Silver Linings Playbook the newest movie from director David O. Russell (The Fighter, I Heart Huckabees) and staring Bradley Cooper (The Hangover, Wet Hot American Summer) and most impressively Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games, Winter's Bone) comes right in the middle of Hollywood's award season and is quite possibly the best American film to come out this year.
Russell, until recently was mostly known for niche underground movies such as "Huckabees" and "Spanking the Monkey", it was with 2010's "The Fighter" that he finally received all around critical and commercial success, as well as an Oscar nomination for best director. It would be hard to imagine Russell's name not being one of the 5 up for the award come Oscar night this year. Russell guides a movie essentially about crazy people with such ease and style that you feel as you are in the living room or dance studio with the characters. The hand held camera technique, mostly used now in Jason Bourne ripoff films is most effective, there are some intense scenes here and the hand held camera gives it an intimate feel
The story surrounds Cooper's character "Pat" as he is released from a mental institution and into the care of his two parents Jackie Weaver (Animal Kingdom) and Robert De Niro (The King of Comedy) who is so strong here it makes you remember the De Niro of the 70's and 80's and not the one from the last two "Focker" movies. Pat's sole goal is to win back his ex wife who now has a restraining order on him after he walked in on her sleeping with a co-worker. Blinded by either not taking his meds or by sheer unwillingness to accept reality Pat has designed his own "playbook" to win his ex back, this includes reading every book shes assigned to the high school English class she teaches, Pat takes out his frustrations hilariously on an unknowing Ernest Hemingway classic early on in the film. In reconnecting with an old friend Pat is introduced to "Tiffany" played by Jennifer Lawrence, a fellow "crazy" still grieving over her husbands sudden death. In a deal struck by both Pat agrees to help Tiffany in a dance competition if she helps him get a letter to his ex wife. Lawrence who most mainstream audiences know only from her star turning role as Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games" really does a good job playing beyond her young age and striking beauty, she has graduated with honors from the Scarlett Johansson "smokey voice" school and really turned in a performance that should have Kristen Stewart looking for a new agent.
The acting all around is top notch. Bradley Cooper, already a solidified movie star really ups his game here, its very reminiscent of Jack Nicholson's turn in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest" in that he plays a character who is crazy but almost believes himself not to be. Awards recognition is almost inevitable for Cooper in the lead actor category and De Niro in the supporting actor race, I hope Lawrence is not overlooked because of her "Hunger Games" status. It's also nice to see that Chris Tucker (Friday) and Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You) are still alive and well as they are both featured in limited but effective roles.
I don't want to give too much of the movies plot away, honestly the plot itself almost turned me off to the idea of the movie. Its best summed up as a romantic comedy drama for people who don't find "How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days" romantic or even entertaining in the least. This movie got an initial limited release and is now expanding out to most major markets, do yourself a favor: skip "Skyfall" and seek out this gem of a movie
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