Every year, a multitude of romantic comedies emerge, many of which become labeled as “chick flicks.” They are often monotonous, cliched, and predictable. But every once in a while, a movie emerges that defeats this pattern, bringing together a scenario that, while still possessing the same basic framework of your typical romantic comedy, is still much more enjoyable. “Silver Linings Playbook” easily fits into this second category. Already nominated for 8 Academy Awards and 4 Golden Globes, this movie deserves its acclaim.
“Silver Linings” begins at a mental institution. Patrick Solitano (Bradley Cooper) has just been released into his parents’ care. He had been sentenced there after nearly beating a man to death who he had caught sleeping with his wife. It turns out, Patrick has bipolar disorder. After coming home from the hospital, he is determined to get his life back on track. But frequent angry outbursts still come, showing us that Patrick is not well. In comes Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence); a gothic-dressed, sarcastic, opinionated woman, clearly fraught with issues of her own. Though at first clashing with Patrick, we can easily see that the two are meant to be together.
The story seems like one we have all heard. Two lost souls find each other, and though at first hesitant, eventually find true love and live “happily every after.” But “Silver Linings” is anything but formulaic. Nobody is perfect in this world. In fact, nearly every central character has a disorder of some sort. Patrick, as we know, is bipolar. Tiffany has extreme insecurity issues, which she compensates for by sleeping with nearly every guy she meets. Patrick’s father (Robert De Niro) has obsessive-compulsive disorder, which has lead to serious gambling problems. The only “normal” person is Dolores, Patrick’s mother (Jacki Weaver), though how she manages to keep her cool around such craziness is beyond me.
On the other hand, the story does not dive too much into obscurity. Though each character houses their own mental issues, they still manage to establish connections with one another, even if their conversations are sometimes awkward and painful to watch. But we enjoy it because it is realistic. We want to be a part of this world, where the characters are every bit as flawed as you or I.
Stylistically, “Silver Linings” is expertly directed. The camera often acts as if a direct inner reflection of the characters on screen. When Patrick feels elated, it beams up at his smiling face; when upset, it skips and steps around the room like a racing, unpredictable thought. The score, created by the legendary Danny Elfman, provides a similar purpose. Montage sequences with musical overtones momentously drive the story forward; expressing the growing emotions in Patrick and Tiffany even more so than regular dialogue could.
Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, and Jacki Weaver all picked up nominations at the Academy Awards this year; for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. It is the first time that a film has been nominated for all 4 acting categories since 1981’s “Reds,” and is one of only a handful of movies to ever do so. Cooper and Lawrence in particular are brilliant. Each of them on their own have easily given the best performances of their career. They are unrecognizable in these roles, defeating all previous personas that they have been cast as in the past; Cooper as the “handsome, suave guy” and Lawrence as the “stern, strong woman.” Together, they create a chemistry that immediately has you rooting for them, and is all that much more rewarding when they finally come together. And De Niro, though coming from a long string of mediocre films, has provided a reminder that he is still one of the best out there. Were it not for some other fantastic performances this year, these three would be a shoo-in for the Oscar.
“Silver Linings Playbook” is a pleasant surprise. Though expecting something good, due to rave reviews, I still did not expect it to be this good. It is not your typical Friday-night date movie, though it could still be enjoyed as such. My commendations to David O. Russell for directing this film. This is how it’s done.