'SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK'

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK' (R) (4 STARS) (Highest Rating)

Written by David O. Russell based on the novel by Matthew Quick
Directed by David O. Russell
Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert Deniro, Jackie Weaver, Chris Tucker, Julia Stiles

Sometimes a movie will come along that personally touches you like no movie has ever done. It affects you deeply and you also unfortunately know that some might be put off by the movie and will find it difficult to watch. "Silver Linings Playbook" is that type of movie and I hope people love it as much as I do. It is so accurate to real life and it's problems and it's not a cookie cutter type Hollywood entertainment. There are real emotions that the characters deal with in this movie that reflects real people now. It is one of the most powerfully touching movies of this year and that I have seen in a long time. This is a movie that will sneak up on you and surprise you.

"Silver Linings Playbook" is based on a novel and written and directed by the very talented David O.Russell". It stars Bradley Cooper as Pat who has just left the hospital and is picked up by his mother Dolores. Pat was treated for having a nervous breakdown after catching his wife cheating on him. He is also diagnosed as being bipolar. There are little things that affect him and trigger his emotions releasing angry outbursts. He is trying to get his feelings in check, going to a therapist and trying to get closer to his parents again.

In Pat's life comes a woman who is getting over the death of her husband and is coming over to a dinner party hosted by Pat's friend. Her name is Tiffany and there is kind of a twisted love at first sight meeting bewtween the two. This dinner scene is perfectly acted and written and starts the movie off with a bang. Tiffany has also gone through tangled emotions in her life and has been fired from her job after she slept with everyone at work. These are two damaged souls who strike up a very interesting relationship at first. We think that they would be great together but their emotional problems will make this very hard. We also see that Pat and his father are not seeing eye to eye. Add to that the father's crazy, loyal and obsessive dedication as a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Tiffany also wants Pat to be her dance partner in a dance contest that will give her focus and a sense of accomplishment.

"Silver Linings Playbook" is a hard movie to define but all I know is that after it all ended I felt a deep connection to it. This is a very well written and perceptive movie about family, getting control of your life and emotions and football. There have been many movies about mental health issues but this one is under stated, real and powerful. Many other movies dealing with these issues are usually over written, cloying and wind up in a Hollywood ending. This is a very hard movie to embrace because it is so real and upfront about it's subject. Though I also think it is very funny, hilarious in spots and highly entertaining and fun at the same time. It is a movie that is messy like real life even making it more realistic and it also earns it's ending.

The performances here are also special and Bradley Cooper gives the best performance of his career so far. It is a tough role to play but Cooper nails it, never over doing the scenes where he has angry outbursts. He makes us like this very hard to like character. Jennifer Lawrence is amazing, funny and powerful here and her performance is the glue that holds this movie together as does her character. This is one of the most emotionally honest female characters I have ever seen in a movie and Lawrence is incredible giving the best performance by an actress this year. It is also a tough role to nail down but Lawrence is flawless here. Also Jackie Weaver and Robert Deniro give great support as Pat's parents. This is a return to great acting by Deniro not seen by him since "This Boy's Life" in 1993. He finally gets a role that suits him after such a long time dealing with bad movies and weak roles.

"Silver Linings Playbook" feels real and takes place in a realistically defined World. The movie is filled with great supporting characters acted by great character actors including Chris Tucker, returning after a long absence with a quiet, subtle role this time. The movie is hard to love and it might look like it will be a depressing and sad movie. I think people can fall in love with this movie though. It is not and to me it is a very life affirming, uplifting and beautifully written movie that is also a lot of fun and hilarious at times. Writer/Director David O'Russell is one of our best writers in movies today and this is another winner following his great, Oscar nominated "The Fighter". Though "Silver Linings Playbook" is his best and most powerful movie since his anti war masterpiece "Three Kings".

There are so many powerful and soon to be classic scenes in this movie that are some of the best scenes out of any movie this year. There is a wonderful, crazy and hilarious scene in Pat's home as Pat's father, mother, brother and even Tiffany get involved in a crazy bet involving the Philadelphia Eagles and Tiffany and Pat's dance contest. The scene has brilliant and funny dialogue and the actors especially Lawrence nail all the dialogue perfectly. Lawrence takes over this scene and many other scenes backing up my opinion that she gives the best performance by any actress this year. I also love a touching and powerful talk between Pat and his father Pat Sr. which is one of the most emotionally honest scenes I have ever seen between a father and son in a movie. This is Deniro at his very best and affirms the great acting done by Bradley Cooper proving that he is a very fine actor and should be taken seriously.

"Silver Linings Playbook" is one of the most refreshing movies of the year. It is funny, touching, powerful and emotionally honest. I am very much an anti therapy and anti prescription medicine guy. I love how this movie stresses that emotional problems can not be fixed if the person with the problems can't even help himself first. This is a movie that touched me deeply and made me laugh a lot and cry a few times. I love all these characters who grew on me and who I will never forget. At the center is my favorite female character and performance I have experienced in quite a long time and Pat who is a character that I can identify with. Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Deniro and Jackie Weaver are incredible and I grew to love Pat and Tiffany and their faults and quirks. It is a movie that will make you laugh, cry and realize that we are all not perfect and that everybody needs help. This is a wonderful and life affirming movie and it will stay with me for a very long time.