Rating of
3.5/4
Review: Silver Linings Playbook
MikePA - wrote on 01/12/13
David O. Russell's The Silver Linings Playbook is a rich, funny, and heartwarming movie experience, and one of the better (much better, actually) romantic comedies to come out in recent years. Obviously the reason for saying "much better" is because 80% of the modern romantic comedies to come out are dreadful inflictions that star Jennifer Aniston. There are a couple gems here and there, including (500) Days of Summer, Crazy Stupid Love, and my favorite, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Silver Linings rightfully fits in with all of those terrific films. This movie has it all. You'll certainly laugh, you'll most definitely smile, and you may even cry, even if you're an asshole.
Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro star in the film, and they all shine. Jennifer Lawrence is a terrific sight, but MY GOD can this woman act. This is one of the best female performances of the year, and she truly earns her Oscar nomination, as well as Cooper and De Niro who are nothing short of spectacular. De Niro is always fun to watch (except things like, you know, New Year's Eve and whatnot), and Cooper really impressed me. His ability to show anger due to his illness and the way he expresses his character's flaws is remarkable. Same goes to Lawrence and De Niro. Each of these three characters are flawed, but as the title suggest, they each have their silver lining.
The best thing about the film is the chemistry between Lawrence and Cooper. It's powerful, authentic, and sometimes cute, even though much of it consists of one of them yelling at the other for some reason. You're always kept engaged and rooting for them, and that's what really matters.
David O. Russell writes a great screenplay and crafts the film beautifully. He packs the movie with so much heart and soul, you kind of can't help but enjoy it. Let's be honest, in the hands of another director and different actors, I doubt the film would work. Everyone here does a great job.
The ending is predictable, but O. Russell gives it plenty of care. It'll put a smile on your face, anyways. So it's all good. If you missed this movie during 2012, be sure to watch it once it hits DVD. It's a romantic comedy that works - beautifully acted and directed, well paced, and very enjoyable. It's a feel-good movie that doesn't allow itself to disappoint.
3.5/4
