Silver Linings Playbook - "This is what I believe to be true, you have to do everything you can and if you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining"
A film so good it's devastating. Picture you're standing in the ring with Rocky Balboa & every punch he throws at you is a direct emotional hit to the head. A romantic comedy that transcends the genre and evolves into an snowball that keeps rolling picking up such rich characters along the way. David O. Russell writes and directs Silver Linings Playbook based on the novel of the same name and is deserving of an Oscar. Pat played by Bradley Cooper is overly enthusiastic and upbeat for someone who was just released from an 8 month stint in a mental institution for treatment of bi-polar disorder. Eager to repair his marriage with Nikki played by Brea Bee he works out everyday to lose weight and reads famous works of literature that Nikki taught at high school, but we learn she's sold the house and moved away. Pat by law is forced to live with his parents Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) and Dolores (Jacki Weaver) until he's rehabilitated and clinically cleared by his Psychologist Dr. Cliff Patel played by the wonderfully charming Anupam Ker.
Early on Pat is introduced to Tiffany played by Jennifer Lawrence who is outstanding in this role as the slightly offbeat widower who expresses her depression through sex with many people. It's depressing seeing her character being taken advantage of and how it effects her state of mind. The two share a very funny scene where they banter about what medication they're on but it's beautiful to see two people who are essentially strangers share sensitive information about each other because they share an unseen burden. She promptly propositions Pat for sex after their first encounter and he turns her down claiming that he's married. Pat is completely in denial about his ex-wife Nikki with the restraining order who has moved away. The two form a beautifully sweet platonic relationship that isn't understood by anyone but them. Robert De Niro is a "Tour De Force" in his role of Pat Sr. the obsessive compulsive father who's not sure what to make of his son not realizing that the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree at all as he suffers from "obsessive compulsive disorder". He's visibly in love with his long and endearing wife Dolores and harmlessly obsessed with the Philadelphia Eagles football team as he religiously watches every game and tries to bond with his son over football. De Niro and Cooper have a chemistry as father and son that is rarely scene in cinema, the performances are terrific but David O. Russell should be heavily credited in pairing the two for such challenging roles.
Through emotional blackmail Tiffany forces Pat into joining a local dance competition and the two spend more and more time together rehearsing dances. Whilst receiving some very funny off the cuff advice and criticism from the great comedic actor Chris Tucker who befriended Pat in the mental institution "Don't forget to black it up". The pairs relationship shifts dynamics and their issues become shared as they begin to rely on each other for mental stability and low and behold love is on the horizon, or at least for one of them. One of the many achievements this screenplay has to showcase is the side-by-side narrative of father and son tackling their mental problems, Pat Sr. with his book keeping on the Philadelphia Eagles and Pat Jr.s success in the dance competition. It's a film so well crafted that it's hard to believe it was made in this era of film making. The ending had me an emotional wreck as I cheered for our unlikely duo to find love and happiness. I implore you to see this overwhelming film about Love, Mental Stability, Great Acting & Family. 5/5
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