Rated R, 120 minutes
Funny, touching and superbly acted “Playbook” is one of year’s best
 |
| Bradley Cooper |
The
poignant, amusing new dramedy “Silver Linings Playbook” is one of the
year’s best new character-driven films and features strong turns from
its cast. Pat
Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything -- his house, his job,
and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his Philadelphia
Eagles-obsessed parents (Jacki Weaver and Robert DeNiro) after spending
eight months in a state institution. Pat is determined to rebuild his
life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite his challenging
life circumstances. When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious
girl with problems of her own, things get complicated and an unexpected
bond begins to form between them, and silver linings
appear in both of their lives. “Silver Linings Playbook” is
directed and written by David O. Russell, who helmed the Oscar-winning
“The Fighter” and is based on the novel of the same name by Matthew
Quick. “Playbook” is an engaging, touching crowd-pleasing dramedy with
career-best performances from its leads and first-rate direction and
writing from Russell. Russell paces the film well and his script doesn’t
become too preachy, treating its characters with some dignity and
respect, and finding genuine humor
from mental illness. Cooper and Lawrence are sure to receive accolades
for their strong, Oscar-worthy turns, especially Cooper, who shows great
range from his low-brow “Hangover” comedies. Lawrence has a couple of
the film’s best scenes as she talks football with DeNiro, in his best,
award-worthy performance in years. The film falters slightly in its
“Dancing With the Stars”
themed-finale, but still likable. I enjoyed this film immensely and
even more so than Russell’s “The Fighter,” also a great film, and it
will be in my top 10 for 2012. The vastly entertaining, superbly acted
and directed “Silver Linings Playbook” is a must-see film.
Wes’s Grade: A
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