Review of Silver Linings Playbook (2012) by Nick P — 13 Jul 2014

My family wasn't so fond of this movie, in fact, they are not really fond of David O. Russell's films to begin with, but I had more sympathy. Silver Linings Playbook tells the story of Pat, a man diagnosed with bipolar disorder, being released from a mental institution after having nearly killed his ex-wife's lover and he is back to get her back. On the way, he meets Tiffany, a young widow who has similar mental issues and they bond together. Basically, this about Pat and trying to gain his life back. Nothing new.

SLP has a consistent cast, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence had great chemistry and their performances were also very good, especially Lawrence's. Robert De Niro does make his comeback here but Jacki Weaver doesn't have anything to work with. To bring this up , SLP was nominated for 8 Oscars and won one for Best Actress, Lawrence. As I had said this before, Lawrence is probably one of my least favorite "it" girls. She is slick and mysterious as TIffany, but she does have that sense of dislike and annoyance. With this, Lawrence didn't deserve the Oscar over her nominees and the rest of the nominations, except Cooper and De Niro, are ridiculous. Weaver getting a nomination for what? Best Picture? Best Director? No. This just adds to The Academy's unnecessary love affair with the cast and the director when it wasn't deserved at all. At best, SLP was solid in storyline but the direction is a little short. Russell has done better in American Hustle and Three Kings but this was not his best. The story was very predictable, you knew exactly what was going to happen in the end. There is nothing spectacular about the film, performances, direction and everything in general. SLP is not a failure, but don't rush to see it.