Silver Linings Playbook (FILM REVIEW)
Silver Linings Playbook
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Wounded Souls Lean on Each Other in Tenderhearted Tale of Love
Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) completely lost it the day he came home early from
work to find his wife (Brea Bee) naked in the shower with one of her colleagues
(Ted Barba). In fact, he proceeded to beat up her lover so badly that the only
way he avoided a prison sentence was by agreeing to enter a mental hospital.
That
was eight months ago and now that he’s being discharged he’s eager to reconcile
and reunite with Nikki. But that’s not gonna happen, because she’s so afraid of
his temper that she sold their house and got a restraining order issued against
him.
And she has good reason to be
concerned, since her ex has been diagnosed as bipolar with depression and anger
management issues. Consequently, with no wife, job or home to return to, the
state releases Pat to the custody of his parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki
Weaver), although he considers the move
temporary.
While suffering under the delusion
that Nikki will come back to him soon, he is introduced to a recently-widowed
neighbor (Jennifer Lawrence). As luck would have it, Tiffany happens to
afflicted with a very compatible set of weird neuroses.
She confides in him that she’s been
very promiscuous as of late, and that she was fired for sleeping with just
about everybody in her office. A Platonic friendship is gradually forged between
the two, with chivalrous Pat protecting rather than further exploiting the
vulnerable young woman. Meanwhile, Tiffany agrees to secretly deliver forbidden
letters to his estranged wife so long as he promises to be her dance partner in
an upcoming ballroom competition.
Adapted from the Matthew Quick novel
of the same name, Silver Linings Playbook is a
tenderhearted tale about two terribly wounded souls who survive by grudgingly leaning
on each other’s shoulder. Written and directed by Academy Award-nominee David
O. Russell (for The Fighter), this charming little film has already landed four
well-deserved Golden Globe nominations in the Best Picture, Screenplay, Lead
Actor and Lead Actress nominations.
The
protagonists are played by People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive Bradley Cooper and
Oscar-nominee Jennifer
Lawrence (For Winter’s Bone) who again exhibits an impressive acting range in
service of an emotionally-demanding role. The pair’s stellar supporting cast is
at its best when providing comic relief, especially Anupam Kher as Pat’s
eccentric shrink, Chris Tucker as his motor-mouthed pal, and Robert De Niro as
his obsessive-compulsive father.
Credit director Russell for keeping
the audience captivated and in suspense for the duration with the help of a cleverly-concealed
script as well as a motley crew of colorful characters. A slice-of-life
romantic romp revolving around a couple of unstable misfits who take forever to wake up and realize they’ve found one another.
Excellent
(4 stars)
Rated R for profanity, sexuality and nudity
Running time: 122 minutes
Distributor: The
Weinstein Company
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