"And if I say to you tomorrow, take my hand, child, come with me"

Rating: 8/10 (22 February 2013)

In that recent directors talk from the Hollywood Reporter, David O. Russell told his colleagues about the hard times as a director (and on a more personal level too with a divorce) he had after making THREE KINGS (1999) – he feels he "lost his own way" after that film and began to "overthink things trying to be too interesting, too particular nothing feels right, no project feels right". It was until THE FIGHER (2010) came, more than ten years later, that Russell felt he was doing what's he's best at; in the meantime between "Kings" and THE FIGHTER, Russell had more darkness -he did a film that was never finished, began having financial problems and couldn't get the money for his much wanted adaptation of the novel THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK- than light -he directed only one feature, 2004's I <3 HUCKABEES-.
For Russell, THE FIGHTER was, at first sight, too conventional, with a story that has been seen before. He is convinced that 10 years ago he would have let go THE FIGHTER or any similar project, but I imagine when his actual chance to direct that boxing film came he wasn't really in a position to refuse the job, saying to himself "why don't you try to do this really good? See if you can do this from the heart and mean it". The rest my friends is history – in my book, THE FIGHTER is a great one.
Following this success, Russell didn't waste time and only two years later he returned, doing finally the "Silver Linings" adaptation. He has repeated the success with tons of accolades, including the Oscar nomination for best picture (not to mention the four nominations for his cast). Good for him, as SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK may not be my favorite of the year but it doesn't disappoints.
Let's see, here we have a protagonist (Bradley Cooper) that suffers of bipolar disorder – it's definitely interesting and very well portrayed, with remarkable scenes that let us see what's like to live with someone who can be at times notably happy but at others extremely irritated by issues like finding a not-really-happy ending in a Ernest Hemingway book (!).
But let's make no mistake folks, as at core SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK features a story as conventional and rehashed as any dealing with the struggles of a sportsman. Russell insisted in doing "Silver Linings" because of his son, who suffers too of bipolar disorder. But I like to think that this director said once again to himself something like "Yes, I've seen hundreds of romantic flicks, with a guy who's wrong and doesn't sees who is the girl that truly loves him. Nevertheless, I'm doing the film and I'll try to do it *really good*".
As a matter of fact, of all the romantic comedies in recent memory, this ranks amongst the most memorable ones, just as THE FIGHTER as one of the best films about sport (and addiction too). The main reason why "Fighter" was a superb picture about yet another common issue like drug addiction is certainly the incredible performance of Christian Bale. Don't expect, however, to be blown away by the Oscar-nominated supporting cast of "Silver Linings". I'm really happy for Robert De Niro but he really doesn't do much as a hardcore Philadelphia Eagles fan; the same goes for Jacki Weaver – recently, she was a whole lot better in 2010's ANIMAL KINGDOM (she lost an Oscar for that performance to "Fighter"!).
Nobody "stole" the show from the main couple (Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence) – Cooper doesn't look anymore like a spoiled dude, giving the performance of his life so far, and Lawrence is really sweet as the classic girl who has to be the friend and adviser of a guy who can't move on from a failed relationship. Arguably, when you have a formulaic story the thing has to be about those details and unique elements. "Silver Linings" is rich in those: like I said, we have the bipolar issue (look for a great temperamental scene of Cooper set to Led Zeppelin's "What Is And What Should Never Bee"!), and another look from Russell to the sports world (from the fan perspective this time) – definitely anyone who knows a real fanatic of any sport will connect as here football, for De Niro especially, ain't any sort of entertainment but really a way of life and of making (and losing) money.
You know you're watching a worthy film when its key scene, the one that sets the tone of the conclusion, mixes all of the elements to create a unique, crazy and memorable thing. Football, superstition, therapy, everything is there to clearly expose that Jennifer Lawrence is the right girl for Cooper. Hell, at the dance that represents their soon-to-be great love, they dance and jump and go crazy to the White Stripes' "Fell In Love With A Girl"! What's not to like?
*Watched it on 10 February, 2013