Student Film Reviews

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1. Emma Karlsson 01.25.13 / 11am

   Kathleen, nice review of a great film with many themes including the one you mention; letting go and accepting change. For me the film was a great example of how the perception of “crazy” is different from person to person (and from society to society). The main character Pat is bi-polar and gets treated like a “crazy person” (just released from a mental institution), when in reality as we see in the film everyone in his surroundings also seems to have some sort of “mental illness”, they just appear more subtle. His father, as Pat mentions, is a clear example of a person with OCD. Ronnie, Pat’s friend suppresses his feelings in an unhealthy way while his wife, Veronica, has an intense need for control, etc. The film’s bottom line, which is really sweet, is that you have to find someone who will make your “crazy” appear… “normal”. That’s what happens between Pat and Tiffany at the end; they find the comfort that comes along when you’re with someone that makes you feel special, in a normal, loving way and not a mentally ill way.
2. Sandra Doyle 01.28.13 / 9am

   Silver Linings brings a different perspective on prescription drugs and “mental illness” and points out that we are all a little crazy. Two dysfunctional people at low points in their lives find solace in each other and a way to start over. The characters let their illnesses define them at first but then they soon come to terms with reality. However, I thought it was interesting how Pat’s reaction to walking in on his wife with another man got him into a mental institution. It makes the audience sympathize with his anger because they would probably be enraged as well as they ponder what they would do if that had happened to them.
3. Laura Wyatt 01.28.13 / 9am

   I appreciated your overview of the film Silver Linings Playbook. I had to wait to the end of your review to get to what I thought made this an incredible film. The acting. As you mentioned in a bit of a throwaway line, they all deserve a look by Oscar. Bradley Cooper does a wonderful job of stepping away from his People Magazine “Most Beautiful Man” stereotype. He plays a believable everyman role and even though his looks still sizzle, you forget he is a movie star and root for him as you would any struggling “every man”. The supporting cast is just as strong. Jennifer Lawrence plays crazy with a lot of subtly and is quite endearing. You root for her because of her strength and determination. De Niro is De Niro meaning he can do anything. He plays Pat’s father as if he had been doing it since birth.
   The writing is just as strong as the acting or maybe the acting is just as strong as the writing. I had no interest in seeing this film mainly because of its title. So if there is any criticism, it would be to find a new title!
4. Sherry Wetzel 02.04.13 / 10pm

   Absolutely incredible performances by the cast. The thing I found most profound about the casting was that it pushed the its main stars (De Niro, Cooper, and Lawrence) outside the conventional image we had of them. The acting was raw and emotional. I feel like this film will push Lawrence and Copper’s acting career and talent to a new level. The concepts were deep and hard to relate to in their entirety however the truths that run through the film can be adapted by anyone. I agree with Kathleen in that the strongest themes are letting go and embracing the changes of life. The film encourages the differences in people and invites the celebration of them. It speaks on the current pharmaceutical craze amongst doctors and shrinks and it opposing force of anti-pill poppers.
5. Alexander Berg 02.08.13 / 2pm

   I really liked your review and description of Silver Linings Playbook. I have planned on watching this film but haven’t been able to see it yet. I was at the Producer panel and listened to the producer Bruce Cohen talking about the film which was the first time I heard about it and that really inspired me. After reading your review I was even more intrigued by it. I could imagine that the acting in this film is extraordinary like you say considering the good cast, I really like Bradley Cooper and of course Robert De Niro. Reading about it this seems like a really thought provoking film and I want to see more of those.
6. Stephanie Baker 03.06.13 / 9pm

   I just recently watched the Silver Lining Playbook in theaters. The aspect of this movie that I really enjoyed the most was that it did not follow the classic Hollywood conventions of falling in love. This film portrayed the characters as having unique, problematic and complicated lives. The characters spend the duration of the film trying to overcome their difficulties and move forward. I also appreciate that director David O. Russell did not portray these characters as glamorous, rich people who had their whole lives planned out. He made the characters appear realistic and relatable. I agree with Kathleen Ambov’s opinions and I like the perspective she took on this film and review. I congratulate David O. Russell for producing such a fantastic and inspiring movie.
7. Michael Guzzardi 03.07.13 / 9pm

   Nice review, I liked how you kept it simple, and introduced the characters and their main roles in the movie without giving away too much information. I am glad that you touched on the theme about “excelsior” and how it can relate to Pat’s journey of making amends with Nikki. I find myself to be optimistic and truly believe that this method that Pat uses while rehabilitating can be very useful to others finding help in a tough situation. All in all, your review makes it sound like this movie has an interesting and diverse character pool and also multiple themes that everyone can both relate to and benefit from.
8. Sarah Gosselin 03.13.13 / 11pm

   I really like your review of this film and agree with much of what you have said. I loved this film so much that I saw it 3 times in theaters. I am from Philadelphia and when I saw it before winter break, it made me extremely homesick. From the accents to the tailgate scene, I felt that it was spot on. It was so great that it made me nostalgic about my tailgating memories at home, despite the craziness that comes with Philly fans. It doesn’t hurt that Bradley Cooper grew up in the area that they filmed it in, and went to high school in the city. I fell even more in love with Jennifer Lawrence, especially when she had her badass moment of proving Pat Sr. wrong about the bad luck for the Birds that came with Pat Jr. hanging around Tiffany. The sip of beer at the end of her rant was icing on the cake. Also, I agree that the soundtrack was amazing. That recording of “Girl From The North Country” where Cash joins Dylan is an amazing version of the song, which is one of my all time favorites. Cash’s deep voice gives a deeper emotion to the already classic Dylan song. It fit perfectly for that dance scene and you can feel the raw emotion between the two. Lastly, I had a huge grin on my face for the entire final dance scene. Again, you can feel the chemistry between Lawrence and Cooper that makes the movie so genuine.
9. Sean Calvin 03.18.13 / 11am

   This is a simple, yet effective review of a fantastic film. Silver Linings Playbook is one of those unique films that manages to combine drama and comedy in an effortless way. The marriage of these two concepts helps make the film accessible to all moviegoers. I agree with your assertion that Cooper, Lawrence, and De Niro have excellent on-screen chemistry. Each actor compliments the other; the result is a rather quirky cast producing some of their best performances to date. This film does a great job at shedding light on mental illness without misrepresenting it. Silver Linings Playbook shows that mental illness isn’t something resigned to a psych ward, it is something that touches us all. The way the story unfolds captures the audience from start to finish with the latter being an incredible climax of emotion and spirit. It’s hard to leave the theater without a big smile on your face.
10. Mariela Villa 03.21.13 / 10pm

    I have yet to see this film, but knowing that Robert De Niro has a part in this movie makes me believe that this film is worthy of watching. I am completely biased when it comes to watching films that De Niro is casted in, for I feel that anything he does is exceptional. After reading this review though, I am even more convinced to watch the film and give myself a reminder of how much normal my life may seem compared to Bradley Cooper’s character. The reviewer tells us that the performance of the actors in this film are worthy enough of receiving Oscar nominations, and her assumptions were right after viewing Jennifer Lawrence accept her award for best actress.
11. Nicole Garfias 03.22.13 / 2pm

    This was a great review, it was simple and really got to the point. I really enjoyed this film and was it also surprised me at times. This movie truly does give you a different perspective on things. You watch the characters deal with different problems and try to get over them. One of the things I found surprising throughout the movie was how funny it was, it did not happen in every scene, but when a humorous line was said it really hit you. Overall, the performances that Lawrence, Cooper, and De Niro gave were fantastic. You could really feel the chemistry between Lawrence and Cooper and the father and son relationship with Cooper and De Niro. It is a very heartwarming movie of someone with a disorder overcoming obstacles and living life to the fullest.
12. Caleb Cho 03.22.13 / 2pm

    My favorite movie of 2012. What stood out the most in this film is the amazing acting and chemistry between all the cast members. Jen Lawrence really showcases (or re-showcases to the people who have seen Winter’s Bone) to a wider audience only familiar with her blockbusters like Hunger Games and X-Men First Class. The development of Pat and Tiffany’s relationship was done so well, and De Niro’s role of a tough yet sentimental father was over looked by the Academy this year in my opinion. A great film I would recommend to anyone.
13. Kayla Dobroth 03.22.13 / 3pm

    Silver Linings Playbook was a great film from my prospective. I loved everything from the characters, to the storyline, to the ending. Yes, there was that fairy tail ending, but I believe that was what was best for these two people. The best aspect of this film is that it shows the struggles of everyday life, and not in some glamorized fashion. Pat is struggling with mental illness along with anger management. Tiffany is dealing the death of her husband, and does this is in an unusual way by sleeping with tons of people. These are common struggles people deal with every day and I believe the film portrayed it in a realistic manor. The chemistry of the actors was spot on and totally believable. Robert De Niro played the role of the concerned father extremely well. Over all, this film was one of my favorites throughout award season, and deserved every nomination it received.
14. Alan Aguilar 03.22.13 / 8pm

    Excellent review. I really enjoyed this film because it had a great set of well known actors. I thought that Bradley Cooper did an amazing job as well as Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro. I really like this film because it gives you a different perspective of life. It makes you think about other people in this world that struggle with mental illnesses and manage to fight through and live their life accordantly. Bradley and Jennifer display a great sense of chemistry together throughout the film. Overall, I would recommend this film to anyone looking to enjoy a great film with a solid storyline.
15. Kathrine Krasnoff 03.22.13 / 8pm

    Your review is nice and simple and I like how you introduced all the main characters in it. I enjoyed the movie but don’t get all the hype it has received. I found it boring at times and the story didn’t really fascinate me that much. I found it interesting how they are crazy in their own way and how it all comes together. I do agree that Lawrence and Cooper had a great chemistry. They both stepped out of their regular characters and did a great job making you feel that they are just one of us. It’s always a pleasure watching De Niro, he can do pretty much anything and fit right in.
16. Taylor Hay 07.05.13 / 12pm

    Silver Linings Playbook was a very real movie. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence gave absolutely tremendous performances. The audience can tell that both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence did their research on what it was like to have emotional problems. In the movie, they overcome their problems just to find each other. This movie was a very intense and dramatic movie, but the thing I liked the most was how the story was neither sad nor funny. Robert De Niro was stellar, as always. De Niro is always consistently solid in his performances. The cinematography was extremely well done. Overall, this movie was worthy of the Oscar it won.
17. Paul Schott 07.12.13 / 10am

    This is a great summary and review of a film I have been dying to see. Although many of us are not able to relate to the level of emotional, mental or medical strife that the characters are grappling with, it appears to be highly relatable. The casting is superb and from the trailers I’ve seen they seem to have strong chemistry. I really like how thoroughly this review summarizes the film and alludes to the emotionality while leaving the audience in the dark about the specifics of the film. After reading through some of the comments I am very intrigued to see how the film comes across, it seems to toe the line of sad and happy without really being either.
18. Brett Sesma 07.19.13 / 4pm

    I agree with the review, this movie really made me appreciate the life I had. Jennifer lawrence and Bradley Cooper do a great job of playing their characters, and making them believable. I found myself wanting them to be together more and more as the movie went on, and it finally happened at the end. The great themes of this movie teach people to move on and make your life better, and that is something that I am a big supporter of.
19. Anthony Branch 10.15.13 / 7pm

    Silver Lining’s Playbook is a well done movie in where two characters seem to bond in such a strong way it is unbreakable no matter how dysfunctional each one is or their relationship together, using this strong relationship and taking Tiffany’s passion of dancing as a way of curing their mental dysfunction. Each character has such a strong personality and mental approach, that in the beginning they are told to stay away from each other and that when they are together there is this awkwardness between each conversation and such strong tension, because of their mental conditions. Robert De Niro’s character had a very strong personality also, this character was always pushing Bradley Cooper’s character over the edge it seemed, especially the conflicts between missing the football games and the dancing lessons with Tiffany. The ending was most spectacular with the ending of their dance routine, where they barley got over a score of 5, and they were thrilled, it goes to show that their hard work was paid off even with a not so great score it was the big accomplishment that created a landmark in their relationship and their achievements in coming so far with their mental conditions.
20. alexmorales 10.18.13 / 1pm

    I really enjoyed Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper’s performance in this film. I think Jennifer Lawrence deserved the Oscar she won. I thought that she was very emotionally uplifting with her character. The actors embraced their characters to the extent where I forgot they were acting. I have really liked the tone that David O. Russell brings to his films. Both Silver Linings Playbook and The Fighter were incredibly good character driven films. I agree with your insightful comparison to Harry Met Sally. Overall, I thought your review was pretty brief but concise. I would recommend this film to anyone who appreciates a good character drama.
21. Marilyn Rodriguez 11.03.13 / 10pm

    I definitely agree with Kathleen’s theme of “embracing change” in the Silver Linings Playbook. I never really noticed the music selection until after reading this review. It is interesting how a music soundtrack can really set the stage for a film. The music that is a chosen in a film allows the viewers to be engaged and share a similar emotion that the actors have. Unfortunately, when I watched this film I truly never noticed the music, so I definitely have to re-watch this film. Although, most of the review itself seemed summarized. Overall, this film made me realize that the film soundtrack plays a crucial role in a film.
22. Megan Herrera 11.07.13 / 11am

    This review of Silver Linings Playbook, is spot on. I agree with Kathleen’s analysis of the theme of letting go in this movie. The characters in this movie, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, have a remarkable chemistry on screen that allows for the themes of the movie to push through the other parts of the film. The theme of letting go is so appropriate in almost everyone’s lives because we all have things that haunt us from the past. Bradley Coopers character shows the viewers how he struggled to do that. Robert Di Niro’s character does a great job almost acting as an enabler for Coopers character. He seems to constantly send Pat over the line. I also thought the film did a great job of giving its viewers a less scary version of crazy people. The screenwriter uses humor to ease the notion of crazy. The film was an entertaining and emotional movie that accomplished its goals by telling its viewers about moving on.
23. haleyDoig 02.26.14 / 10am

    The more I watch Silver Linings Playbook, the more I like it. The story line is so tragically hilarious. I would say that your summary of the movie was spot on, you explained a complicated plot in a simple way pulling out all of the important information. I agree with you that De Niro, Lawrence. and Cooper have great chemistry, but I would say that Lawrence and Cooper specifically have incredible chemistry. I think the chemistry just between the two of them that is more then noteworthy. The actors were quick with their wit and it kept the audience very engaged throughout the film. We wanted to know, along with the characters of the movie, what was going to happen, because we feel connected to the characters. Overall this is a good review of the movie. I just think that Lawrence and Cooper’s chemistry is worth expanding on.
24. Cambria De La Cruz 07.05.14 / 9pm

    Great Review! I loved reading it! I love this film! David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook is a screwball comedy that brings light to Pat’s (Bradley Cooper) fight against his bi-polar disorder with the help of Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). David O. Russell weaves through the characters feelings and hardships through his use of mis-en-scene and cinematography. O. Russell illuminates the theme: love serves as the ultimate medication. The relationship embodied in the film shows us how true love will surpass the quick but shallow effects of drugs. Pat and Tiffany’s love for each other helps them each survive their traumatic experiences and grow new capacities allowing them to take risks and escape their own entrapment. Silver Linings Playbook also exposes the truth of how unforgiving society is. Society handicaps the people who aren’t broken but “just need a broken wing mended”. Both Patt and Tiffany are capable of starting fresh and overcoming obstacles. However, Patt and Tiffany strive to create a new start by ignoring society’s perception.
25. Ulises Leal 10.17.14 / 9am

    This movie was more than I expected because I was not thrill to watch it. I watch it in the first day of one of Roger Durling’s classes and it was amazing. The chemistry between the characters and how they were changing throughout the movie made you feel good. Each of them had a problem and they had to learn how to live with it and also accept each other. This review points out the main events in which those changes happen and I also like the comparison between this movie and “Harry meets Sally”.
26. Natalie Player 06.04.16 / 11pm

    This movie has to be one of my favorite movies ever. I think the love story is so different than other ones I have watched in movies. I think that Bradley Cooper is an amazing actor and plays his role so well. This was the type of movie that had my attention the entire time and never failed to surprise me.
27. Elsa Callahan 10.17.22 / 8pm

    This is a great film. Going into it, I had no clue as to what it might be about. As the film proceeded, I came to realize it is extremely complex. It has complex and interesting characters with many underlying layers. This movie is funny, heartbreaking, and also very sweet. Both the protagonists as well as the outside characters do a wonderful job portraying their roles. The move is shot well and visually satisfying. This movie also touches upon the difficulties of life that people sometimes face. I would highly recommend this movie if you are looking for something to watch, it does not disappoint.

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