REVIEW BY NATALIE WARWICK
Silver Linings Playbook was a good film but one which we, Tom and I, had categorised as a filler movie. You know one for Jennifer Lawrence to do in between The Hunger Games and Bradley Cooper before The Hangover 3. But apparently not. With 8 Oscar nominations in total Hollywood obviously values this movie over the vast other romcoms they churn out - but why?
I think the answer is that it isn't your run of the mill rom-com. It tells a love story but one which also deals with the "shock...horror" issue of mental health... Our main character Pat (Cooper) suffers with bi-polar disorder. The "love interest" Tiffany (Lawrence) is suffering with depression, through severe grief. So off the bat Silver Linings Playbook is more than an enjoyable film it's trying to raise awareness of mental health problems.
The film unravels around Pat on his release from a mental institution. He's hell bent on rekindling his relationship with his wife but in doing so we're introduced to his dysfunctional family and learn that everyone has their idiosyncrasies and issues that their dealing with. We see Pats friends with their perfect house which you can't but help see the cracks peak through and Pats Dad Pat Snr. (Robert De Niro) who's superstitions and betting on football games takes a downward spiral. In amongst all the drama that Pat and Tiffancy help each other deal with their own demons by training for a dancing competition.
Pat and Tiffanys performances of people suffering with mental health problems is extremely acute. In fact all performances are raw and heartfelt.This slice of life movie feels very close to the bone. It's real life. I relate to these people as I would relate to anybody in my real life. It's a film which will be enjoyed by those of you that enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine or Sunshine Cleaning.
It seems that the time has come for gush epic stories such as The Notebook, The Vow or The Time travellers wife to give way to a more realistic, and I think stronger for it, love stories such as Love and Other Drugs and of course Silver Linings Playbook to reign supreme. I think Lawrence might clinch the Oscar for this one. Fingers crossed.
Year: 2012
Classification: 15
Duration: 122 minutes
More info at IMDB
Silver Linings Playbook was a good film but one which we, Tom and I, had categorised as a filler movie. You know one for Jennifer Lawrence to do in between The Hunger Games and Bradley Cooper before The Hangover 3. But apparently not. With 8 Oscar nominations in total Hollywood obviously values this movie over the vast other romcoms they churn out - but why?I think the answer is that it isn't your run of the mill rom-com. It tells a love story but one which also deals with the "shock...horror" issue of mental health... Our main character Pat (Cooper) suffers with bi-polar disorder. The "love interest" Tiffany (Lawrence) is suffering with depression, through severe grief. So off the bat Silver Linings Playbook is more than an enjoyable film it's trying to raise awareness of mental health problems.
The film unravels around Pat on his release from a mental institution. He's hell bent on rekindling his relationship with his wife but in doing so we're introduced to his dysfunctional family and learn that everyone has their idiosyncrasies and issues that their dealing with. We see Pats friends with their perfect house which you can't but help see the cracks peak through and Pats Dad Pat Snr. (Robert De Niro) who's superstitions and betting on football games takes a downward spiral. In amongst all the drama that Pat and Tiffancy help each other deal with their own demons by training for a dancing competition.
Pat and Tiffanys performances of people suffering with mental health problems is extremely acute. In fact all performances are raw and heartfelt.This slice of life movie feels very close to the bone. It's real life. I relate to these people as I would relate to anybody in my real life. It's a film which will be enjoyed by those of you that enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine or Sunshine Cleaning.
It seems that the time has come for gush epic stories such as The Notebook, The Vow or The Time travellers wife to give way to a more realistic, and I think stronger for it, love stories such as Love and Other Drugs and of course Silver Linings Playbook to reign supreme. I think Lawrence might clinch the Oscar for this one. Fingers crossed.
Year: 2012
Classification: 15
Duration: 122 minutes
More info at IMDB
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