Silver
Linings Playbook can be summed up by two words: tragically charming. The film portrays the realness of mental
illness, but tends to stay on the upbeat side of the coin, using humor and a
love story to keep the plot moving.
I
learned three things while watching this film:
1)
Jennifer Lawrence isn't as bad an actress as once perceived.
2)
Bradley Cooper had an Oscar ripped out of his hands.
3)
I've missed Chris Tucker.
"Wait...are you telling me you hired the chick from the Hunger Games? That movie was ridiculous,
and her acting...atrocious."
STORY:
Pat
(Bradley Cooper) who suffers from bipolar disease, has been recently released
from a health institution due to a legality his mother found. Still in high hopes of gaining back his
wife's love, Pat decides to find the silver lining in life by staying healthy
and getting everything he lost—a wife, house, family, friends—back. When he meets town nympho, Tiffany, crazy
dialogue, hilarious dancing, and heartwarming moments ensue.
"Hahaha...this isn't what it seems. I'm just out for a drive with two mental patients, is all."
THOUGHTS ON WHY
PEOPLE DISLIKED IT:
There
are a ton of people who disliked the way mental illness was portrayed in this
film, thus disliking the film itself.
And though mental illness is a serious matter, most felt as though it
wasn't handled with respect, as the movie has too many funny scenes, and ends
on a positive note, instead of being more realistic.
I
understand your pain and how you felt as though the film was making fun of
people with mental illness, but you have to understand one thing: if the film
was a realistic documentary covering bipolar disease, and stayed true to life
showing that there may not be a winning combination to its defeat, not nearly
as many people would have watched it—me included. And not because I don't care, but because
when I watch a movie, I do so to take myself out of the reality of true
life. True life stinks. It's
depressing, mean, uncaring, and never gives a crap about whether you're having
a bad day or not. So why the hell do I
want to watch a movie that'll make me more depressed than normal? I'd rather watch a movie that Hollywood ended
on a good note, so I don't have to throw myself off the closest bridge after it’s
over.
Crap. I shouldn't of ate that fourth bean burrito, after downing a 24 pack of Miller.
MOVIE THOUGHTS:
I
watched the Hunger Games and thought Jennifer Lawrence was the worst
actor/actress I've ever seen, coming second only to Hutcherson. An “A-Class” doorknob, if you will. But it seems somewhere deep inside, living
dormant was an acting skill worthy of an award, and it took a great director to
find it. Was her performance Oscar
worthy? Considering the competition at
the Oscars, I'd lean toward yes. Was it
the best I've ever seen? No, but it was
leaps and bounds better than the block of wood she portrayed in the Hunger
Games.
Bradley
Cooper must have been lumped over the head, because his Oscar was ripped from of his hands, and there was no fighting
involved. I saw Lincoln, and aside from
standing, sitting, standing, and then sitting again, Daniel Day-Lewis did
absolutely nothing Oscar worthy, except portray a President everyone likes these days. Cooper on the other hand, portrayed an unknown
man that should be medicated, so you do the math.
"Are you saying he stole your Oscar? You want me to break his frigging kneecaps?"
Cooper's
Pat was downright hilarious, tragic and lovable, all at the same time. Being able to deliver lines that fast and
react that well to other dialogue, was something of genius. If you find humor in many things, than Pat’s
mannerisms and dialogue will have you laughing out loud one minute and feeling
terrible the next, displaying a perfect balance between funny and sad. Some people could say that his acting was
over the top, but that's what made it great.
Pat being totally unfiltered and uncaring led to unexpected scenes that
made me almost choke on my popcorn.
Damn
I miss Chris Tucker. He was well cast in
the film as Pat's friend from the institution.
Having choice scenes where he would pop in and out, broke up the humor,
by having you laugh at someone other than Cooper for a change. I'm glad to see him back, hopefully next time
it'll be for a bigger role, where we can get the full effect of his high voice
and great facial expressions.
"Man, don't bring up the time we stole those drugs, and then passed out naked on
the lawn at the institution. My girl's right here. Damn"
SCENES: (minor spoilers—read at your own risk)
When
the movie starts it had a serious tone and I wondered if that vibe would be
carried throughout, that is...until Ernest Hemingway's book went flying out the
window. I knew right there I was in for
an unforeseen treat. It showed the film
had the ability to balance humor and drama.
And then the scene that follows the broken window, with Pat waking his
parents up at 4am to tell them how much he hated the novel, and then proceeding
to apologize, not for himself, but for Hemingway—priceless.
"I've beaten and buried men in the desert for less..."
THE MUSIC:
Have
you ever watched a movie and heard that one song that'll stand out forever
because of one specific scene? That's
what "Girl from North Country" will now be for me. I thought it was perfectly placed and just a
stellar selection for the dance montage.
Not to mention the rest of the music is fantastic in the movie,
including the song that humorously sets Pat off. Well done.
"And the next American Idols are..."
MORE THOUGHTS:
Even
though it has great dialogue and unexpected character actions, the film is
adorned with the typical Hollywood style plot.
At about 1/3 into the movie, you can and will be able to predict the
ending, and maybe even call the slight twist.
But if the movie didn't end the way you expected, you might have felt
cheated and probably would've hated it.
So, for those who thought the plot was over the top—did you really want
it to end on a sour note? Why? Can't a story (and by story, I mean a full-fledged fabricated accounting of events)
be fun and uplifting, instead of real and frigging tragically depressing?
"It's okay, only about half the world saw the Hunger Games. I'm sure most people
already forgot about your terrible performance."
CONCLUSION:
Silver
Linings Playbook blends humor, drama, love story, and mental health issues
seamlessly. The plot may feel over
dramatized or outlandish at times, but the film will never cease to
entertain. This is the type of movie
that when it comes on TV no matter which point you tune in, you'll watch it
again and again. If you're looking for a
movie for date night, this is an excellent choice. The romance/love story will keep the women
involved, and the humor/football will keep the men entertained. It's hands-down, one of the best movies I've
seen so far this year and I'm sorry I missed it in theaters.
4
1/2 out of 5 stars (minus ½ a star for the slight
predictable ending)
No comments:
Post a Comment