Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper come together as a quirky, unlikely pair in the Golden Globe winning film, “Silver Linings Playbook” directed by David O Russell.
The movie begins with Pat Solitano (Cooper) being checked out from his eight-month stint at a mental hospital and moving in with his parents. His father, a superstitious bookie for the Philadelphia Eagles, wants his son to get back to ‘normal’ so that he can help get the team’s “juju”, or good luck on track. As the story unfolds, clues are revealed as to why Pat was institutionalized and his near future goals become apparent.
The tantalizing score of the song “My Cherie Amour” by legendary singer Stevie Wonder has become a trigger for Pat. A song that used to hold memories of his wedding day, now lights the fuse on his ticking-time-bomb temper having recently been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. Although it is unclear at first, the alternative memory that this song brings up for Pat is a particularly painful one and in fact was a contributing factor to what sent him barreling over the edge into an insane asylum.
Along his path to integrating back into society, Pat is introduced to Tiffany, a headstrong, outspoken character played by Jennifer Lawrence who promises to help reconnect Pat with his wife if he
returns a favor for her. Mental instability and lack of social tact bring Pat and Tiffany together as they work out their commitments to each other. The plot takes a turn and both characters end up satisfied- just not in the way they originally anticipated.
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence play convincing roles through the highs and lows of this film. Cooper, playing a character with severe mental illness, captures the raw moments which bi-polar disease can bring about. He finds himself in sudden rage and doesn’t know how to control his emotions or actions. At one point in the film, Pat is reading an Ernest Hemingway novel in order to stay on track with his ex-wife’s teaching syllabus. He thought that if he followed along her class schedule, she would be more likely to take him back. Pat finishes the book and becomes irate with the ending.
He closes the book, exclaims some lewd remarks and chucks the book out of his attic window onto the front lawn. From there he storms into his parents’ bedroom and awakens them while ranting about
his beliefs on the way Hemingway should have ended the book. Lawrence’s character, Tiffany, is living with a troubled conscious after her husband died while buying her lingerie in an attempt to spice up their sex life. She lets on that she is unaffected by the judgments people make of her. Tiffany battles her insecurities and with the help of Pat, ends up accomplishing a major feat.
This movie is perfect for a romantic comedy lover. The emotions are real and leave you rooting for the best match. The main message conveyed is that there is a little bit of crazy in all of us, but it is necessary to accept that in ourselves as well as in others. The trick to love is finding someone who compliments the crazy in you.
This article has edited to correct a misspelling in the headline.
