‘Silver Linings Playbook’ examines troubled souls trying to deal with life

Pat (Bradley Cooper) is a good guy with good intentions, but he knows how to drive the people he loves most in life far, far away. We first meet him in Silver Linings Playbook in dire straits. He’s recently been released from a mental health institution (although whether he should have been discharged is still up for debate). He found himself in the court-ordered institution after attacking his wife’s lover when he found them in the shower together. Throughout the ordeal, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and now he’s facing a lonesome life with his parents. He lost his wife. He lost his job. He lost his ability to calm his friends’ nerves. He’s one furrowed brow away from an outburst.

One of the only silver linings for Pat is Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman who has separated herself from society because of a number of torrid love affairs she’s had with co-workers. The film portrays her as a broken spirit, someone who has given up on her dreams and ambitions. Instead, she lives with her parents and occasionally meets up with men trying to take advantage of her reputation.

Pat and Tiffany, seemingly incompatible with the rest of society, find solace with each other. But there’s a hook, and it’s a big one: Pat is still in love with his wife, and he wants to win her back. This obviously presents a predicament for Tiffany, who is falling in love with Pat, perhaps the only person who understands her problems.

Rober De Niro and Jacki Weaver play Pat’s parents. They love their son and support him as much as possible, but they grow frustrated with his antics. Pat Sr. (De Niro) has a deep feeling of guilt for Pat’s illness, and he throws his energy into a gambling racket run from the family’s living room. Dolores (Weaver) is a basket case of nerves, never knowing when her husband and son are going to erupt next.

All of these people circulate in a storm, and it’s quite interesting to watch their spiraling in and out of control. Mental illness is a serious topic, but David O. Russell’s script is heavy on the comedic elements. There’s something ironically engaging in a person kicked out of society and trying to get himself back in; we route for his success and simultaneously appreciate his freedom. Sometimes it seems like Pat is the one with the mental health issues, but other times it feels like society is the problem. This tug-of-war between the two extremes is what keeps Silver Linings Playbook so interesting.

What holds the movie back from perfection is a subplot involving a dance competition featuring Pat and Tiffany. This unconventional movie is thrown into a conventional rom-com framework, and everything and everyone doesn’t fit well into that model. Pat and Tiffany are too unusual to be subjected to typicality. The fireworks ending never robs the movie of its purpose, but it keeps the entire narrative away from perfection.

Cooper is brilliant in his nuanced role, and this is by far his best performance yet. Lawrence is probably giving the best performance of any lead actress this year. Watch her face and gestures throughout the movie; there’s a lot more to this Tiffany character than first meets the eye. Pat is more showy with his emotions and heartbreak, while Tiffany pushes them down deep. De Niro offers his best performance in years. Any number of these actors could win the Oscar.

Russell’s direction is smooth and economical. It’s fascinating to think of Russell’s range. How does the same person make The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook? The common thread appears to be carefully constructed tales of real people with real problems. Movie stars? There are no movie stars here.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Silver Linings Playbook

• 2012

• Written and directed by David O. Russell

• Based on the book by Matthew Quick

• Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Julia Stiles and John Ortiz

• Running time: 120 minutes

• Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity

• Rating: