Silver Linings Playbook is a captivating, and charming, romantic comedy that is unlike any other. Directed, and written by David O. Russell, the movie was adapted from the novel by Mathew Quick. Most of the cast are already distinguished in their own right, and includes Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, and Jacki Weaver. They perform brilliantly and pull off this dark comedy by giving viewers hope and genuine laughter. Not only does the film evoke pain, worry, and cynicism, but also love, humor, and hope. Russell tackles the issues of mental illness, marital failure, and love brilliantly and with satisfying results.
Russell choice of the script is the first great accomplishment because the subject of mental issues is such an unlikely source of comedy. Nonetheless, Russell handles it impeccably. Unsurprisingly, he was nominated for an Oscar in the category of best director, and best screenplay. Russell chose to show the characters flaws, darkness, and vulnerability, and not sugarcoat the issues they were dealing with. The movie opens up with Pat (Cooper) being released from a mental health facility for bipolar disorder, after almost beating his wife’s lover to death. He has to live with his erratic mother (Weaver), and his obsessive compulsive father (DeNiro), since he lost his home and job. Still, Pat is determined to get his life back on track, and this includes getting back together with his wife. When he meets Tiffany (Lawrence), a young widow with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany agrees to help Pat get back together with his wife, only if he will participate in dance competition with her. As they spend more and time with each other, Pat and Nicki form an unexpected connection, and togeth...
... middle of paper ...
...ting them on. It triumphs in all aspects and like Roger Ebert said “it is so good it could almost be a terrific old classic”. It’s not often a romantic comedy has that such a powerful effect on its viewers, David O. Russell seemed to have succeeded in all the ways he intended to. If you haven’t seen it, rent it today, and see yourself crying, and laughing right along with the characters.
Work Cited
Morris, Wesley. "Movie Review: 'Silver Linings Playbook'" Boston.com. The New York Times, 15 Nov. 2012. Web. 30 Apr. 2014
Silver Linings Playbook. Dir. David O. Russell. Perf. Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence. The Weinstein Company, 2012. Film.
Eisenberg, Eric. "Silver Linings Playbook Review." Cinema Blend. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Ebert, Roger. Rev. of Silver Linings Playbook, dir. David O. Russell. rogerebert.com. 14 Nov. 2012. Web. 30 April 2014.
November 1998, written for FILM 220: Aspects of Criticism. This is a 24-week course for second-year students, examining methods of critical analysis, interpretation and evaluation. The final assignment was simply to write a 1000-word critical essay on a film seen in class during the final six-weeks of the course. Students were expected to draw on concepts they had studied over the length of the course.
McCarthy, Todd. "Review: 'The Manchurian Candidate'" Rev. of The Manchurian Candidate (1962). Variety 17 July 2004: n. pag. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
Sterritt, David. “HOLLYWOOD'S HOLOCAUST”. Tikkun 24.3 (2009): 60-62. Literary Reference Center. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.
Ryzik, Melena. “A Lawsuit for ‘Hurt Locker,’ in Time for Oscars.” The New York Times. 04 Mar. 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.
Elysium. Dir. Neill Blomkamp. Prod. Bill Block and Simon Kinberg. By Neill Blomkamp. Perf. Matt Damon and Alice Braga. TriStar Pictures, 2013. Film.
Turan, Kenneth “MOVIE REVIEW Good Night, and Good Luck” Los Angles Times. October 7th 2005.
Losing Isaiah. By Naomi Foner and Seth Margolis. Dir. Stephen Gyllenhaal. Berry, Halle; Lange, Jessica; Strathairn, David. 1995.
Schumach, Murray. ?Prize for Novel Elates Film Pair.? New York Times 19 May 1961, 26.
However, plot is carried by a variety of other characters also. Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) is the lead guitarist and the most famous person in the band. He is constantly putting on the appearance that he is better than everyone else in the band and as the lead singer states he was supposed to be, “the guitarist with mystique.” Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) is the leader of the Band Aides. The best description of her was given by Roger Ebert, “She is not a groupie, she explains indignantly, but a Band Aide. She is, of course, a groupie but has so much theory about her role, it's almost as if sex for her is a philosophical exercise.” Penny has a love affair with Russell, who is married, while they are on tour. Penny is essentially William’s guide to the world of rock-n-roll. Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is the editor from cream magazine. William has sent him in a couple of articles and Bangs is surprise about their quality. He becomes a mentor for William on how to write a good article. To get a proper ...
The Hunger Games. Dir. Gary Ross. Perf. Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth. Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2012. Film.
I decided to review “Silver Linings Playbook”, which is based on a romantic-comedy novel written by Matthew Quick. It was produced in 2012 by The Weinstein, starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro.
Pat wrote letters to his wife and in turn, Tiffany delivered them. We later find out that Tiffany was the one all along writing back to Pat and that she had fallen in love with him. Directly following the dance competition, Pat meets his wife once again, but this time things are just not the same. After noticing Pat’s uncontrollable anger and mood swings, he was diagnosed with bipolar.
John Q. Dir. Nick Cassavetes. By James Kearns. Perf. Denzel Washington. New Line Cinema, 2002. DVD.
Levy, Emanuel. "Review: 'Good Will Hunting'" Variety.com. N.p., 30 Nov. 1997. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
Tapped. Writ. Josh David, Jason Lindsey, and Stephanie Soechtig. Atlas Films, 2009. Web. 2 Mar. 2014