Trying to find the Silver Lining in this movie. It's just hard to find. It's one crazy movie. It was okay film.

Rating: 7/10 (29 July 2013)

My opinion on the film can be describe by one scene. I didn't know what to expect when I started watching this movie but when the credits end, I was like Bradley Cooper's character, Patrick Solitano after finishing the Ernest Hemingway's book 'Farewell to Arms'. I was wondering 'what the hell?' did I watched. I don't understand the big buzz about this film. For me it was just another higher so-so predictable romantic comedy film. The movie overall was kind of a turn off for me, personally. Maybe, it's the fact that I know bi-polars people, and I hate to watch films that trigger feelings about those people, or just that the fact, all the yelling and arguing in the film made me wonder why am I watching this as an 'escape from reality' film when people yell and argue way too much in real life. It really hard to get through the film with such disturbing scenes like Patrick looking for his wedding video, and where Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence) freaks out in front of the movie theater. Me, personally, I don't like movies that has too much yelling. It hurts my ears. The dramatic elements that were being displayed kinda left me more depressed than sympathetic. Don't watch the trailer by the way, gives out too much of the plot. After a stint in a mental institution, Pat moves back in with his parent's house and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more complex for him when Pat meets Tiffany. Like I said before, it's a romantic comedy so it's has a predictable like ending, but no way a chick flick. I really enjoy the director's work; David O. Russell. But the movie feels like three different movies mash into one. I felt the football theme and the ballroom dancing didn't mesh well with mental history as a background. It even look like a romantic comedy half way through the film, but seriously, they forgot about the characters' mental problems and it never gets resolve in the film. I was deeply disappointed. To get back to what Pat says about Hemingway's book, yes, it would be nicer to see stories that end with a happy ending, than tragedy. I glad the movie did have a happy ending, but still, I was left wondering how these two will keep a relationship going when its build upon mental issues, and a history of violence. It's like watching two mental people fall in love with each other without knowing if they will be OK. Most people, I know that has mental problems mixing with another person with mental problem end up with negative outcomes mostly in death or somebody getting hurt. The movie play it safe with a romantic ending. The film does captured the struggles of living with bi-polar. I love how the film shows the illness from the perspectives of those who live with them and those who interact with people affected. I can see Cooper in the role. I loved how he said rude things, but, he made it actually sound like he's just bipolar. I just couldn't get into the character of Tiffany. I know they were trying to make it seem like she was depress goth-head sex addict, but it didn't work out. She seem more like a stalker than anything. She follows Pat like a craze fan. Her character seem to be have more an Adjustment disorder then a normal depression. I just couldn't figure out what she was supposed to be. It was direction-less. Still, there was nothing in Lawrence performance that made me say, yeah, she really deserve that Best Actress win at the Oscars. Even Director Russell did not believe Lawrence was suitable for the role and her audition was only a formality at first. I have to agree with him. While, I do find her sexy and glad that she can handle a mature role. I felt it was mediocre at best. The chemistry between Cooper and Lawrence characters didn't make seem like they should even like each other. I was a little disturbed when I saw the age different between the actors. I did the math on Bradley and Lawrence ages, and while it does seem odd. I do love Robert De Niro as Pat's OCD over crazed Eagles football fan father. Still, it felt like I was watching Robert De Niro playing Robert De Niro. A darker, more extreme version was filmed and scenes were shot with De Niro's character being harsher. Glad, those scenes weren't used. I do have to say, another running gag was Pat's friend, Danny (Chris Tucker) trying to escape from the mental hospital. I have to say, this is one of the few movies with Chris Tucker where he wasn't annoying. So dark and sad, but so funny at the same time. The dialogue was clever, but seem forced. The movie was very different than the book written by Matthew Quick with the same name in that it was more rounded for broader audiences. The book took the more psychological route but was still heartwarming and comical. The end of the movie was totally different than the book, but I think it was done that way to achieve individuality from the book, in a way. The film has a subplot about gambling that is not in the novel, that the NFL didn't love. Notably, while Pat's condition is never specified in the novel, one can infer from both his narrative about his memories, and other events as they unfold, that he suffered from Traumatic Brain Injury. Overall: the movie is worth checking out, because it's entertaining, but if you feel uncomfortable about a film dealing with mental illness without really trying to solve it. Then check out another film. Just try to find a Silver Lining in the end.