Silver Linings Playbook

Let’s get this out of the way: This movie is great. Writer/director David O. Russell is on the top of his game, and the entire cast—not just the two leads—gives it their all for this movie of drama, romance, comedy, and even psychology. It’s little surprise that the movie was the first in decades to be nominated for the big five at the Oscars: Picture, Director, Writing, Actor, and Actress—the last of which resulting in Jennifer Lawrence’s lone Oscar win. Nominations and awards are great, but at the heart of it, is it simply a good movie? And the answer is a resounding yes.

            Russell’s directing along with the cinematography is kinetic; the camera follows the characters in an organic way, pitting the audience as an onlooker that belongs in this Philadelphia family. The dialogue isn’t spot on, but the writing really is good overall and hits just the right notes of comedy at the right times to keep this mature storytelling from diving too deep into darkness. Not to mention I think the story is an important one to tell.

            We start off with Bradley Cooper in a mental facility, only to be released by his mother against the advice of the doctors. He returns home determined to read books like A Farewell to Arms and run around the neighborhood in order to gain back the trust of his wife Nikki. It is quickly learned that schoolteacher Cooper came home early to find Nikki in the shower with a fellow teacher whom he proceeded to beat to a pulp. Cooper is fired from his job, sent to the facility where he is diagnosed with bipolar disorder but refuses to take his meds because he doesn’t like the way they make him feel, and Nikki puts a restraining order against him. While at the facility, however, Cooper makes the effort to stay positive and find the silver linings in his situation—including the belief that bettering himself will convince Nikki to lift the restraining order so they can get back on track with their marriage.

            But Nikki isn’t really a part of this story, she’s only used as a plot device really. Because it’s not Nikki that’s on the other half of the movie poster, it’s Jennifer Lawrence, a young lady that suffered somewhat of a breakdown after the unexpected death of her husband and the turmoil that followed. Cooper meets Lawrence while attending dinner at his best friend Ronnie’s house wearing a Desean Jackson Eagles’ jersey where she’s Ronnie’s sister-in-law. Ronnie’s wife Veronica isn’t afraid to point out what a mess Lawrence is, and Cooper struggles in his first social setting since being on the outside, putting his no-filter way of talking at the forefront. What looks to be taking a turn for the worst starts to flip once Cooper and Lawrence start connecting through stuff like the effects of all the meds they’ve taken in the past. It’s a wonderful springboard for the unconventional relationship that we’ll be treated to for the rest of the film.

            It’s obvious from the start that Lawrence is into Cooper even if she brings up her dead husband on occasion, but there isn’t total reciprocity as Cooper continuously brings up how much he loves his wife Nikki and how his life is turning around and they’ll get back on track. I am such a huge fan of this film, but the biggest complaint I have is that there is a slight overreliance on Cooper’s undying love for his estranged wife; whenever the film needs to remind itself to keep the actual plot running and keep a feeling of drama around, they have Cooper spurt out his love for Nikki. Keep in mind that I said slight overreliance; it’s a flaw of the movie, but it’s by no means a deal-breaker.

            Besides Lawrence and Cooper, we’re treated to Cooper’s parents—played by Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver. They both get Oscar nods for their supporting roles, and De Niro likely pulls more of the attention, but I gotta give it to Jacki. Her subtle, lowkey performance as the glue of the household, cooking crabby snacks and homemades and all, is such a good performance. We’re even treated to the rare non-Rush Hour Chris Tucker as Cooper’s friend from the facility. John Ortiz plays the best friend Ronnie, but he tries a bit too hard at being comedic—he gives better performances in movies like Jack Goes Boating and American Gangster. Rounding out the ensemble is the wonderful and underutilized Julia Stiles as Ronnie’s wife and Nikki’s friend Veronica, a delightful Anupam Kher as Cooper’s therapist, and a disappointingly one-note Shea Whigham as Cooper’s successful older brother.

            I’m a fan of American Hustle and definitely enjoyed The Fighter, but Silver Linings Playbook is my favorite David O. Russell movie. The directing is phenomenal, Jennifer Lawrence is electric, the passion for Eagles’ football is fun especially after knowing Cooper’s and Lawrence’s continued support for events like Super Bowl 52, and I really think the film does a splendid job of seamlessly integrating a quality story of people struggling mentally in different ways. As far as romance movies go, this is right near the top of my list along the likes of Lost in Translation and When Harry Met Sally, but this movie really has such a unique blend of romance, drama, and comedy that makes it difficult to draw comparisons. It’s hard for me to quite say this is an excellent film, but I have no problem saying it’s a great movie. And that’s not a bad place to be.

            In Brief:

·       I’ve been on a bit of a horror kick with Unfriended and Don’t Breathe. If you’d like to see a review of either of these films, let me know! Speaking of horror, Don’t Breathe director Fede Alvarez also did the 2013 update of Evil Dead and there’s certainly horror there, but it’s just gross. Too much for my liking, and I’d recommend a hard pass on it.

·       Considering seeing Godzilla just because I’m sure it would be a nice experience on the big screen, but otherwise, I think we’re in a bit of a lull of summer films. Not interested in what’s out like The Secret Life of Pets 2, Dark Phoenix, or live-action Aladdin, and I wouldn’t give high hopes for Men in Black: International, no matter how funny Chris Hemsworth might end up being. We’ll just have to wait for Toy Story 4 to come.

·       I love the casting of Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) for the Child’s Play remake, and freaking Mark Hamill is the voice of Chucky! And Brian Tyree Henry is in the film too, and that’s always a plus; however, and this is a big however, the Chucky doll to me actually looks worse than in the original, and that’s a problem.

·       For the rest of June, I’d look at Yesterday as being a surprise hit.

·       Very impressed with All the Money in the World—the film a couple years back famous for kicking Kevin Spacey for Christopher Plummer less than a month before the film was released. It’s a compelling true story with wonderful work from Michelle Williams, a very good Mark Wahlberg, and of course Plummer. Even with its unique post-production fare, this movie still ran under people’s radar.