"Silver Linings Playbook" is one of the craziest,
funniest, and, at the same time, one of the most intelligent and
touching movies I've seen in a long time. All the way through the film,
I rooted for the characters, as one or more of them skirt the
edge in imminent danger of going over and having to go to prison or
into a mental health facility. Although I wanted them to succeed in
spite of the odds against them, in their out-of-control moments, I
wondered if a couple of them truly were too dangerous to be loose on
the streets. The mental health challenges included bipolar disorder, sex addiction, and OCD. The suspense as to whether the characters in the film would continue to roam free kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end. The poignant thread which weaves through the story, of the wounded helping the wounded to heal, moved me greatly.
The movie was nominated for and won many awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actress to Jennifer Lawrence for her excellent performance as Tiffany. Bradley Cooper, as Pat, skillfully navigates his way through the bipolar character's rapid personality changes, and Robert De Niro shines in his portrayal of Pat's obsessive-compulsive disordered father. Pat's mother Dolores (Jacki Weaver), the loving and compassionate enabler to the eccentric family members, plays her role often wide-eyed, shocked, and stricken by the mayhem around her. All the characters endeared themselves to me in their own wonderful ways. I applaud all involved in making the marvelous film.
