Oscars 2013: Ranking This Year's Best Pictures

2. Silver Linings PlaybookInitial Impression: All I really had to go on with this movie was the usual indicators of an Oscar film: previous award nominees, a comeback for a once maligned Hollywood player, a Director who's used to being invited to The Dance, and it was based on a best selling novel. But when that director is David O. Russell, and his previous film was The Fighter, I automatically was inclined to see this film. Then the awards nominations and buzz started to build, especially considering this film has the acting nods locked up. Hell, it brought DeNiro back out of Paycheck mode and it got Bradley Cooper his first nomination! Plus, Jennifer Lawrence in yoga pants. It doesn't speak to the quality of the film, I know, but they could have won some major votes if they'd filmed this puppy in 3D. The Verdict: Jennifer Lawrence has been getting the lion's share of awards attention with this flick, which isn't a particularly bad thing. She's earned the nomination, I believe she's earned a win, and ultimately she's ready for this. However, I'd like to draw attention to rest of the core ensemble to this piece: Jacki Weaver, Robert DeNiro, and Bradley Cooper. As a family unit, they're convincing. As equally broken and interesting people, they're convincing. As individual actors and performances, they're convincing. I cannot throw enough love to the core and even the extended cast of this film. Freaking Chris Tucker is even amazing! And Julia Stiles returns to movies with a small, but nevertheless important role. David O. Russell is on my watch list after this and The Fighter have proceeded to take tight knit casts and stories of dysfunction mixed with love, and turn them into Oscar gold. By the time this film wrapped up, I felt as if I'd sat through a typical romantic comedy arc, but one that was told with only the highest quality. In another's hands, say Adam Shankman or his ilk, this could have been a Valentine's Day hit. In the hands of David O. Russell, it's something that outweighs the king's ransom its inferior prospect could have ever made. No emotion wasted, no frame wasted, this is no fat storytelling, and I fell in love with this movie like Pat fell for Tiffany. (And seriously, a 3D conversion post award season would do you good.)