Silver Linings Playbook

Floro's Late to the Party Reviews - Silver Linings Playbook

Let me start of by saying, "I've always believed Bradley Cooper can do more than Hangover, but he never will." I'm only slightly wrong here, as he did more. Unfortunately for him, he's not transcendent enough to break free from his previous roles. Jennifer Lawrence might be.

Silver Linings Playbook takes broken relationships and broken people, and mixes them up with enough key plot points from a handful of movies to provide a vehicle for some impressive acting. It's the kind of movie that will speak to everyone, because we all believe we're more than a little broken, but not nearly as crazy as these folks.We also know (or in my case, are. am?) that guy that truly believes this is the year that their perennial loser sports team will come through because all of the rituals will finally work. In this film, those parts are played expertly by Robert De Niro and the Philadelphia Eagles.

This "play" is referenced several times

Cooper plays a troubled man holding on to a belief that he can put things back together with positive attitude and hard work, now that he's cleared from the local mental institution. Lawrence plays a bi-polar bad girl with a reputation that she love/hates. They meet through mutual friends and through a series of loosely connected venues that allow Lawrence to act circles around everyone. Everyone except De Niro.

This was shot in color. He acted it black and white.

Lawrence's character allowed her the opportunities to hit nearly the full spectrum of human emotion. It's the kind of performance that requires an astounding amount of control and consistency to be believable. A single fraction over the line at any point, and you come across as fake for the entire performance. Lawrence manages to connect those extremes to a single person, and I completely understand why she won an Oscar for it.

Earlier I wrote that she might be transcendent enough to break free from her other roles. She's stuck with the main character in the next "source-material-is-too-adult-for-the-pre-teen-audience-we-are-marketing-towards" ultramega blockbuster series The Hunger Games. You remember what happened to Daniel
"Harry Potter" Radcliffe? He tried to be naked next to a horse on stage, and then did a re-revival of a musical that saw the actors that replaced him win awards. How about the Twilight crew? Unfair comparison as they didn't have the talent to begin with. The point I'm vaguely making is that these novel-based ultramega blockbuster series pigeon hole the stars, unless they can quickly find breakout successes in a different genre. Lawrence did with this, but it happened with two (or 3 knowing Hollywood) more Hunger Games to go.

Did I mention Chris Tucker is in this movie too!? Ruby freaking Rod! Tucker is the most subdued character I've ever seen him play. It made me wonder if they actually gave him the kind of drugs they dispense at a mental hospital.

MELLOW PERFORMANCE

All in all, the movie is nothing substantial. Musically it didn't stand out to me, which was surprising when I saw it was Danny Elfman. Plot-wise it's flawed. Some might say "That's the director's vision! We're all a little flawed and not distinct! ART!!! LIFE! IS! ARRRRRRTTTT!" I disagree. This was a book that was cut down to be a movie that then:
- fell into the right production hands
- got in front of the right agents to recruit a variety of talent
- didn't force anyone aside from Cooper and Lawrence to commit large chunks of time
- came right at the time for the two of them to do an Indie-ish film to break away from their blockbuster roles
- picked a non-Boston/NYC sports town that a group of die-hards defend/promote vigorously
- and topped it all off with a series of clinics in acting.

Seriously, hats off to the casting agents, director, writers, and ensemble for their work on this one. The entire family dynamic was tangible and believably real. With the occasional exception of my disbelief in Cooper's performance and plot that's there to cause dialogue, I would believe this group of people could easily have been those drama-inducing neighbors you have. You know, the ones with the police dropping by once or twice a week?

You hear the theme song every time they pull up to their house too. Don't lie.

I rank this higher than The Pianist. I was floored with Adrian Brody's performance in that film, but I never care to see it again. I could re-watch Silver Linings Playbook, and for more than just Lawrence's performance. Do yourself a favor. Make some popcorn, grab a beer, your best girl or boy, and stay home next date night with Silver Linings Playbook. You won't be sorry.