He has just emerged from months in a mental institution, subject to restraining orders, and returns to his parents (Robert de Niro in fine, mellow form) and is set on rebuilding his marriage with his estranged, unfaithful wife.
I was aware of some of the criticism of cliched portrayal of a character with bipolar condition - erratic behaviour, mood swings, propensity towards violence which sometimes turns on the use of a single word - all that is here, it's true. I have, in my own volunteering work come across a few people with this condition (not wishing to come over as 'superior', I own that I do have my own issues as well!) and, from my own experience, there may be some truth in the criticism, though I don't think it's overplayed here.
He happens to meet a pushy and disdainful female with such an unattractive personality that I just couldn't see why he wants to cling to her like a leech. In addition, she has her own bagful of mental health problems. I suppose it must be a tribute to the acting skills of Jennifer Lawrence which made me feel so strongly negative about her from very first appearance. But see a lot of her he does.
The screenplay is sharp, the acting and direction consistently well-observed. My only major reservation is in the ending - one that neatly ties up the loose ends with everyone happy, just like a fairy-tale. I've just read a review on IMDb which praises the ending in avoiding cliche. I disagree totally. That is precisely what it is. I can hardly imagine an ending which could be better designed to give everybody a 'feel-good' as they leave the cinema. But in the totality of this two-hour film, the complaint is relatively minor.
Were it not for the final few minutes I might have scored this film a bit higher, but even as it is I'm happy to give 'Silver Linings Playbook' a well-earned........................7.5/10.
Cooper was a revelation. I hope he leaves "The Hangover" movies far behind him - never to return. DeNiro surprised me! It has been a long time since he has had a role this juicy and I had forgotten what a magnificent actor he is since he became involved with those "Focker" movies. Also, loved Jacki Weaver. Great, genuine, touching movie!
ReplyDeletePaul, I never saw any of the 'Hangover' films and, from what others say in addition to you, it sounds like not seeing them was a blessing. But in this one, more than ever before, I found B.C. so damn hot that I have to make a conscious effort to see beyond that to avoid unbalancing my judgment of the film as a whole.
DeleteYes, De Niro has certainly opened out in recent years. Apart from the Focker films, his 'dragging up' in 'Stardust' (which I thought he'd be one of the last people on earth to dare to do), as well as his brief turn in Ricky Gervais' 'Extras' on TV, has shown that he is now willing to take risks and extend his repertoire beyond the thick-skinned, self-important, bullying characters he'd been playing for decades. He shows that he can do 'sensitive' well and, with a lot more films in the pipeline, I hope to see a lot more of these other sides of him.
I didn't know the name of Jacki Weaver before now. In fact I've just had to look up what part she was playing in this film. But she was indeed better than 'good' as the mother - both pain and empathic happiness well and believably portrayed.
I see that the only other films I've ever seen her in were both from the mid-70s, 'Caddie', which I liked a lot - and one of my Top 20 films of all time 'Picnic at Hanging Rock', where she played one of the schoolgirls.
We have a similar portrait of half man/half woman hanging in our hallway, but ours got more trimmings.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to show it to us, Dr Spo? (The portrait, I mean) You've got my curiosity well and truly ticked!
DeleteSince we are on a very hot topic - Bradley Cooper - I want to share two things: (1) He is currently at work on "Hangover 3" - not good - especially now they he has realized his full potential in "Silver Linings" and (2) "People's" sexiest man, along with another hottie, and great actor, Ryan Gosling, were filming the movie "The Place Beyond The Pines" in my city and I was able to see both of them. If you had to make a choice between one of them, you would end up a winner no matter whom you chose.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, Paul! Looks like I may then have to see 'H3' after all. But if I do at least I'll be coming new to it.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that B.C. was considered 'sexiest man' and though I can clearly see why, there's a tinge of jealousy in that I think only myself and others in my circle of bloggers ought to appreciate him as fully and in the way we do.
Ryan Gosling doesn't have anything like the same effect on me, though he is a fine actor too (scarily believable in the recent 'Drive').
But you managed to see both of them in the FLESH? Oh, now I'm REALLY envious. I hope you told Bradley not to shave off his fuzz, though I fear he might already have done so. I'll definitely have to make a special point to look out for 'Pines'.
One of the downsides of being a two-blog household; I was going to make the same comment as Spo.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to the image if he hasn't already provided it
http://blog.navypier.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/eliz.jpg
Thanks for that, but "yikes!" At least she/he didn't have her/his mouth open otherwise we'd have had to see HER blackened or wooden teeth (left side only, of course!)
DeleteRay, I'm glad you reviewed this one because with the trailer I saw I wasn't convinced I wanted to see it. I trust your judgement, so I'll put it back in the queue.
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely recommend it, Kyle - even if you're not a Bradley C. fan (I've heard that there one or two!). But I'd be surprised if you came out feeling you've wasted your money. Here's hoping!
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