The Case for Plays of the Week

If you have to see one conspiracy movie this year, make sure it is The Silver Linings Playbook.

Just joking.   Kind of.  Because the Silver Linings Playbook is more a bit of a black rom com, though there are machinations and manipulations galore that aim to get Bradley Cooper’s character, the wayward Patrick, back on track.

Patrick fell off the rails a while ago when he found his wife cheating on him, almost beating her lover to death.  The film picks up around the time of his release from hospital and his reintegration into society, assisted by his parents, his friends who never came to visit him while he was incarcerated, and in the nubile young form of Jennifer Lawrence, playing a similarly damaged young woman, Tiffany, who chose to act out the death of her husband by sleeping around with almost everyone she could find.

And that is the story.  But there is more to it, of course, as this is an Oscar nominated film.  And while it is not a big story, it is filled with nice little touches that overall make for a very watchable and interesting film.

First off are the leads.  Bradley Cooper is the “made over” version of Patrick, from ugly duckling to a swan once considered the world’s sexiest man (of course).  He does mildly crazy pretty well, considering all his practice in those horrid Hangover movies.  He is supported (in many ways) by the incredible Jennifer Lawrence, dazzlingly defiant much as she was in the Hunger Games, not to mention stunningly beautiful. 

It is great casting to have her elder sister played by Julia Styles, herself the poster-woman for youthful rebellion and feminine independence over a decade ago – and you could see the role of Tiffany going to her if the film had come along ten years earlier.  Also in the wings is the softening Robert deNiro, once a tough guy so tough that only Chuck Norris was tougher, but here playing Patrick’s highly superstitious Dad, and he manages to have an edge despite the shuffling of his slippered feet around the set.

And it all plays out wonderfully.  Philadelphia looks cold and almost deserted, considering how few cars (and how many runners) are on the streets, and the inhabitants seem sports mad – incredibly so, as one scene outside a sports arena shows.  Both Patrick’s and Tiffany’s problems are dealt with according to the personalities of the characters involved, which adds an authentic and occasionally uncomfortable air to how things play out.  Considering the naturalness of the start of the film, the final few scenes are unbelievably contrived (the showdown, the show), but considering all the good will the film elicits, I didn’t really care that much.

Yes, as I was warned, it is kind of a chick flick – there is a bit of romance in there.  But overall, the film is sweet, warm-hearted and occasionally funny, and overall, really good.

Verdict:  The Silver Linings Playbook comes up gold.  Sure, it is not a terribly deep or innovative film, and there are several scenes stolen from other flicks, but the overall effect of the acting, the script and the direction is a warm, fuzzy and ultimately satisfied feeling.  I doubt that it would take out the top Oscar gong, but the Silver Linings Playbook is definitely worth a look.  8 Lionel Richie songs out of 10.