A very well acted film

Rating: 9/10 (12 January 2013)

When i sat down to watch silver linings play book, i didn't really not what to expect. Not a massive fan of drama's but do enjoy the occasional. However i was completely surprised by the diversity of the movie from the cliché drama about mental illness. Silver linings play book was a very cleverly made and enjoyable film and would recommend it to anyone who likes a feel-good ending!
the film starts off by typically introducing us to the main character, who shows us very early on that although he has left the mental institution he was situated at, he still has clear problems mentally. Pat swiftly returns to his family and the director does a very good job of creating a very awkward and anxious atmosphere in the Solitano house.
After half an hour of showing pats struggle to regain mental stability and including scruffs with his family and encounters with a police officer, the director introduces tiffany, the other main character. Tiffany is straight away shown to be in the same boat as pat. Both cooper and Lawerence do a brilliant job of conveying the social awkwardness and insecurity in which they create when around friends and family, especially cooper. He conveys the mark of a man who looks to be on the road to progress but be constantly betrayed by his pedantic and instable mind. His weird habits and obscure choice of words project a very unique character and is a big part of the films success.
Anyway, pat and tiffany work together to help each other with the things holding them together. Pats is his drive to be re-united with his wife and tiffany's is to dance, however its clear tiffany has an interest in pat beyond helping him. After a unexpected twists and many avoided clichés, we find ourselves engrossed in the plot of this film and the characters within it. Pat and Tiffany with compete at a dance show, despite an unexpected twist and finally fall down to cliché's in the last 10 minutes. however, it is worth noting that this was the best and most suitable ending and was unavoidable, really.
The relationship between the characters is probably the most binding factor in this movie's success. The ever changing relationship between cooper and Lawrence conveys the nature of the two and is constantly changing throughout the film. Even with one is mad with the other, they are shown to be repeatedly drawn to forgive the other, and the changing relationship shows their mental instability through their changing emotions. Both slowly transition to normality through the film by helping each other fulfill their needs and the way the director brings the family into the climax of the film is wonderfully woven and successfully executed. Another mention should be given to Robert De niro who conveys a dad, who has his own pull on the plot and may come across as a pushy dad who doesn't understand his son, but as the film goes on, De niro comes into his element and shows a very compassionate and loving side and really adds to the feel-good theme to the film.
Other parts of the film such as the excuses fro Charis tucker as to why he is repeatedly 'out' of the mental institution and coopers spontaneous outbursts add a comedy element to this brilliant drama.
so, in general i loved the silver linings play book and would recommend it to anyone seeking a movie filled with symbolic actions and intricately woven story arcs. Brilliant acting from established actors reinforces the backbone of this movie and makes for a special experience!