3.5/5
Stars
‘Silver Linings Playbook’ has received
eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director (David O.
Russell). It has also managed to bag all the nominations in the four acting
categories for Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jackie
Weaver. The film is about a dysfunctional family, or rather families, and
imperfect individuals.
The film encompasses three genres –
romance, comedy and drama. The best aspect about the film is that it does not
paint a rosy picture about any character’s life. Instead, it dwells upon
imperfections and harsh realities. Jennifer Lawrence delivers one of the best
performances of the year in a film, which is filled with powerhouse performers.
The film is brutally truthful when it comes to highlighting problems and is
equivalently delightful when it comes to offering solutions. Quite easily, the
‘SLICE-OF-LIFE’ film of the year.
After an eight-month stint in a mental
institution, Pat Soliano (Bradley Cooper), who has had a history of physical
assaults, emotional outbursts, rocky equations with wife Nikki (Brea Bee),
moves back in with his parents, Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) and Dolores (Jackie
Weaver), and tries to get his act together (which includes getting back with
his estranged, unfaithful ex-wife).
Pat Sr. and Dolores are facing financial
problems of their own in addition to dealing with their son’s mental
instability. Then, Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who happens to be his
ex-wife Nikki’s best friend Veronica’s (Julia Stiles) younger sister. Tiffany’s
husband loses his life in a car crash and this creates devastating
repercussions on her mental health. The film is about how the two unstable
individuals, Pat and Tiffany, bond and help each other get over their
tumultuous pasts!
There are uncomfortable instances, notably
the ugly physical altercation between Pat and his father, Tiffany’s emotional
outbursts at Pat, Pat’s desperation to reconcile with his ex-wife, which will
make you cringe and move you at the same time. The story at different points
will evoke different emotions – sadness, anger, helplessness, laughter,
contentment and in the end, that little bit of redemption!
David O. Russell’s screenplay has been
adapted from the novel of the same name by Matthew Quick. The film is not just
about a closer-to-reality story and terrific performances. It is as much about
brilliant technical achievement in editing, cinematography, choreography and
music composing. Cooper’s and Lawrence’s imperfect dance-piece in the climactic
moments will definitely get you rooting for the pair!
This film about imperfect people has its
imperfections. Don’t know whether it’s Oscar-worthy or not, but it definitely
deserves a watch.
Shivom
Oza
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