Film Review: 'Silver Linings Playbook' brings out the fun in dys'fun'ction

Film: Silver Linings Playbook
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher
Director: David O Russell
Rating - ***1/2

There is certain madness in each one of us. It isn’t healthy to contain that madness at all times. When you let go, you see the silver lining behind that dark cloud. That’s what David O Russell’s quirky drama about two individuals – Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) dealing with their own situation in the most unexpected way is all about.

Desperate to win back his ex-wife, Pat an ex patient in a mental rehabilitation centre has a chance encounter with Tiffany who decides to help him achieve his goal through a series of letters. But she too is battling her own demons. Losing her husband to a car accident wasn’t easy, with the entire block labeling her as a ‘slut’ for using sex as a mechanism to confront her trauma. There is an excellent supporting cast with characters who don’t just stand on the periphery but get involved and bring out the textures and colors of Pat and Tiffany’s lunatic yet seemingly balanced relationship. Robert De Niro, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher all have important roles in taking this story ahead in their own impeccable ways.

Even though there is enough material to make this a serious drama, at the heart of it Silver Linings Playbook is an unabashed love story.  The dialogues and screenplay are crisp, never seeming gimmicky or too forced. Performances of the lead pair gives the film wings taking it places perhaps another ensemble would have failed. Jennifer Lawrence has had a 100 percent strike rate at every mainstream award function picking up accolades for her role, and rightfully she is the leading contender at the Oscars later this week. Her portrayal of Tiffany not only has soul but enough depth to draw and make you a part of her inner struggle. Bradley Cooper breaks out of his shell, pushing himself and giving a stripped-down performance.

There are flaws, notably the middle which seemingly drags under the weight of too much dialogue and interplay between Pat and his family. Also, we don’t get to know  enough about Tiffany apart from the fact that she has lost her husband and has been a social outcast ever since then. Maybe a bit of a back story on her would have helped.

If you want to watch engaging conversations between richly drawn character set against an unconventional backdrop with outstanding performances from the lead, then Silver Linings Playbook is your ticket at the movies this weekend.