Silver Linings Playbook
Silver Linings Playbook may not be the first film about falling in love with someone who is mentally unstable ,but
at least it steers clear of the common theme of a character falling for someone who is mentally unstable,and they
write them off as being a little eccentric or a free spirit.Then the nervous breakdown comes,and suddenly the character
is dumbfounded,meets his new lovers family who informs him/her that the love of his/her life has been in and out of
psychiatric institutions for years.
Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper in one of his best roles) is checked out of the psych ward by his loving mom (the great
Jacki Weaver) where he has been after assaulting his wife's lover.Pat is diagnosed as bipolar.He soon meets the newly widowed
Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) through his caving under the pressures of life friend Ronnie(John Ortiz) and Tiffany's
controlling sister Veronica (Julia Stiles). Pat is obssesed with regaining his wife's favor,and Tiffany says she can
help by being a mediator/messenger for him,but only if he agrees to be her partner in a dance competition.
There is a natural and true feel in many scenes in SLP. Losing a loved one especially a spouse can definitely
lead to a widow/widower to become sexually promiscuous,trying to fill a sudden void in their lives and Lawrence
tackles this persona with such ease she's a joy to watch and she's just a natural magnetic big screen presence
Also when Pat and Tiffany discuss the various medications they have taken,how a mental breakdown can come out of nowhere,
and can be downright scary and trying and frustrating experience for family members.The latter is wonderfully acted and displayed by
Robert De Niro as Pat's Philadelphia Eagles obssesed father.This is the liveliest Deniro has been on the big screen in years.
At times the comedy mixed with the serious subject matter doesnt work,and the script has some contrived moments here and there
and some familiar rom-com themes slip in.
In the end i applaud SLP for it's great ensemble cast which includes Chris Tucker as Pat's friend and fellow patient Danny,
for not conforming to the aforementioned theme,and its true view of mental illness.
Scale of 1-10 an 8
Thin Ice
A slow pace builds up to a great payoff
Scale of 1-10 an 8
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2
It is truely shocking how bad the SFX where in this film.This franchise has made 3 billion dollars and they couldnt do better than this
off putting CGI?!? The final showdown was good and gory but then i felt like i was slapped in the face when the showdown ended.
This film series has definitely just been for die hard and swooning Twilight fans.
Scale of 1-10 a 3