Weekly Review -- Mind over matter

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) -- The subject of mental illness has frequently been exploited in cinema as a prime example of the Other. It has been analyzed as a psychological issue, it has been examined as an emotional issue, but rare are the instances where it is presented as a human issue. Never has the topic been presented as a mere quirk, an offbeat part of everyday life, and this is where the lovely Silver Linings Playbook comes in.

After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat (Bradley Cooper) moves in with his parents and starts on a quest to win back his ex-wife. When he meets enigmatic widow Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), Pat is intrigued, but also wary of any changes and acutely mindful of his obsessions. Soon, his world transforms in ways no one could have predicted...  

The greatest strength of Silver Linings Playbook is in the way that it seamlessly shifts from drama to comedy to romance. Adapted from Matthew Quick's novel, director David O. Russell's screenplay does not shy away from exploring the full implications of Pat's bipolar disorder and the effect that it has on his family and friends, but does so with a sense of self-deprecation and humor. It sets the characters on a path of knowledge, a path of evolution from hurt to healing and from blame to forgiveness. Everyone in the piece is a damaged soul. While Pat is struggling with an illness, his father (Robert De Niro) has his own OCD problems and his mother (Jacki Weaver) has had to learn to deal with her husband and her son in a lighthearted manner. Every character has a long way to go in order to get to the point of self-acceptance; naturally, no one is able to do it alone and Russell examines these connections as being vital as breath. Pat needs his parents' unconditional love as much as his father needs him and his mother. Tiffany needs Pat to make her feel cherished as much as he needs her to spin his life out of control. No man -- or woman -- is an island and we all need help sometimes. We all grow, nothing is constant and one can never tell what might be waiting around the corner. For all you know, it might well be a dance competition... one can never be sure. Russell plays with the notion of adventure infusing mundane existence and the idea of stepping out of one's comfort zone to find ourselves again. In the end, he comes to the conclusion that reaching out and engaging one's curiosity is the answer. What is life if not a journey?

The centerpiece of the film is the unconventional love story between two people whose experiences threaten to knock them down, but not out. It is safe to say that the film would have been DOA without chemistry between the leads, but never fear -- Cooper and Lawrence have it in spades. Cooper shows considerable dramatic flair, alternating between Pat's mood swings and his newfound zest for life. His resolute positivity can only be matched by his utter lack of awareness when it comes to Tiffany's intentions. He does not notice that his happiness is right in front of him, asking him to dance and laugh and live, and it is this cluelessness that provides the film with moments of gravity. The breakout star, though, is Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence portrays Tiffany as a woman who decided to duct tape her broken heart and keep going after her husband's death, despite some bad choices that she has made since. In her performance, we find need without clinginess, heartache without a wall of tears and experience that goes beyond the resources expected for the actor's age. Subtle in her choices, Lawrence is a beautiful performer and the only cast member whose role is hers alone. While I can see some other actors playing the other roles, I am not able to imagine anyone else playing Tiffany and I can say without a shred of doubt that this lady deserved the little golden man she received last Sunday.

The rest of the performances are also praiseworthy, although not quite as distinct as the two principal portrayals. De Niro is the fantastic De Niro -- emotionally involved as a father who blames himself for his son's problems and tries to bond with him the only way he knows how, through his beloved football. Weaver is impressive as Pat's long-suffering mother and Chris Tucker is a revelation as a patient Pat befriends during his hospital stay. The cast works great as an ensemble, contributing greatly to the narrative's themes of connection and exploration.

Moving and funny, Silver Linings Playbook is one of those films that captivate the audience and do not let go. In an era when so many films get cranked out for the sake of profit, here comes a simple yet complex tale of relationships, woes and pure happiness. Feel free not to dose. Just enjoy it.  

10/10