Review of Silver Linings Playbook (2012) by Shane M — 17 Feb 2015

Say hello to my 110th R-rated movie! It's been a long time since I wrote a review as I have now hit 213 R-rated movies, but I'm getting back on track so don't worry. Romance movies have become the punchline of many jokes in Hollywood.

People are getting tired of the same bullshit love stories where the parents disagree, there's another guy, someone dies, they kiss in the rain, have PG-13 sex (That's not fan service retards.

Fan service is when you see EVERYTHING!!! Examples are Wolf of Wall Street, Fifty Shades of Grey, Game of Thrones, Masters of Sex, Californication, and *****graphy), say corny dialogue that doesn't make sense or deserve to exist, and are overly sentimental.

The studios and filmmakers love to underestimate us, and we're stupid enough to fall for it. Luckily, there are times when the formula is either done right or is fresh, mature, and HONEST!! This is where Silver Linings Playbook comes in, an adpatation of Matthew Quick's debut novel of the same name.

The film, written and directed by David O. Russell, follows Pat (Bradley Cooper), a former school teacher leaving a mental institution after eight months, returning to his childhood home under the care of his mother Dolores (Jacki Weaver), and father Pat Senior (Robert De Niro).

Pat was in an institution due to a mental episode where he returned home early from work, finds his wife in the shower with the history teacher from the high school Pat and his wife Nikki (Brea Bee) used to teach, and nearly beats him to death.

During his time under mental care, Nikki moves away, and Pat receives restraining order preventing him from being a certain distance from his school and his house. Pat meets up with old friends Ronnie (John Ortiz) and Veronica (Julia Stiles), and is introduced to Ronnie's sister-in-law Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who is widowed and has recently lost her job.

She also takes medication, just like Pat (both hate it), and later develop a friendship. Tiffany later tells Pat that she can send a letter to Nikki as Pat is desperate to get back with her, but only if Pat assists her in a dancing routine she's practicing.

Pat agrees, and the plot advances, resulting in a romance movie we all NEEDED (trust me on that). The movie deals with themes of mental illness, love, friendship, emotional and mental struggle, and improving, otherwise known as "finding the silver lining".

The themes are dealt with maturity and intelligently, instead of being dealt over the head like all sappy dramas, and doesn't focus on bullshit clichà (C)s, offering up a fresh love story for a new and desperate generation.

David O. Russell has been working in the industry since the '90s, making the films Spanking the Monkey, Flirting with Disaster, Three Kings, and I Heart Huckabees in the 2000s, but he never gained huge recognition until the 2010s, starting with The Fighter, receiving his first Oscar nod for Best Director.

Silver Linings Playbook became the high point in his career, receiving nominations for Best Director and Adapted Screenplay. He would follow with the critically acclaimed crime comedy-drama American Hustle, receiving nominations for Best Director and Original Screenplay.

Hustle is more divisive, but is another successful entry in his filmography, love it or hate it. As writer, Russell is able to balance comedy and drama with seamless ease, and allows the themes to develop rather than be pounded over the head.

His message is strong and true, and it leaves the audience satisified and crying with tears of joy. As director, Russell is able to work with an incredible cast, shift tones with ease, and offer up top-notch entertainment while also informing the audience of possibility of improvement and eventual triumph.

He also gets great chemistry and laughs from his cast, even some great improv, and nailing one hell of a hilarious dance sequence. The film is also a surprise due to being extremely funny, even for a comedy today, and having pure, honest emotion, once again rare today.

The cast is the best part, and the nods for Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress support that claim 100%. Bradley Cooper moves us as Pat, and creates an insightful person with bipolar disorder and hoping to get back with Nikki (he still wears his wedding ring).

Robert De Niro has been making odd choices recently, but he shines as Pat Sr., making us laugh our asses off with his ridiculous gambling and superstitions involving the Philadelphia Eagles, not to mention his OCD.

De Niro did great improv for one scene, and steals every scene he's in, funny or not. Jacki Weaver is very positive towards Pat and Pat Sr. by being around Sr. during games, and trying to help Pat recover.

Chris Tucker makes a surprise appearance as Danny McDaniels, Pat's friend from the psychiatric hospital, and he tones himself down for this role, acting as comic relief without going all Rush Hour.

He shows he has range, and is a guy we all want to hang out with. The best performance comes from Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany, who won the Oscar for Best Actress, the only acting accolade the film won.

Lawrence gives audiences a complex female character (they're usually one-dimensional clichà (C)s) who lost her husband yet still wears her wedding ring (like Pat), and has gone through a lot of problems, now living with her parents (LIKE Pat, similarities are there), but living in the garage seperate from their house.

Lawrence's performance is the best is due to her ability to make us laugh, cry, and sympathize with her character stronger than anybody elses'. The power in her performance is also the strongest, but her character drives the film from her introduction to the end, and her chemistry with Cooper is undeniable.

The romance film we needed, and a highly recommended watch.