3. Silver Linings Playbook
David O. Russell's film Silver Linings Playbook is a cross between romance, comedy and drama. The picture introduces us to Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper), a high school teacher who has recently been released from an 8-month stint in a mental health facility. As the film progresses, we learn that though he's married, a situation with Pat's wife may be partially related to his recent emotional decline. Though it's intended that he take a host of mood stabilizers and anxiolytics meds, Pat is non-compliant, opting instead to better his life through self-discipline, exercise and emotional enlightenment. While the primary performances in the film are good, including the four Oscar nominees Cooper, Lawrence, DeNiro and Weaver, they fall short of being able to recoup the multitude of other flaws within this film. The motif of the movie itself, that bipolar disorder is something that can be overcome simply with dancing with a hot 20-something and a repeated mantra about silver linings is not only misguided but lazy. Though Cooper and Lawrence create an intriguing and volatile dynamic between two troubled souls at the onset of a friendship, the shift that the film undergoes which sees their friendship evolve into something more feels forced and false. But their relationship seems like Rick and Ilsa when its compared to the laughable turns in plot the film takes. DeNiro, a sports bettor who has depended on Pat as his good luck charm, finds himself in a parlay in which the outcomes of a playoff game will determine his financial future. Though this seems ridiculous and trite, the film goes a couple steps too far when it adds an additional aspect of the bet to include the results of Pat and Tiff's dance competition. This turn results in the film's narrative ultimately being little more effective than generic rom-com schlock starring whichever prime-time starlet happens to be famous that week. It's an unfortunate fall that Silver Linings takes, as it leaves some great displays of acting left to fight over the scraps.
Why It Will Win: The Academy seems to love melodramatic familial tales that display great performances but with plots lacking any soul.
Why It Won't Win: It's just not that good of a film.