Playback Playbook.

Rating: 9/10 (15 April 2013)

Finding myself in the mood to watch a Rom-Com for the first time in ages,I decided to take some advice from a very helpful IMDb'er,and change my viewing plans of the 2012 Best Picture nominated titles,so that I could hopefully spend the weekend finding the silver lining,in a rather special looking play book
The plot:
Picked up by his mother from a mental hospital where he has been receiving treatment for his bi-polar disorder over the last 8 months, Patrick "Pat Jr." Solitano begins attempting to restart relationships with his friends and family,with Patricks dad,"Pat Sr" wanting his son to be around him as much as possible,due to quickly discovering that Patrick is a "lucky charm" for the sports events that his father is an illegal bookie on.
Cheerful over reuniting with his family,Patrick finds that he is unable to get rid of the deep desire that he has to become reunited with his now ex-wife Nikki,who along with separating from Patrick,has also put a restraining order on Solitano,due to finding it impossible to handle Patrick's Bi-Polar disorder any longer.Ignoring his families demands that he should not contact Nikki again,Patrick begins to talk to a girl who has continued to catch him off-guard for a number of days whilst jogging called Tiffany Maxwell.
Talking to Tiffany,Solitano rushes home to write a letter to Nikki straight away,when Maxwell tells Patrick that she will have the opportunity to meet his ex-wife in a few days time.Visiting Tiffany the next day with the letter in hand,Patrick is shocked when Maxwell tells Solitano that she has spent too much of her life being taken advantage of,and that if Patrick wants her to give Nikki the letter,than he must do something for her in exchange.Desperate for the letter to be delivered,Patrick tells Tiffany that he will do what ever she wants,although Solitano begins to have serious doubts,when Maxwell tells Patrick that she wants him to enter an up coming dance competition with her.
View on the film:
Taking a look at the IMDb trivia page,I was surprised to find out that this adaptation of Matthew Quick's novel had taken 5 years and 25 re- writes to reach the big screen,thanks to the excellent screenplay by writer/director David O. Russell perfectly balancing a mixture of Rom- Com and Drama that,along with impressively feeling extremely "fresh" also never becomes too heavy-handed or melodramatic.
Placing Patrick and Tiffany's relationship at the centre of the film,Russell gives the movie a warm folk music atmosphere by making all of the supporting characters plot threads ones that becoming connected to Solitano and Maxwell's relationship,which helps to create a strong feeling that each of their friends and families are involved in the tight binding of their relationship.
Using a "floating" camera to build a wonderful sense of the comedic and romantic scenes taking place in a "natural" world,Russell contrasts the earthy setting that he places the more comedic scenes against,by using stylish fast zoom shots to place the view right in the personal space of Patrick and Tiffany,which helps to allow the audience to feel the full pain and that Solitano has to experience's,as he tries to handle the worst aspects of his bi-polar disorder.
Backed by a soundtrack that features a smooth score by Danny Elfman and some prime cut songs such as the classic Girl From The North Country collaboration between Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash,the movie also has an extraordinary supporting cast that include Robert De Nero as Solitano bookie dad and a hilarious Anupam Kher as Patrick's US Football loving psychiatrist,Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence each give fabulous performances that connect on each part of the contrasting personality's that the characters have.
For her stunning performance in the movie, Lawrence shows Tiffany to be someone who is more than happy to speak her mind,but is also unable to pull the barrier's that she has put up for herself,in order not to get too personal with anyone,whilst the brilliant Bradley Cooper shows that although Patrick is more than happy to let people enter his personal space,Patrick is unable to openly express to his family and friends the desires he has,as well as the full pain that he suffers from the worst parts of his bi-polar disorder,which leads to this playbook being one that can be played again and again.