Mental illness isn’t funny…
But in the hands of a good director like David O. Russell it can be strangely invigorating. Even amusing. Having a great cast to put it across doesn’t hurt either.
We’re talking SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, the offbeat loser love story. A dark, bi-polar and mentally challenged comedic gem that pits Bradley Cooper against Jennifer Lawrence and his parents Jacki Weaver and Robert De Niro.
Cooper after eight months in a state institution is back living with mom and dad but definitely intent on rebuilding his life. To reunite with his estranged wife, stay positive and get back on his feet.
Not an easy task.
That’s when he meets mysterious Jennifer Lawrence who’s got some major problems of her own.
It’s like complicated anger issues vs. deep depression resulting in quirky dark humor—THAT WORKS!
Lawrence even offers to help him try to reconnect with his wife if he would do something very important for her in return. But, but……..
Well let’s just say that an unexpected bond and silver linings begin to appear in both of their lives.
Heavy? Sure. But just like the popular novel on which it is based makes SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK refreshingly hard to resist.
Something that probably won’t escape the attention of this year’s Oscar nominations.
And as mentioned at the top, a lot of credit here goes to director David O. Russell who also adapted the screenplay from Matthew Quick‘s book.
Russell’s previous screen credits include FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, I HEART HUCKABEES and SPANKING THE MONKEY.
So be prepared for R-rated moments and scattered f-bombs.
Further enhancing key performances in the complex proceedings are those by Julia Stiles and Chris Tucker, while Danny Elfman‘s musical score adds mightily to the disorderly order.
Two lost souls. One SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK now in limited engagements.
I’m raising 3-1/2 out of five quirky fingers.
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES: On Radio / On Line / On Cable-TV.
