“Silver Linings Playbook” is a movie about dysfunction,
sometimes funny and sometimes sad. The sad parts may have been because a few
times they hit too close to home for me to laugh at. It has been nominated for
eight 2013 Academy Awards, including best picture.
The movie is the story of Pat Jr. and his relationships with
father (Pat Sr.), mother, and girlfriend, Tiffany. Pat Jr., labeled bipolar,
has been sprung from a mental institution by his mother on the condition that
he remain in therapy, take his meds and honor the restraining order his wife
has against him. He winds up at the institution in the first place for severely
beating up his wife’s lover when he finds them in the shower together.
In spite of moments of logical behavior, Pat Jr. acts very
crazy, as do his father and Tiffany, the girl he meets his first week home. Pat
needs Tiffany to do something for him that he hopes will reunite him with his
wife. In return he agrees to be Tiffany’s dance partner in an upcoming
semi-professional contest. Pat Sr. also wants something of Pat Jr. and that is
to spend time with him watching Philadelphia Eagles football games. The father
feels the team will win if Pat Jr. watches the games with him.
The movie culminates with the final Eagles game taking place
at the same time as the dance contest.
The acting in this movie is outstanding. Bradley Cooper as
Pat Jr. is up for Best Actor, Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany for Best Actress,
while Robert DeNiro, as Pat Sr. is up
for Best Supporting Actor and finally Jacki Weaver, as Pat Jr.’s mother is up for Best Supporting Actress. Cooper and
Lawrence give convincing portrayals of people with mental issues. As the movie
progresses, all the characters fade in and out of clear and rational thinking.
It’s easy to believe Pat Jr. would be crazy just growing up around his parents.
It seems to me that anything with silver linings also leaves
room for doubts. While Pat Jr. and Tiffany seem to be perfect for each other,
their ‘relationship’ is clouded by a mish mash of deception, misplaced hopes
and a general lack of anger management. At the same time, Pat Jr. and his
father could strengthen their bond or completely blow it up based on the
outcome of wagers. I found myself rooting for it all to work out for everyone,
and, if it hadn’t turned out as it did, I would have been extremely
disappointed.
I liked the movie but wasn’t crazy about the story.
Personally, I’m not convinced that two deeply troubled people can find complete
healing in each other. In the end, however, it won me over, and I would
recommend “Silver Linings Playbook” on the acting alone. Oh and, crazy or not,
Bradley Cooper is still a hunk!
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| Three out of five possible ticket stubs. |
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