It took me two viewings but I'm now more than convinced that Silver Linings Playbook is one of the very best films of the year and one that almost anybody can appreciate. When creating a "disease dramadey" a director has to walk a very thin tightrope. If it is too funny, then it can be seen as being offensive to those with the disease. If it is too dramatic, then it can be perceived as ringing false or being melodramatic. David O. Russell manages to walk this tightrope with ease, however, and the audience is better off for it. Silver Linings Playbook is a very funny, but also appropriately dramatic film that deals with mental disorders realistically and also showcases some of the best performances of the year.
Having read the book of which the film is based, I was a bit apprehensive while walking into the theater. Russell is a talented director, no doubt, but the source material is heavily cliched and could easily translate terribly to film. For the most part, the film is faithful (with the exception of a much different, and considerably better, ending) yet the cliches, which are certainly present, don't even come close to the levels of annoyance they reached in the novel. Silver Linings Playbook is an example of how great direction, a talented cast and true emotional connectivity can better a film.
Let's be honest- we all know how the film will end. I won't explicitly spoil anything, but by looking at the poster or watching the trailers I highly doubt potential audience members will be scratching their heads and debating about the film's possible outcomes. That's not a bad thing though. In fact, Russell goes out of his way to show that the "will they/won't they" relationship between Cooper and Lawrence (who have enough chemistry to light up the screen, by the way) is not the main plot of the film. This is a movie about personal struggles with the obstacles in life, and as significant as the bond between these two characters is the main focus of the story is really on Cooper and his struggles to overcome his illness and find a silver lining amongst the troubles in his life. Likewise, Lawrence's Tiffany isn't looking for a man so much as she is trying to find somebody that understands what she goes through with her mental illness.
That's not to discredit the romance, however, which I truly found myself invested in. That's entirely a testament to Cooper and Lawrence, who sell the film (and their characters) perfectly. Finding some comedy behind their illnesses but never exploiting or forgetting the dramatic side to it, both actors are worthy of Oscar nominations. Cooper, who I previously only knew as "that douchebag from The Hangover", is simply incredible here, and is perfectly complimented by Lawrence, who, despite being only twenty two years old, has managed to prove again and again how talented she is. Both actors know how to handle their dramatic moments well without going over the top, and have fantastic comedic timing. Cooper goes for a more subtle, quiet performance but Lawrence is like a firecracker, exuding attitude and making quite an impression from the moment she walks on screen. Just look at her scene with De Niro- who's also terrific, by the way. The sequence in which Tiffany and Pat Sr. fight about the superstitious forces controlling the outcome of Philadelphia Eagles' games (which play a major part in the story) remains my favorite moment of any films this year. The way Lawrence, who is a beloved but still young member of this industry, and a veteran like De Niro go toe-to-toe in a realistic but charming faction showcase just how much talent is involved with this film, both on screen and off.
Playbook is also one of the few films I've seen this year that have actually managed to connect with me on an emotional level. This year has been one of technical achievements (Cloud Atlas, The Master and Argo, for example) but very few movies that have made me fall in love with it's characters and smile the whole way through. And that's because O. Russell manages to make everything feel so real and doesn't go for big emotional speeches or shockingly dramatic twists. Any important procolomations that must be made are done so in as few words as possible. Take, for example, De Niro's tearful talk with Cooper about his own shortcomings as a father. In a lesser director's hand, the depressing music would be blaring through the speakers and De Niro would be crying hysterically. Instead, the moment is quick, quiet, and natural. De Niro's teary eyes feel well earned. Then there is the sexual tension between Cooper and Lawrence. I was reminded of classic film couples, like Lemon and MacLaine from The Apartment, whenever they shared the screen, yet they spoke with a decidedly modern (and, occasionally, foul mouthed) tongue.
I'm not sure what it was about this film that it took me two times to realize just how much I loved it. But, I implore you, please seek it out and support it. This is one of the best films I've seen this year, and one that definitely needs support from all corners as Oscar season sneaks upon us. Cooper, De Niro and especially Lawrence give fantastic performances and, I promise, by the twenty minute mark you'll be so invested in the film you won't care about the cliches. Instead, you'll sit back, smile, and prepare to be swept off your feet by this charming little film.
OVERALL GRADE: A+
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