If you have been in
a scary situation in the company of extreme human nature, and somewhere in the
middle of the imbroglio, laughed for a fraction of a second, because something tickled
your funny bone, and then suddenly found yourself back in the grip of fear,
then you will be able to pulsate with the tactful humour in this film. Silver
Linings Playbook is based on a mental illness, but refreshingly it uses comedy that
lightens the serious issue, and radiates an aura of optimism throughout its
course.
The lead character Pat
Solitano played by Bradley Cooper, suffers from a mental illness called bipolar
- a disorder identified with symptoms that include hallucination and extreme
behavior. Surprisingly, the film does not take the all too familiar ‘realistic’
approach, and end fashionably with some tragedy. Instead the story flows in a
completely different set-up that includes interesting comedy convalesced with
reality; slow bloom of love meshed with interludes of romantic dance sessions.
To this interesting mix of love and comedy, the excitement of football is added
that plays out like a commentary at the background. The end result is life-affirming
both onscreen and off-screen.
The story is
sourced from a novel, The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, and tells
the tale of a man named Pat (Bradley Cooper), who gets released from a mental
hospital, and is steadfastly determined to get back with his wife Nikki, who
has a restraining order on him. Whilst trying to get back with his wife, Pat meets
Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a recently widowed girl with a troubled mind and
past. The two decide to help each other and start taking dance lessons to
partake in a competition. Although pat thinks that he loves his estranged wife,
he is drawn towards Tiffany. The film is all about Pat shedding his inhibitions
and coming to terms with his real feelings. The film is accentuated by the closeness of Pat’s
loving family especially his parents, Solitano Sr. (Robert De Niro) and Dolores
(Jacki Weaver). The duo’s natural portrayal
of loving, concerned and protective parents can have a nostalgic effect on many. The one thought that dominates throughout the film is that ‘we are all crazy at
some point or the other’. The craziness of a normal person is concealed whereas
the craziness of a person with mental illness is out in the open. What
separates them is the diagnosis of the mental disease. This becomes more clear when
we compare Pat’s or even Tiffany’s behavior with Pat’s father, and his friend Ronnie.
Oscars’ favourite
Jennifer Lawrence in her Academy winning performance is strikingly beautiful,
arrogantly stylish, and exceedingly talented. Her out of this world performance is a strong tear-jerker. Bradley Cooper surprises all in this
sensitive yet clever portrayal. The waltz and the swaying music at the closing quarter,
transports one to a dreamy land of absolute bliss; the feeling reaches new heights
at the closing scene. Importance of love in life, and its strength to cure even
serious illness is subtly conveyed. Silver Linings Playbook is a romance with
positivity for sparkling silver lining, and thanks to David O. Russel for bringing
this beautifully optimistic story of excelsior to screen.
Film: Silver Linings Playbook
Year: 2012
Film trailer
CAST:
Tomatometer: 92%
IMDb ratings: 7.9/10
-Indu Mathi S
Film trailer
-Indu Mathi S
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