SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

 

Directors on the upswing: J.J. Abrams and Darren Aronofsky would definitely make the list, Neill Bloomkamp possibly, and one that can’t be left off the list, David O. Russell.  O. Russell, not a spring chicken in his mid 50s, has had only a handful of Hollywood films, most notably the underrated ‘Three Kings’ and ‘I Heart Huckabees’, that even the avid film fan would recognize or remember.  But with 2010’s ‘The Fighter’ and his latest effort ‘Silver Linings Playbook’, O. Russell is becoming a major force when studios consider directing choices to pair with their Oscar hopeful screenplays. 

What could’ve turned into another mid-late summer throw away rom-com is transformed into the heartfelt Oscar darling of this season in large part due to O. Russell’s sensitive directorial touch.  Couple that with the red-hot duo of Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper and that’s a recipe for a winner, oh and Robert De Niro playing the lead’s father never hurts either. 

Cooper plays Pat, a man recently released from a psych ward (where he is diagnosed with a form of bi-polar disorder) 8 months after severely beating a co-worker whom was sleeping with his now separated wife.  Trying to get his life back on track, Pat is determined to be positive and find a silver lining in everything.  After hearing of his release one of Pat’s friends invites him over for a pseudo-celebratory dinner where he meets Tiffany (Lawrence).  From the onset the audience sees Tiffany has mental issues similar to Pat, as she is trying to cope with the untimely death of her husband.  As many may guess, Pat and Tiffany form an unlikely bond and Pat begins to question if his hardships with his wife were a blessing in disguise.

As some may remember, ‘The Fighter’ wasn’t a major Oscar contender leading into the 2010-11 season, not even on many pundits radars.  The film had a similar recipe to ‘Silver Linings’; O. Russell, a talented cast (Christian Bale won Support Actor), and a simple yet highly emotional story.  The Weinstein Company took note, as they always do in the fall, and it led to big Harvey latching on to O. Russell’s next project (SLP).  And when you have the Weinstein Company backing your film you always have a fighter’s chance at a few statues come February.

O. Russell seems to get the most out of his actors, a true sign of a great director, especially in times where you have to compete with visual giants like ‘Avatar’, ‘Inception’, and ‘LOTR’.  He truly is a director of actors and film not simply of technology like some.  That isn’t to say Cooper, Lawrence, and De Niro don’t deserve a piece of the credit.  Cooper and Lawrence toe the line between psychotic nutcases and feel-sorry-for heartbroken lovers with ease and believability, matching their highs and lows with great comedic timing that doesn’t come off as forced.  De Niro is equally brilliant as Pat’s father, obsessed with the Philadelphia Eagles he believes spending time with his son is the variable that leads his team to victory or sends them to defeat.

‘Silver Linings Playbook’ has the one thing that is missing from so many films, the one thing that can make nearly any story worth watching on the screen, it’s real.  Real in its portrayal of the human condition of its characters and real in the feelings it conjures in its viewers, it is a can’t-miss-film this Oscar season.

Oscar Chances:

Best Picture: Lock

Best Director (O. Russell): Highly Likely

Best Actress (Lawrence): Lock

Best Actor (Cooper): Highly Likely

Best Supporting Actor (De Niro): Lock

Best Supporting Actor (Chris Tucker): Long Shot

Best Supporting Actress (Jackie Weaver): Long Shot

Best Original Screenplay (O. Russell): Lock

Best Editing: Possible