Another Great Film Under David O. Russell's Direction

Rating: 9/10 (6 December 2013)

After The Fighter, Hollywood and the general public has restored their faith on David O. Russell and this allowed him to have more choices in his projects. Silver Linings Playbook is definitely a film he wanted to make, as he wrote the screenplay and the plot and premise is quite risky in comparison to his previous film, The Fighter.
Silver Linings Playbook is written by David O. Russell. Russell mostly writes the screenplays of his films and when a director also writes the film, it also allows the director to have a connection to the script that the actors or anybody else in the production may not have. Russell has simply written a dramedy, if you look at the big picture but what makes it so unique and interesting is the fact that it touches on the topic of mental illness and explores beyond what has already been covered in mainstream film of mental illness.When I first watched this film, I thought the dialogue between characters and the personalities they project were hard to empathise and sympathise with but as with each viewing, and an increase awareness in mental illness during my degree, allowed me to realise that Russell has written a script that is so faithful to reality and that people who suffer mental illness have sometimes a complete different perception of oneself and his or her surroundings. The characters are very self-centered and only cater to themselves but this just adds on to the sense of reality with these characters allowing it to feel natural. The film explores the themes of mental illness, love, commitment, and relationships. The film at times also touches on the social stigma on mental illness.
David O. Russell has proved to be one of the great directors in this decade with two films gaining critical acclaim, with his next film being much more ambitious than the previous two (American Hustle). Russell clearly wanted to make a dramedy but due to its subject matter, it makes the film feel fresh and stand out from other films in the same pile. I am so happy that Russell has taken a positive approach to this film as films touching mental illness, in most cases, is seen in a negative light and it isn't fair as many people who are "diagnosed" with mental illness has lived a happy and successful life. Russell during the third act does dip into a cliché territory but with everything that has happened throughout the film it's nice to see something campy. Russell approaches all characters in the film with a mental illness, at times it may seem like it's a natural thing and that we do it too but modern medicine has used these little things as a criteria for diagnosis. This film may feel different and lose it's accessibility if it was handled by a different director.
Masanobu Takayanagi is the cinematographer for this film. Takayanagi does a good job for this film, allowing the film to feel and look accessible which is essential in the film's uniqueness. Though David O. Russell has chosen a different DP for this film, it still has the same style as The Fighter; but without the television broadcast effect. The film is mostly shot hand-held allowing us to feel like we are standing or present near the characters allowing us to feel involved in the conversation and story. There are shots that I have noticed that Russell has used in The Fighter, though this is the second film I have seen from his it may be a trademark shot or scene that is common within his films.
Danny Elfman is a hard working composer, working on a number of films in the past few years. Elfman doesn't have a huge impact in this film because like The Fighter, Russell loves to use soundtracks in particular moments to enhance the scene. I did enjoy the fact that the music choices for the climax scenes matches the emotions of the characters during the film. Elfman may not have a huge impact in the film or at least his score is not as noticeable but when it does come on it works so well that it uplifts us or it haves us in tears. The use of the piano in the defining moment between Pat and Tiffany at the end or the uplifting guitars in the running scenes.
David O. Russell is an actor's director and is always able to bring out the best and unique performances from the actors in his films even if they are not leads. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper felt natural together and the chemistry was great. Both leads portray characters with mental illness was believable but at the same time, with Russell's direction, allowing to be accessible. De Niro, Weaver, and Tucker are so great. When they have their moments, it's converts you to believing that they are great actors, or in De Niro's case seeing that he still has it. It was also nice to see Julia Stiles in films as it has been a while for me that I have seen her.
Russell has made an excellent film to put in his resume and I think this film will definitely will stand the test of time. It is filled with great performances, supported by the awards that the film has won, and it has great direction from Russell. If it didn't have stiff competition with the ambitious films of 2012 then this may be the best film of that year.