I really enjoyed the soundtrack . . .

Rating: 5/10 (10 January 2014)

From all the hype and buzz surrounding this film, I was expecting to be blown away. I was not. To me, it was just okay, and the best part was the music, the hairdos, and of course, the clothes. The storyline was a little confusing, and, as someone else commented, it was hard to find a single, likable character to root for. I thought, at first, Bradley Cooper was going to be that guy, until he went completely wacko and turned out to be the worst of the bunch.
Also, I really like all of these actors and thought their performances were great (Christian Bale slipping into an unintended Al Pacino impression a couple of times, notwithstanding), but it was a bit like watching "Silver Linings Playbook" all over again. I don't know why it bothered me when David O. Russell recycled his cast and it played like a re-run, but someone like Woody Allen or Christopher Guest can do it and the film feels fresh and funny. I think, at the end of the day, perhaps Mr. Russell isn't my favorite director in the world.
At any rate, if you go not expecting too much, the experience is worth it, especially since the story is somewhat based on actual events. However, if you are trying to choose between this and a lot of the other fantastic films out this awards season, perhaps save this one for a NetFlix rental.