definitely recommend it.  Go see it!

MVP:
I know I should say O'Russell, but I just can't.  And here is why: Red Lights, Righteous Kill, Being Flynn, Little Fockers, Stone, Freelancers starring 50 Cent, for crying out loud!  Not DeNiro, but 50 Cent.  What has Robert DeNiro been doing the last few years?!?!?  It has been a long time since I have seen DeNiro knocking the ball out of the park in a good movie.  I don't know if it is the roles being offered or if he is just on a bad streak, but it's been far too long since I have seen him in something great.  And one of life's great pleasures is to see the arguably greatest actor of his generation do what he does best.  And he vanishes into the role of Pat, Sr., who has a very complicated relationship with his son.  It is a good part and there might be some under-the-table nature vs. nuture stuff going on here, because you can definitely sense some of Pat's violent tendencies coming from his obsessive compulsive father as opposed to just his bipolar disorder.  Pat, Sr. has a lot of anger and a lot of regrets in his life.  But at the same time, when he looks at his son, you see such love in his eyes, no matter how sick he is or how disturbed he can be.  Pat, Sr. could have been played for laughs, a one dimensional, walking OCD joke, but DeNiro captures the heart of the role.  He is terrific and I was so happy to see him back in all his glory.  MVP!

BEST LINE:
Pat, Sr: I gotta rethink this whole thing.  I didn't trust it before, but I gotta say, now I do.

TRIVIA:
Lots of interesting casting trivia on this one!  Russell originally wanted to make this film with Zooey Deschanel and Vince Vaughn.  Then Mark Wahlberg was in the mix.  Russell came to Cooper in a different way.  The two had been in discussions to collaborate on Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  I think it was a good decision to make this instead!  For the role of Tiffany, Anne Hathaway was actually cast, but filming for The Dark Knight Rises interfered, so Russell looked elsewhere for his leading lady.  I think this all worked out for the best.  Cooper and Lawrence were both excellent!