A Night at the Cinema: Silver Linings Playbook

It's that time of year again, my fellow movie lovers. The Academy Awards, more commonly referred to as the Oscars, is rapidly approaching. In honor of this famed night, I've been trying to see as many movies that have been nominated for Best Picture as I can. So far, I've accomplished Les Miserables (see previous rave), Argo (a brilliant, brilliant move which I haven't found the words to express in a review yet), and now this, Silver Linings Playbook.

 

This wonderful film stars Bradley Cooper as Pat and Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany, two lost and unstable souls who meet via mutual friends and begin to form a refreshingly original, hilarious, heartbreaking, and truly unique friendship. Pat is coming out of a recent stint at a mental institution, where he was landed after channeling his inner Chuck Norris when he saw his wife cheating on him with a coworker, and Tiffany has deadened the sorrow of her husband Tommy's sudden death by sleeping with basically anyone who offers. By way of a dance competition and a fierce family rivalry, these two form a dysfunctionally functional relationship, and we get to see that unfurl within the movie.

When I first saw the preview for the movie, my initial reaction was that it looked entertaining, but never in my life would I have guessed that it would be Oscar worthy. But in my opinion, it really is. The Oscars is always filled with deep, emotional, beautifully poignant dramas or period dramas or action films that are enriched with deep ulterior meanings. To me, at least, it seems as though there are always very few lighthearted and yet moving films, which are truly my favorite kind. Silver Linings Playbook really fits the bill.

Things I really liked:

• We'll start with the obvious: the cast. Bradley Cooper is just a fantastic actor, and the fact that he can make any girl of any age swoon doesn't hurt. The Hunger Games' Jennifer Lawrence is my personal girl crush of the moment--she's stunning, she's real, she's hysterical, and she is a dang good actress. And then we have the timeless Robert DeNiro partnered with Jacki Weaver...just honestly a genius ensemble.
• Something about this movie was very raw. The actions, the dialogue, the setting, the emotions...it all felt very uncut and unedited, and not in a dirty Spartacus kind of way. It felt very real, and those are the movies I like best.
• The plot was alluring to me. Who doesn't love a good romantic comedy that isn't actually full of pure stupidity?

Altogether, I recommend you give this movie a go. I don't know if it's going to win Best Picture, but honestly if you asked me right now I couldn't choose the best one out of the three nominees I've seen. So go watch it, and I doubt you'll be disappointed.

MPAA RATING: R (for harsh language and extremely brief nudity--a woman's backside shown through a thin shower curtain for a second or two)

MY PERSONAL SUGGESTED AGE: 15

MY PERSONAL RATING: 8.5/10 stars

 

Happy viewing!

~ Lacey :)