Should I Check This Out - Silver Linings Playbook

Following an unlucky Oscars (although receiving much love from the Golden Globes and BAFTAs) for David O. Russell's American Hustle, I turn my attention another one of his other films that was adored by the awards, Silver Linings Playbook. Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver (all of whom were Oscar nominated) I look to see if the film that has been described as playing 'mental illness for laughs' is worth seeing.

At first, I was unsure about how far the comedic elements of the film will go as it follows Cooper's Pat who has returned home having been diagnosed with bipolar, following a violent incident where he caught his wife in the shower with one of his colleagues. Now home and feeling better about himself, he hopes to return to his wife despite a restraining order. While his parents confront the situation, aware that it's probably best to try and move on, Pat is determined to show her how he has changed and makes that his goal. As seen in O. Russell's previous film The Fighter, family plays a huge element throughout the story, and he shows that he really is one of the best directors around when it comes to balancing what would-be director, the late Sydney Pollack described as emotional, troubling, funny and romantic content together.

Just as he succeeded with The Fighter, he combines realism with humour that plays so effectively through brilliant casting, direction and screenwriting. While I understand that the portrayal of the subject matter might not be for everyone, those who do choose to see it will certainly find much to like. While American football does feature considerably (which I do enjoy and understand most of the rules), it doesn't get in the way of the story for the most-part, ensuring a good pace throughout.

Having caught everyone's attention in The Hangover, Bradley Cooper gets a chance to showoff his acting chops and does a fine job in the lead. Balancing between the tragic and more lighter moments, Cooper makes it seem effortless. Winning the Oscar for best supporting actress, everyone's favourite Jennifer Lawrence makes a late appearance into the film, but it doesn't hurt performance and she is fantastic. The relationship between the two is great and witty, while also able in conveying a sense of depth that brings their characters to life.

Other supporting cast members including De Niro and Weaver as Pat's well-wishing parents are both brilliant and really capture the impact Pat has had on their lives. I find it hard to believe that it has been over ten years since De Niro's last Oscar nomination but he deserves it and I hope he continues to work with O. Russell as I sense they'd make a great team. Somehow O. Russell also managed to convince the ever charismatic Chris Tucker to return to silver screen once more and he is great at what he does, although I felt his role could have been expanded. But at just over two hours, the film felt fine, not too long and not too short.

Simply put, I really enjoyed Silver Linings Playbook and admire how O. Russell manages to create such interesting characters and engage the audience. Combining Cooper and Lawrence from this, and Christian Bale and Amy Adams from The Fighter, I can't wait to see American Hustle, along with all the other Oscar films I have to catch up on. So in a world of big films about 80s yuppies in Wall Street, astronauts lost in space, hard-hitting stories about slavery, people surviving on a boat with a tiger, the CIA hunting down terrorists and Transformers, I'm glad smaller films like this receive the publicity they do.