Movie Review: Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Lining Playbook
Release Date ~ 11/16/12
Director ~ David O'Russell
Starring ~ Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro
Written By ~ David O'Russell (Screenplay), Mathew Quick (Novel)

After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.

 Silver Linings Playbook, like the book, is a brilliant, heartfelt, deep, and witty film. Like all great pieces of art, it makes you reflect on your own life.

My first order of business in this review is to remark on the genius acting by both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, the latter who one a golden globe for this. After Hunger Games, I had a lot of respect for Lawrence, but after Silver Linings Playbook, I have a new found appreciation for her as a deeper, maturer, more adult actress. This is her first real role playing a "adult" character, and she has completely reinvented herself. Unlike when I see actors like Daniel Radcliffe, when I saw Jennifer Lawrence in this film, I didn't think "That's Katniss!" I saw her as the character she was portraying, Tiffany, a slightly crazy, troubled young widow with terrible socials skills. I feel like this is Jennifer all grown up, and I really like what I see. In fact, I might of even liked her more then in Hunger Games. This girl has more going for her then just the blockbuster franchise, and while I'll continue to love them, I hope she continues to do projects like this one as well.

I was also seriously impressed by Bradley Cooper as well.  He's used to playing the brooding, perfect guy that has women swooning over him, and I felt like this role pushed him to step out of his comfort zone and really put more emotion into his acting. Though Lawrence outshines him a bit in this movie, I still have a new found respect for him as well. He took a risk and performed well in that risk.

Though it wasn't one hundred percent the same as the book, and O'Russell did change some things, some drastically, it was faithful in the message trying to be presented and in the characters. Honestly, if  you're one of those asinine people who throw a fit if everything isn't exactly word for word, you're going to be disappointed, and then the world is going to have to listen to you rant about it on twitter. So if you're one of those people, it's not going to live up to your expectations, just stay home and do us all a favor.

This movie, like the novel, is pure brilliance, with characters that you can't help but love and situations we can all relate to, Silver Linings Playbook is well worth it.