The moment Katniss Everdeen shot that arrow whip-fast through an apple in a pigs mouth to get the Hunger Gamesmakers' attention, I kind of fell in love with Jennifer Lawrence. I've still yet to see her Oscar-nominated debut Winter's Bone, which is probably a bit embarrassing, but under the film's trailer on YouTube, 101 people have 'liked' in unison: 'I came here because of Katniss, I stayed because of Jennifer'.
She's the answer to everyone who is bugged by Kristen Stewart. She's strong but pretty, her look is bohemian-cum-californian but she's so fresh I can only categorise her as the cool. And she can nail a character like that shot to an apple. So accurate and clean there's no way in hell you'll forget this girl. (Don't forget she played the fiery Mystique in X-Men First Class). So when Silver Linings Playbook (SLP) came out in previews I had to see what character she was up to next.
SLP was first on the list in Entertainment Weekly's Oscar's buzz round-up in September. "Were any of you in the audience at Toronto International Film Festival premier of Silver Linings Playbook starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence?" Dave Kruger, began writing. "Well, the movie's writer-director, David O. Russell, would like you to see the film again – you were laughing too loudly."
Russell recalls thinking, "Bob De Niro had some big lines that weren't heard. In another moment they cheered and they missed the next five lines". That's because the dialogue churns out sharp one-liners and underlaid wit consistently. SLP is a rip-roaringly funny film that is also incredibly moving.
"This is what I believe to be true. You have to do everything you can and if you stay positive you have a shot at a silver lining."
Synopsis:
Set in a residential neighbourhood, Pat Solitano (Cooper) has just been discharged after 8 months in a mental institution and moves back with his parents. He's determined to reunite with his wife and in turn live a positive, happy life. Problem is, a restraining order is keeping him from speaking to her. Meanwhile his parents hilariously represent the dysfunctional or typical – depending on how you look at family – part. His father, Pat senior (Robert De Niro), is an American football bookie so obsessed with the Philadelphia Eagles that he's banned from attending games because of past brawls. His mother, Dolores (Jackie Weaver), is the tip-toeing wife who nods at her empathic husband and keeps the beers coming. Pat jogs and reads to find contentment, until he meets Tiffany (Lawrence), a strange sister of a best friend's wife, who's experiencing an unstable sense of loss herself – her husband died in an accident.
Though her hair is darker, her nails are painted black, her clothes are black and she dons a black beaded crucifix pendant, Lawrence is as bright and gripping as ever. Likewise, Cooper successfully shreds off the image of The Hangover and you can put your full faith in Pat. The pair work towards a dance competition and as unrealistic as this sounds, it actually fits in such a lovely way, you'll be rooting for them all the more.
If you've seen the SLP poster ignore The Sunday Times's label as "The best romantic comedy of the year", because calling it a rom-com is too basic and sluggish. You wouldn't brand The Artist as a rom-com would you? The genre name's been thrown around quite often with this movie but I can't settle on it. As Rolling Stone Magazine puts it, "Pain is the subtext of nearly every interaction in this film". Everyone can be a little insane at times, including Pat's dad's irrational sports superstitions and his best friend's fear towards his own wife.
It gets that life is complicated. So when two people find salvation in each other it's emotional, warming and yes still hilarious. What I will agree with is Silver Linings Playbook is up there with the best of 2012. It'll be so toxic – to the relief of director Russell – you too will need to watch it again.
