Interesting Reviews on Silver Linings Playbook

     I have this problem as a person who likes movies, where I get really self-conscious about my preferences very quickly. If someone disagrees with me on a film, especially someone who actually knows what they are talking about and is not an eighteen year-old little kid who can barely put her opinions on the internet without dissolving into a puddle of nerves, I honestly get very insecure very quickly. Especially because talking about movies is something that I really like to do... I kind of want to make it my career one day. Idiotic and overly-ambitious as that feels to me. I could never!

     Therefore, I generally try to avoid other reviews of films in general. Because if that person's opinion differs from mine, I get anxiety. This is not the time or place to talk about my strange in-between anxiety where it's worse than the average person's but not bad enough to actual seek some help with it (or maybe it is, considering the film in question is about mental illness?! To be clear, I didn't realize I had brought up my own mental skews within a post about mental skews until I was revising it...), but just know, I really don't want to read about negative reviews regarding Silver Linings Playbook. This is due to the fact that I liked and have already recommended it to a few friends... But here's the thing: I don't know very much about mental illness. I do not have a mental illness. No one really close to me in my personal life suffers from a mental illness to the degree addressed in this movie. And, shameful as it is to admit, every time I have been confronted with a problem revolving around mental illness, I have no idea what to do and surrender that person to someone who can help them more than I. I'm a useless friend when it comes down to it, and somehow that leads me to this conclusion: I think it's worth reading a lot of different reviews on Silver Linings Playbook. So I tried my best to find some gems through the Google search bar, and here lie my findings.

Let's play Pro-Con-Con-Pro. I'll start with a positive review, follow with two critiques, and to end on a positive note, we'll examine another instance in which the reviewer has some nice things to say.

( Top Photo from FanPop.com)

     My favorite positive review I've read so far about this film is one by arizonagirldiary on Tumblr, specifically because she can give the point of view I never can. She has appropriately titled her post, "A Bipolar Film From a Bipolar." Here's a little sneak peak: 

[About Excelsior]: "Not such a bad coping skill for the ups and downs of bipolar. His struggle, and resistance, to the idea of a life sentence of meds to level his ups and downs is painfully familiar and a common rite of passage for the newly diagnosed.

[...] Tiffany saves Pat. Pat saves Tiffany. This was as realistic of a scene of two mentally ill people trying to find a way to each other in cinema that I’ve seen. They’re fresh, modern, and believable as they ride their own individual roller coasters and collide with the challenges of mental illness, mixed in with the many other complexities of falling in love.

The ending is disappointing, formulaic, and predictable. But the characters, stories, and excellent film score (My Cherie Amour—Pat’s trigger; Girl from the North Country; and the pensive Maria from West Side Story) is worth an overpriced theater ticket. If you are bipolar—it’s a must see. If you have a bipolar in your life—go see and try to understand. Although just like in real life, some will and some won’t get it. In my own “n” population size of two—one got it and one did not. Just like in real life."

      This post is very personal in nature, and I like that it is an amateur review, much like mine are on this blog. It's just a girl blogging about a movie. Because of this, the review certainly provides a very interesting viewpoint; one that is kind of perfect, in my opinion.

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE:

http://arizonagirldiary.tumblr.com/post/38196927556/a-bipolar-film-review-from-a-bipolar

(Photo from Fanpop.com)

    

     And here's a negative review, mainly critiquing David O. Russell's change in filmmaking, and the "lazy writing" in the construction of the story and the characters themselves. The writer, Calum Marsh, claims that this film has a multitude of flaws that are ignored, because they are attributed to the 'quirky' nature of the director. Though I do not necessarily agree with the review as a whole, I quite like this passage:

"That the star-crossed love story at the center of the film is drawn between two characters defined by their respective mental illnesses is clearly its high-concept selling point, and insofar as it single-handedly transforms an otherwise entirely conventional screwball-comedy pairing into something at least marginally novel, if not exactly original, the setup alone qualifies as quintessential Russellian quirk in action.

The brand of safe, marketable mental illness brandished by the screenplay as a dramatically meaty "issue"—the kind that affects the well-being of attractive individuals without significantly reducing their attractiveness to us except in a superficial, "fixable" way—furnishes Silver Linings Playbook with the requisite passive liberalism of any well-meaning prestige picture, making it "about" something meaningful without it having to put in the work of actually meaning anything."

      It is definitely valid to speculate that this film appears to get into the grits of mental illness without actually dealing with the consistency and unfixable nature of the problem (the main reason I love the ending of Black Snake Moan, a film, in part, about a couple's struggle with anxiety and sex addiction. Sidenote: please God don't judge a book by its cover when it comes to that movie. Whoever was in charge of marketing made it look like a porno). At the end of the movie, everything is silver linings; Pat's hallucinations are gone, Tiffany's unnamed illness seems cured, everything is beautiful and nothing hurts. I can imagine that living with a mental illness, especially one so prevalent as to send a person into a psychiatric hospital less than a year ago, is a daily struggle. On the other hand, maybe David O. Russell just wanted a happy ending for his characters, though perhaps only for the time being. Maybe he wanted to show that it is possible for families to have blissfully happy times in spite of their many hardships.

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE:

http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/silver-linings-playbook/6677

(Photos from MyDailyNews.com and BlackActors.net)

     I quite like the review I'm about to introduce, though it is a negative one. It is a well-put together article with a lot of excellent points! One of my main praises for Silver Linings Playbook was that it could help us talk more about mental illness, and so I'm very open and interested in this discussion. I like L.V. Anderson's take on the matter; the filmmakers could have gone deeper with their representation and analysis of mental illness. At the same time, it could have made for a much more dramatic movie. But perhaps that is what's really needed when you're going to take on this topic. Also, I love the title of this review: "Is Silver Linings Playbook Really A Movie About Mental Illness?"

"Russell doesn’t seem particularly interested in the question of what distinguishes a person’s mental illness from his or her personality, or the question of whether medication is as effective a treatment for bipolar disorder as a pretty girl and a dance competition. Russell doesn’t highlight whether or not Pat is medicated at any given time in the film’s narrative. Though we hear Pat complain of lithium’s side effects—sluggishness, weight gain—early in the film, we don’t see him actually experience any of these side effects once he starts taking his meds.

[...] Tiffany can only win Pat by lying to him repeatedly about the goal of their dance sessions—but is nonetheless presented as a perfect romantic partner for him at the end of the film, implicitly because of her own, unnamed illness. (Silver Linings Playbook falls into the annoying trope of implying that mentally ill people can only truly be understood by other mentally ill people, the details of their respective illnesses be damned.)

[...] As messages about mental illness go, this is a sloppy one." 

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/11/29/silver_linings_playbook_mental_illness_movie_not_really.html

(Photo from Popmatters.com)

     Finally, we end with a reviewer who found Silver Linings Playbook to be "hugely enjoyable." This review by Philip French praises both the writer/director and the actors for their work on this project. He acknowledges that Jennifer Lawrence's character is a popular one in Hollywood, but the actress's performance is what gives her depth and sets this movie out from the rest. Though ending with a slight criticism of the movie, I like this overview of the film as a whole:  

"The great strength of Russell's writing and direction resides in the way he consistently manages to retain a comic tone without losing touch with the characters' pains and anxieties. There are numerous scenes that in other hands would be as excruciatingly embarrassing on the screen as they would be in real life: a row in a diner, for instance, that spills out into the street on Halloween night and involves a crowd in fancy dress outside a cinema. But Russell involves us so closely in what we're watching that we become emotional participants. And that's because he cares for these people in a wholly unpatronising fashion."

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/nov/25/silver-linings-playbook-review

 (Photo from zimbio.com)

And there you have it! The search for differing opinions actually turned out to be a lot easier than I expected it to be. After a little bit of searching, I started to get used to it. I started to get comfortable in the insecurity of my own thoughts, and in a way, it was a really positive experience. I don't think I was wrong in my review. But I feel like my opinion on the film has extended, into something that now bears multiple dimensions. At the same time, I'm really glad I already got to express my initial thoughts on the movie, without the influence of other reviewers, because it was my honest opinion. I think if I were to read other reviews before I made my own, I would feel this need to "correct" my own opinions, because of those anxieties and insecurities I have. Which is wrong!! That is not something I want for myself, at all. And somehow, even after facing other opinions, I'm still proud of the thoughts in my original review, and I don't take any of it back (:

The point of this post is not to tear down the film I raved about a few posts ago, but to point out that even the things we enjoy are not beyond criticism. Nothing is flawless. And it is possible to acknowledge the faults of a piece of work without disliking it altogether. Overall, I still think Silver Linings Playbook is a great movie! And I hope the actors in this film get the recognition they deserve in this upcoming award season. The outlook certainly looks promising on that front!  Whether the reviews above sway your opinion or not, I hope you at the very least keep an open mind while reading them. I'm doing my best not to fear a difference of opinion. And if I can do it, trust me, you certainly can too.

♥ Happy Watching ♥

Silver Linings Playbook

      According to IMDB, Silver Linings Playbook is about: "Life doesn't always go according to plan. Pat Solatano has lost everything - his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother and father after spending eight months in a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat's parents want is for him to get back on his feet - and to share their family's obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he'll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives." Written by The Weinstein Company.

    

     It should come as no shock when I say that this movie is amazing. True, I spent more time thinking than feeling, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. And it's not the film's fault at all; this movie was shot beautifully, with emotionally-charged musical moments and slow-motion sequences that made my heart swell. But perhaps knowing you're going to be writing about a movie and thinking of all its possible implications makes it difficult to fully get into. When you're trying to gauge the quality of a performance, the underlying meanings of every line, and the weaving in-and-out of social issues, it's kind of rough.

     But I think that compliments my number one mantra in life: Low Expectations. In Silver Linings Playbook, Bradley Cooper's character is all about Excelsior. And I'm all about the power of minimized expectations. I've been way too excited about this movie for way too long, physically unable to get my ass to a movie theater. So I think it's safe to say that my expectations were too high for this film, only because they were too far into the stratosphere for anyone to see. While I wasn't emotionally impacted by this movie, I know it was incredible. I KNOW it, from an intellectual and observational standpoint. So keep that in mind (bud-um-ching). Besides, my mother was full of enough warm fuzzies for the both of us.

(Photo from jenniferlawrencedaily.com)

     I am in love with this movie visually. The colors in combination with the high aperture and surprising camera choices made the film really fun to watch. Some of my favorite scenes coupled the traditional, but exceptionally wonderful and romantic and soft music pieces with these insanely quick camera zooms that shouldn't have fit at all... and yet they did. This movie is a mismatched heaven. Like the contrast of Stevie Wonder's "Ma Cherie Amour" and beating the living shit out of someone. It's all in the juxtaposition. And at times, soft music paired itself with tender moments that complimented each other as expected. My favorite of these sequences was the dancing bit with "Girl from North Country" by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Too in love with that song to not. Also, visual goodies to look out for: Jennifer Lawrence's dark style and what I perceive to be a very New England color scheme. What I'm trying to say is, this film is an aesthetic goddess.

     
     The performances in this movie, also not surprisingly, were incredible! Every actor brought their A-game, and each made choices that distinctly separated each character's personality. Though each performance matched in quality, none of them were similar. Jacki Weaver was timid and loving, only just barely keeping herself from shattering under the weight of her family's own dysfunction. But she was more than the mother who cries in the background... she held her own. Bradley Cooper played his role without pity for his character's condition (thank god) and just enough delusion to remain believable. He wasn't a gimmick, and was able to openly weep and resist the urge to explode and babble about the hopeless cause that was once his marriage without going over the top. Pat was a multi-faceted person. Which is what I love about the characters in this film-- they feel like real people. 

     And that is specifically why I think Jennifer Lawrence did amazingly in this movie. She was perfect; she spent a good portion of the movie in a fit of immature screaming, but it was so complimentary of who her character was. It was screaming like that of a little girl. She was confusing and chaotic and damaged in a way that was so opposite of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. The credit for that one goes to the writers and her. And I'm so incredibly thankful for that, because I feel like her character could have so easily been a tool to peel back the layers of Bradley Cooper's character, one who heals him and makes him appreciate the joys of life, instead of a fully-developed woman herself. But she was. And Jennifer Lawrence did everything wonderfully, with her performance exuding equal parts comedy and tragedy.

     I'd say my favorite performance from the film was definitely Robert De Niro, though. His character really took me by surprise. I thought he was just there to be the father, to be heartbroken by his son's illness and expecting Pat to get better too quickly. But his character was so much more than that. Robert De Niro's role honestly made the movie for me. Its existence added a million and one dimensions to the film, and I think it wouldn't have been half the movie it was without Robert De Niro. He was absolutely stunning. But I'm sure that doesn't come as a shock to anyone.

(Photo from blackfilm.com)

     Which leads me into my next point: I found this film's approach to mental illness incredibly interesting. I think it explored the many layers that come with such a sensitive topic, which only added to the realness of it all. Each character brought up a different assertion about mental illness in our society. Jacki Weaver personified that feeling of not knowing how to handle your love one's mood disorder, even at times pretending it doesn't exist in an effort to achieve normality. And there were so many people that couldn't disguise their fear to even be in the same vicinity as Pat. Which isn't unwarranted; he almost killed a man. But I think the intertwining of these character attributes represent very common opinions in regard to mental illness, the fear of what we don't understand and cannot predict. But, I do feel that John Ortiz's character represents that part in us that practices violent behavior, how that fucked up tendency can be within everyone, even those who are considered to be "normal." So there's a quality that can be related to, and empathy to clearly be had by the viewer.

Robert De Niro's character evoked a lot of really fascinating topics in my opinion, especially how one generation treats mental illness vs. the next. When Bradley Cooper's character snaps and beats the shit out of someone, he's sent to a mental facility, and yet in his father's day, he could get kicked out of Eagle's stadium for getting into numerous fistfights without such consequences. His father is allowed to get away with practicing completely irrational superstitions without being corrected. He is clearly not in the most balanced state of mind, and yet everyone is willing to play along for him. No one tries to correct the father's mental issues, but Pat isn't allowed to go on so much as a run without harassment. 

      I think the placement of Robert De Niro's character (and Jennifer Lawrence's character, Tiffany, who I'll get to in a second) opposite of Bradley Cooper's character also really touches on the idea that some mental disorders are a lot more accepted by our culture than others. Oh, you have completely incoherent superstitions, bet thousands of dollars based on these nonsensical ideas, and blame the loss of an entire football team on one girl? Go for it! You like to blast Metallica and break the things in your garage to let off steam? It's a secret; no need to stop you! You feel the need to control every aspect of your life to a frightening degree? Well, that's your business. There are certain unhealthy practices that we as a society accept. And yet when it is labelled a mental illness, there is an incredible amount of shame and superiority involved. It can be seen from Pat's return home, and the first thing he sees is his portrait, on the floor below his brother's. It can be seen in the way that a kid thinks he has the right to show up and videotape someone he believes to be having a 'psychotic episode.' It can be seen when everyone warns Pat to stay away from Tiffany as though she is contagious and of no worth because she 'goes to a lot of therapy.' Even Pat does it, completely rejecting Tiffany and viewing himself as superior when her coping mechanism involves a string of promiscuity.

     Of course, such a moment has sexist implications as well. Many in our society see promiscuity as a bad thing. But this movie doesn't slut-shame! In fact, it dealt with the issue surprisingly well in my opinion. It recognized that some women have a lot of sex because they want to and its their bodies to do what they please with, while also acknowledging that Tiffany specifically is doing so as a means of unhealthily coping with her depression. There's this scene where a creep shows up at Tiffany's door, and I love what Bradley Cooper's character says to him. It's something along the lines of, "there's a time when this is okay, and then there's a time when someone's got a broken wing to be mended. And hers is being fixed." So there's an acknowledgment there that it is totally okay for woman to have casual sex, but there are also instances where a broken person is doing it in an attempt, an ultimately unsuccessful attempt, to fix themselves.

     Also, there's a really lovely part where Pat calls Tiffany a slut and she just yells at him (I can't quote okay I saw the movie a few hours ago but I'm doing my best), "Yeah! I was a big slut, but I'm not anymore and you know what, I accept and love that part of myself. Do you?!" Tiffany calls Pat out multiple times when he treats her as lesser for her promiscuity, which I think are important moments for both woman and people of mental illness: there should be no feeling of superiority or shame when it comes to the different levels "crazy," and yet everyone acts as though there is. As though some are lesser because of their mood disorders. I think in this film, the shame that comes with mental disorders, and the insensitivity or inability to understand of those without diagnosed illnesses are very relevant to our culture.  

     I know this is a big block of text, but beyond the obviously great performances and stylistic godliness, I am so glad for this film to get more and more recognition because I think it could be a window into the way we see mental illness! Even though I've read an article saying it unintentionally insults those with mental disorders, at least it may get us talking! (I however, don't see any offenses... but then again, I don't have a mental illness. Tell me what you think?)

SO GO SEE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK! PLEASE!

 (Photo from thealtantic.com)

Reasons I'm Still Excited About 2012

     Despite the fact that the year already feels as though it is drawing to a close, there are still many movies that I am excited to see! Many films are being released just in time for Academy-consideration deadlines, and perhaps the awards season will even be interesting this year. Some won't be considered, some will, some wouldn't touch the Academy with a five-foot pole. I don't really care. The point is: you should still be excited for the year 2012, because it ain't over. Film-wise, we're coming up on spring's full bloom. I think, if I let myself get away with it, I will be spending a fair amount of money on cinema tickets before year's end. And considering I'll be in college among people I've never met, I'll probably be taking trips to the theater alone. Haha!

End of Watch. Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick.
In theaters: September 28, 2012.
I am actually... completely... beyond STOKED for this movie to come out. I have seen the trailer three times in the cinema, most recently when my mother and I went to see The Words. And the ending of the trailer about gave me a heart attack. The seconds of black screen after its ending allowed me to hear the unmistakable thumping in my chest, and process the adrenaline rushing to and from my brain. A few minutes of preview clips-- no,  basically just from 2:01 on-- left me with an intense emotional reaction... I wonder what two hours will do.



Silver Linings Playbook. Starring: Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.
In theaters: November 21, 2012.
I AM SO EXCITED to see this film. Seriously. I wasn't too keen on it until I heard about the incredible feedback Jennifer Lawrence has been getting. I mean, mid-film applause? How can you not be amped to see a performance that sparks that kind of reaction?! I'm a big fan of Jennifer Lawrence, as both a flawlessly real person, and as an actress. In addition, Silver Linings Playbook won the People's Choice Award at TIFF. And this clip, for whatever reason, intrigues me to no end and I just keep watching it over and over.

Django Unchained. Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo Dicaprio.
In theaters: December 25, 2012.
If you didn't know, my favorite movie is Inglourious Basterds. And I went through a mighty Tarantino phase during my junior year of high school. This is the first of his films to release since I dubbed myself a Quentin Tarantino fan, and I am pretty much over the moon about it. The cast is flawless, the story is hopefully going to be another pleasing story of vengeance, and I love the musical choices of the trailer... Starting with Johnny Cash, and then the second song has such a classic Tarantino feel to it... Merry Christmas to me. It's the first since Sally Menke's death, and I hope, somehow, this movie makes her proud.


 

Smashed. Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul.
In theaters: October 12, 2012.

I don't really know very much about this movie, and thus I'm not sure what to make of it. It may be very preachy and weird about life post-alcohol, post-partying, post-conventional 2012 "fun." Or maybe it will be a very honest look into what alcoholism is really like. Either way, the cast makes me too excited to not give this film a chance. The acting should be brilliant, no matter the subject. And I think I'm going to really enjoy the camerawork... I certainly like the way it moves in this trailer.

Deadfall. Starring: Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde.
In theaters: December 7, 2012.
I've always felt that Olivia Wilde has a lot of silver screen potential, but just has yet to land the right role. She was unbelievable as Thirteen in House M.D.! And so I'm really rooting for her, and for this movie. It may not turn out to be much, but the trailer promises some good performances and some high-adrenaline thrills. Can't say I'm going to spend the money on theater tickets, but I am stoked to see it eventually!



  The Hobbit. Starring: Martin Freeman (!!!!), Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett.
In theaters: December 14, 2012.
My best friend and I are very big fans of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy. We were also, at one point, very much into Sherlock on BBC. So, when we heard that Martin Freeman was pretty much about to get the biggest break of his life, we were beside ourselves. It's a dream! And though I haven't read the book, I'm very interested in the story. The only fears I have about this film are the visual aspects; I find too much CGI in a movie to be very distracting. When the setting is very obviously surreal, it's difficult for me to focus on anything that is happening in the flesh. It's something to worry about, surely, but not enough to skip the midnight premiere!! Fingers crossed that both my best friend and I will be able to go... One of my final exams for the quarter is the next morning... 

 

Seven Psychopaths. Starring: Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken.
In theaters: October 12, 2012.
To quote the top comment on YouTube, "This movie better be as amazing as it looks or I'll be so pissed."



Rise of the Guardians. Starring: Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman.
In theaters: November 21, 2012.
Though I'm not 100% committed to putting forth the money for cinema tickets on this one, I'm a sucker for a multi-dimensional animated movie. Ones that aren't straight-out comedies, ones that seem to have backbone. The voice cast is very impressive, and Dreamworks is due for another one of their well-composed kids' films. Though I am still afraid of the main character, considering he looks like the ANIMATED INCARNATION OF KING JOFFREY (gif found here), I think it will at the very least be an amusing watch. We shall see!



On the Road. Starring: Kristen Stewart, Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley.
In theaters: December 21, 2012 (Limited).
Somehow, this fall, I will find the time to read the book this film is based on: On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I think the concept behind it has such an "American Dream" quality to it. And I want that literary essence to fill me up before I let the film do the same. Despite its lower-than-hoped rating on IMDB, I am still allowing myself optimism when it comes to this movie. I am a big supporter of Kristen Stewart as a person, though I'm not always sure about her acting. Plus Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, a fair bit of musical sequences, and a promising amount of true-to-the-book voiceovers? I'm in. Whenever you decide to wide-release, I'm here for you.