A great film.... Shoot for that Silver Lining

Rating: 9/10 (26 November 2012)

Silver Lining Playbook
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro
Synopsis: After losing his wife, house and job and spending eight months in a mental institution, former teacher Pat (Bradley Cooper) now trying desperate to prove to his wife and win her back that he has made a lot of changes in his life for the better. When Pat is introduced to Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) everything becomes more complicated as he finds her to be very mysterious and with equally as many problems as him.
Review: The film opens after the events of what brought Pat to be institutionalized and we're not given any answers to why, when or how from the beginning making him a hard character to like from the start although it is a story that follows Pat and not being given any time from him you quickly find a likable side to him, despite what's happened. Whilst trying to get in to shape and begin his life again with his family and trying to reach out for his estranged wife, Pat gets invited to a dinner with friends and meets Tiffany a recently widowed and mysterious woman. From anger management problems, OCD and a drive for perfection, being introduced to all the characters via Pat's eyes and drip fed information about their character traits and flaws you'll even start question what actually constitutes "crazy".
An unlikely pairing of characters between Tiffany and Pat does keep you intrigued as the story flows and as deeper truths are revealed and why they're helping each other to stay away from their own demons. A film like this with a talented cast from Jackie Weaver, Robert De Niro and Chris Tucker provide equally as interesting additional characters as the leads themselves. If you ever thought that Bradley Cooper or Jennifer Lawrence were not good at acting, I believe this film will prove you wrong. To star in a film playing a troubled character is a difficult task, however playing a trouble and likable character is almost impossible last seen portrayed well by Jack Nicholson in "One Flew over The Cuckoo's Nest". I don't think it's a film for everyone and not a typical comedy-drama at all.
Watch this if you liked: Lost in Translation, Shopgirl or Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist.
Verdict: Not a film for everyone I understand, however if you like a film that makes you think and keeps you entertained that's actually believable this is a film I'd strongly recommend.