written Jan 17, 2013

Film Review: Silver Linings Playbook

by Ariana Burrell

"You say more inappropriate things than appropriate things"
~Tiffany

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) is a lovely and complicated film that tugs at your heart strings.  I'm happily surprised that the film was made because it is so unusual and hard to explain.  I really enjoyed the film and it did live up to its hype.

Silver Linings Playbook stars Bradley Cooper (Limitless, The Hangover) and Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) as Pat and Tiffany, respectively.  Both people are struggling with life and make a genuine connection over depression and mental illness.  This film is not about the ending but about the journey these two people have.  This entire journey was complicated and messy and the ending fell flat for me because of its simplicity, but I enjoyed the entire progression so much that I can forgive the ending.

Both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence gave incredible performances.  I had not seen either of them in other films but they pulled me into this world.  Their chemistry together felt real and dangerous.  Jennifer Lawrence's character is just as complicated and fleshed out of a character as Bradley Copper's.  She doesn't apologize for being who she is and her goal in life is NOT to find a man, which is very refreshing.

David O. Russell directed and adapted the screenplay from Matthew Quick's novel of the same name.  Russell beautifully directed the large ensemble scenes with 5-7 people because the scenes were full of energy and tension but still felt intimate like a theater piece.  Everything felt effortless and necessary. 

A mark of a great film for me is one where I don't think "when is this film going to be over."  Secondly, am I still thinking about it as I walk out of the theater.  Yes to both of these.  I couldn't stop thinking about the film and wanting to see it again to try and understand more.  

The film is nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director and won Lawrence a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

"How old are you?"

"Old Enough to have a marriage end and not wind up in a mental hospital."