In Silver Linings Playbook (SLP for the remainder of this review) Pat, a 30-something former teacher has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital where he spent the last 8 months under court order following a violent incident. Pat's parents want him to get back on his feet and cheer on the Eagles with the rest of the family but Pat is determined to win back his wife and his job through a fitness and self-improvement regimen. As he moves back into his childhood home and struggles to adjust to life in his parents' home where he has no job, medication, therapy and a no-contact order with his wife, he gets re-introduced to an acquaintance named Tiffany, his buddy's sister in law. Her husband recently died and she's dealing with mental illness and recent job loss as well. Pat and Tiffany form a bond as Pat struggles to get back into his feet and find his titular "silver lining".
The Good: The cast is tremendous here. Bradley Cooper (who I've been a fan of since he first hit the scene) gives the best performance of his career as he makes Pat convincingly troubled, charming and funny without escaping from the gravitas of what he's dealing with. Jennifer Lawrence, well on her way to becoming one of the best actresses in Hollywood (don't believe me? Watch "Winter's Bone") turns in a performance that should be well beyond her age of 22 years and comes away as charming and utterly convincing as the troubled, self-destructive Tiffany. Robert DeNiro turns in what's probably his most vibrant and vintage performance in more than a decade as Pat's sort of crazy, gambling, Eagles obsessed father, Pat Sr., and is a shoo-in for a best supporting actor nomination. It's great to have you back, Bob, and you turn in many of the film's best moments. Chris Tucker (!) and Jacki Weaver are strong as well as Pat's friend from the hospital and mother, although they aren't given as much to do as Cooper, Lawrence and DeNiro. Oh, and there's Julia Stiles sighting too. I didn't even know she was still alive. The plot is fast moving and clever, and turns what could have been a generic indie romantic dramedy into a memorable, charming story about mental illness, family, sports, friendships and what brings us together.
The Bad: there isn't much bad at all. This is a charming, tender, heartwarming tale that lets the talented people in front of and behind the camera walk the tightrope of a sensitive subject wonderfully. If there is a drawback it's that the film wraps up a BIT too neatly, and at times risks making too much humor out of its subjects' struggles. It doesn't do this offensively or very often, so it's truly not much of a criticism. The ending does arrive with a bow in all of 20 minutes though.
In all, this film has a little bit of something for everyone. It's sometimes hilarious, touching, heartwarming and wildly succeeds in delivering what may be the best sports movie of the year. You can't help but root for Pat, even as you know that success as he sees it may not be what's best for him. A sweet love story, convincing drama on the role of sports and family in blue collar American life, and above all a rousing success. Cooper, Lawrence and DeNiro all deserve nominations and this is a film I know I'll come back to. Kudos, David O'Russell.
8.5/10
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