Silver Linings Playbook
Review by Sean Lynch
With Oscar season comes Oscar buzz, and movies that outside of that Oscar buzz limelight would more than likely disappear into the void of forgotten movies.
Silver Linings Playbook is one such film, a movie that - without the hoopla surrounding it's Oscar nominations - would barely muster a whimper in your mind. I'd be genuinely surprised if anyone would go and actually see it, let alone consider it Oscar worthy. The "perceived value" of Silver Linings is that it's a true masterpiece, which while not totally untrue... but is far from fact.
By and large what we have here is a fairly stock standard rom-com under, only instead of the main characters flaws being "she shops too much" there is death and depression and grief.
We follow Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper, nominated for the Best Actor award) a man recently released from the looney bin after losing his house, his job, and his wife. With little else left going for him, he now finds living back at home with his mother (Australia's own Oscar sweetheart Jacki Weaver) and father (Robert DeNiro). Don't worry, this isn't Packed To The Rafters... well, not quite.
With nothing left to lose, Pat is determined to rebuild his life, using the positivity chant of "Excelcior" in an effort to reunite with his wife (despite the fact she was the one who caused his breakdown in the first place).
When Pat meets Tiffany (an incredibly seductive Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he'll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives.
Here's the thing, Silver Linings is very enjoyable. It's enjoyable for all the reasons that a tried and true formulated rom-com is enjoyable. But it's also go an extra layer, albeit an occasionally forced and superficial one, to it as it explore depression and mental illness. The performances are spectacular and you really do find yourself invested in these peoples lives.
However, if no one mentioned it was Oscar worthy I probably wouldn't have taken the time to watch it. And I'll be honest, if I hadn't have seen it I don't think I would feel like my life was any less fufilled because of it (whereas some Oscar films TRULY need to be seen).
If it's a feel good movie with a little bit more light and shade you're after, then look no further than Silver Linings. Because it's good, but not "Oscar" good, nor anything you couldn't already find from renting "Little Miss Sunshine" or "Crazy, Stupid, Love".
4 out of 5
Silver Linings Playbook
Australian release: 31st January, 2013
Official Site: Silver Linings Playbook
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Jacki Weaver, Anupam Kher, Chris Tucker
Director: David O. Russell
