SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Directed by David O. Russell
Silver Linings Playbook continues an uneven tradition (Little Miss Sunshine was good, Juno
wasn’t) of light and largely unpretentious Academy Awards nominees. Comedies
with an edge. It’s good to have them around, beautifully lodged in the bottom
half of end-of-year lists. This is clearly one of those films that snobs can and
should hang on to. Steeped in romantic clichés that should render the whole
thing shallow or, at the very best, passable but amusing, Silver Linings Playbook manages to be a minor 2012 classic.
There are many factors
at play here (not least good acting), but in terms of the actual plot – I think
it’s the farce element that gives the film its edge. Bradley Cooper’s character
waking his parents in the middle of the night to vehemently disagree with
Hemingway’s A Farewell To Arms;
Jennifer Lawrence’s character giving away the hair-raising details of her sex
life; even the clearly too-fucking-fetched American football theme – it all
somehow distracts you from the backbone story that is neither too unpredictable
nor particularly imaginative. Like I say, it works, and the experience is never
less than hilarious and pleasantly titillating.
Pat gets out of a rehab (he
had almost murdered his wife’s lover) with a plan to get his life back on
track. Which means that he will have to return Nikki (the adulterous wife)
and try to keep on the sunny side of it all (hence the title). And then… But
that would have to be spoilers (yet again, you don’t have to be a genius). As I’ve
mentioned above, the acting is another thing that puts Silver Linings Playbook above its numerous peers. Much praise should go to the
film’s supporting cast, but ultimately it’s the odd, awkward, electrifying
chemistry between Cooper and Lawrence that wins you over.
The film balances
seriousness with pure undulated farce in such an irresistible way that you will
forgive any flaws. Great stuff. After all, who doesn’t like watching lovely
losers and beautiful freaks under pressure?..
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