A unique and powerful love story

Rating: 8/10 (11 December 2014)

I don't normally watch romantic films as you know what's going to happen. Here, if you've watched the trailer or read a plot summary you haven't already seen the entire movie. It's just a drama about 2 troubled individuals and their resulting friendship, but it feels different, unique and moving. Silver Linings Playbook combines a lot of different elements: Mental illness, American Football, romance and comedy. It's a difficult mixture to get right and there are times when you're unsure whether you're meant to laugh or be moved. However, those moments are only sporadic and the elements blend together remarkably well. It's elevated by the acting: Bradley Cooper, after the disaster of The Hangover Part II, is extraordinary as Pat, although he's overshadowed by Jennifer Lawrence's awe inspiring Oscar winning performance. Even more satisfying is Robert De Niro giving maybe his only truly noteworthy performance since Heat. Every actor in the film does a good job overall.
With developed characters and strong dialogue the screenplay is finely written and goes to various extremes of its elements but manages to wrap up in a moving and believable conclusion. David O Russell makes a typical formula look far better visually than it would normally, and a best director Oscar may be on the cards in future for him. Inevitably it's quite a tough film at times and isn't the most original film out there but it's better than the overrated American Hustle. SLP is a very entertaining movie throughout its runtime and the acting and humanity of the script draws you in very quickly. It looks like it may be a fairly boring movie, but it's far more interesting than expected. Jennifer Lawrence is the star of the show, but Robert De Niro's return to form is great to watch. Sadly, he went and did Killing Season, Last Vegas and Grudge Match, but we'll always have Taxi Driver. Well deserving of its best picture nomination, this is a superior drama movie and it's not your average love story. That's a good thing though. Take this over The Proposal.
9/10