Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell 2012): US

Reviewed by Cia. Viewed at the AFI Fest 2012

“I will not be quoting Hemingway anytime soon, nor will I ever read another one of his books.
And if he were still alive, I would write him a letter right now and threaten to strangle him dead with my bare hands just for being so glum.
No wonder he put a gun to his head, like it says in the introductory essay.”
― Matthew Quick, The Silver Linings Playbook

Produced by Bruce Cohen, Donna Gigliotti Executive: Jonathan Gordon, George Parra Screenplay by David O. Russell Based on The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Anupam Kher, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Music by Danny Elfman, Cinematography Masanobu Takayanagi, Editing by Jay Cassidy, Studio The Weinstein Company, Mirage Enterprises, Distributed by The Weinstein Company

Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has just spent 8 months in an institution on a plea bargain. He has lost everything; his wife, his house and his job. Now he has to start over and goes to live with his parents. He is bipolar, has decided not to take medication and is determined to keep a positive attitude, and get his life back together, including his wife Nikki. His parents are very supportive and welcome him home. His father, Pat Sr. (Robert Deniro) has an obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team and a superstition that involves Pat watching the games on TV with him. Pat meets Tiffany, who has a wild streak of problems all her own, but promises she will help him get letters to his wife if he will help her do something.

Bradley Coopers bright intensity as Pat Solantano hops on the verge of every moment. Cooper’s eyes are wide with hope while the rest of his body revs from every pore like a rocket ready to bust out in every direction.

Deniro FINALLY gets to demonstrate how intensely funny he is again as Pat Sr. As always, Deniro remains true to character, a real guy, at times so thoughtful we see the wheels of concern spinning. Deniro’s gruff compassion and determination simmer along with the plot and get funnier and funnier, as more interaction reveals an interesting twist on how we see their father son relationship. Jacki Weaver is perfect in the role of wife/mother Dolores whose quiet moments are energized with the act of trying not to speak- when she does speak – she’s dead on.

Jennifer Lawrence is to die for lovable as the no-bullshit Tiffany. Just the right energy, a little sullen but mostly edgy and high energy. And how cool is it to have the lead female character be sexy, strong, smart AND crazy! We’ve come a long way!

Lawrence and Cooper are great together. Cooper reels with energy and contains it simultaneously while his thoughts seem to be popping all over the place. The double edge he walks is brilliant acting. While I never find it hard to watch Bradley Cooper, I was absolutely dazzled at how he transformed himself into this whale of complexity that is Pat Solantano.

The scenes at home involving the family and friends include Randy played by Paul (Paulie) Herman (who is funnier than ever) rock and roll they move so fast, hitting and spinning character and comic points. It makes Russell’s direction seem like intricate detailed choreography.

David O. Russell has once again found the neighborhood that these people live in, giving the narrative and characters their genuine sense of authenticity. Russell and  editor Jay Cassidy work together, using match cut shots that not only bolt us forward with the action but right off our seats laughing. In the whirl wind of fast paced laugh out loud moments, Russell keeps the heart in center pitch with moments like Dylan’s North Country Fair as non-diagetic soundtrack while Tiffany and Pat practice their ballroom moves.

Silver Linings Playbook is not just a feel good movie, it’s a feel good movie where it counts.

David O. Russell is an American film director- his films include; Spanking the Monkey (1994) Flirting with Disaster (1996) Three Kings (1999) I ♥ Huckabees (2004) Soldiers Pay (2004) Nailed (shot in 2008, unfinished) The Fighter (2010)
Russell writes and produces as well.

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Published:
11.12.12 / 8pm
Category:
AFI Filmfest 2012, Films