Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

"Watch for the signs"

Directed by David O. Russell
Produced by Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen, Jonathan Gordon

Screenplay by David O. Russell
Based on "The Silver Linings Playbook" by Matthew Quick
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Anupam Kher, Chris Tucker

Music by Danny Elfman
Cinematography: Masanobu Takayanagi
Edited by Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers
Production company: The Weinstein Company, Mirage Enterprises
Distributed by The Weinstein Company
Release date: 21 November 2012 (Canada)
Running time: 122 minutes
Country: United States

Budget: $21 million
Box office: $236.4 million

"Silver Linings Playbook" is a romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by David O. Russell, and adapted from novel "The Silver Linings Playbook" by Matthew Quick. The story is about Pat Solitano who is released from a psychiatric hospital and moves back in with his parents. Determined to win back his estranged wife, Pat meets recently widowed Tiffany Maxwell, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.

Cast

• Bradley Cooper as Patrick "Pat" Solatano, Jr.
• Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany Maxwell
• Robert De Niro as Patrizio "Pat" Solatano, Sr.
• Jacki Weaver as Dolores Solatano
• Chris Tucker as Danny McDaniels
• Anupam Kher as Dr. Cliff Patel
• Julia Stiles as Veronica
• Brea Bee as Nikki Solatano
• Shea Whigham as Jake Solatano
• John Ortiz as Ronnie
• Paul Herman as Randy
• Dash Mihok as Officer Keogh

When I'd known that the director of the film is David O. Russell, I wanted to watch it at once. It was inspired by Devereaux Glenholme School, a 12-month special education boarding school in Washington, CT. Russell's son is currently a student there, and Russell stated, "I was so familiar with the issues in the story that I knew how emotional and funny and original it could be. Without this community I would never have made this film." 

As I said earlier, Bradley Cooper ("American Sniper" (2014)) is one of my favourite actors. And his acting in "Silver Linings Playbook" proves my choice: Patrick seems both crazy and normal at the same time. I'm sure that that role wasn't easy. I also can say that about Jennifer Lawrence: strong but broken woman suffering from the loss of her husband. This way, her Oscar for Tiffany is absolutely merited.

Advantages

• Bradley Cooper as Patrick "Pat" Solatano, Jr.
• Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany Maxwell
• Robert De Niro as Patrizio "Pat" Solatano, Sr.
•  David O. Russell
• Based on "The Silver Linings Playbook" by Matthew Quick
• Dialogues

Disadvantages

• A viewer can't get to know how everything will end

"Strangenesses"

• Difficult relations are much more simple than they seem

Clue Moments

• Dancing
• The football match
• Jogging
• Dating

Our views can't me always correct. Therefore people may spend many hours, months or even years trying to reach things that might have never existed. Like Jay Gatsby and his green light. "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter - tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther... And one fine morning - So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" And that the truth.

If someone, as people say, is insane, crazy, it isn't mean that he or she is so in fact. Seriously. Because of reality situations or in chase of goals people can become other and it's natural - strangely enough. But, of course, some cases call for medical assistance. However, people who stand out in a crowd are also people - I mean, it's wrong to laugh at them or scoff. We all need to accept each other, there's the solution of most today's problems.

The illness from which suffers Pat is biopolar disorder. Bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar affective disorder (and originally called manic-depressive illness), is a mental disorder characterized by periods of elevated mood and periods of depression. The elevated mood is significant and is known as mania or hypomania depending on the severity or whether there is psychosis. During mania an individual feels or acts abnormally happy, energetic, or irritable. They often make poorly thought out decisions with little regard to the consequences. The need for sleep is usually reduced. During periods of depression there may be crying, poor eye contact with others, and a negative outlook on life. The risk of suicide among those with the disorder is high at greater than 6% over 20 years, while self harm occurs in 30–40%. Other mental health issues such as anxiety disorder and drug misuse are commonly associated.

The cause is not clearly understood, but both genetic and environmental factors play a role. Many genes of small effect contribute to risk. Environmental factors include long term stress and a history of childhood abuse. It is divided into bipolar I disorder if there is at least one manic episode and bipolar II disorder if there are at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode. In those with less severe symptoms of a prolonged duration the condition cyclothymic disorder may be present. If due to drugs or medical problems it is classified separately. Other conditions that may present in a similar manner include drug misuse, personality disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia as well as a number of medical conditions.

Treatment commonly includes psychotherapy and medications such as mood stabilizers or antipsychotics. Examples of mood stabilizers that are commonly used include lithium and anticonvulsants. Treatment in hospital against a person's wishes may be required at times as people may be at risk to themselves or others yet refuse treatment. Severe behavioural problems may be managed with short term benzodiazepines or antipsychotics. In periods of mania it is recommended that antidepressants be stopped. If antidepressants are used for periods of depression they should be used with a mood stabilizer. Electroconvulsive therapy may be helpful in those who do not respond to other treatments. If treatments are stopped it is recommended that this be done slowly. Most people have social, financial or work related problem due to the disorder. These difficulties occur a quarter to a third of the time on average. The risk of death from natural causes such as heart disease is twice that of the general population. This is due to poor lifestyle choices and the side effects from medications.

About 3% of people in the United States have bipolar disorder at some point in their life. Lower rates of around 1% are found in other countries. The most common age at which symptoms begin is 25. Rates appear to be similar in males as females. The economic costs of the disorder has been estimated at $45 billion for the United States in 1991. A large proportion of this was related to a higher number of missed work days estimated at 50 per year. People with bipolar disorder often face problems with social stigma.

Soundtracks

1. Danny Elfman - Silver Linings Titles
2. Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour
3. Alabama Shakes - Always Alright
4. Dave Brubeck - Unsquare Dance
5. Alt-J Featuring Mountain Man - Buffalo
6. Les Paul & Mary Ford - The Moon Of Manakoora
7. Crabcorps - Monster Mash
8. Ambrosia Parsley & The Elegant Too - Goodnight Moon
9. Eagles Of Death Metal - Now I'm A Fool
10. Danny Elfman - Walking Home
11. Bob Dylan With Johnny Cash - Girl From The North Country
12. Jessie J - Silver Lining
13. Rare Earth - Hey Big Brother
14. Dave Brubeck - Maria

Quotations

* * *

Pat: The only way you can beat my crazy was by doing something crazy yourself. Thank you. I love you. I knew it the minute I met you. I'm sorry it took so long for me to catch up. I just got stuck.

* * *

Pat: The world will break your heart ten ways to Sunday. That's guaranteed. I can't begin to explain that. Or the craziness inside myself and everyone else. But guess what? Sunday's my favorite day again. I think of what everyone did for me, and I feel like a very lucky guy.

* * *

Pat Sr.: Let me tell you, I know you don't want to listen to your father, I didn't listen to mine, and I am telling you you gotta pay attention this time. When life reaches out at a moment like this it's a sin if you don't reach back, I'm telling you its a sin if you don't reach back! It'll haunt you the rest of your days like a curse. You're facing a big challenge in your life right now at this very moment, right here. That girl loves you she really really loves you. I don't know if Nicki ever did, but she sure as sh*t doesn't right now. So don't f*ck this up.

* * *

Tiffany: Why did you order raisin bran?
Pat: Why did you order tea?
Tiffany: Because you ordered raisin bran.
Pat: I ordered raisin bran because I didn't want there to be any mistaking it for a date.
Tiffany: It can still be a date if you order raisin bran.

* * *

Pat: How old are you?
Tiffany: Old enough to have a marriage end and not wind up in a mental hospital.

* * *

Tiffany: You let me lie to you for a week?
Pat: I was trying to be romantic.

* * *

Pat: This is what I learned at the hospital. You have to do everything you can, you have to work your hardest, and if you do, if you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining.

* * *

Tiffany: Humanity is just nasty and there's no silver lining.

* * *

Pat: You have poor social skills. You have a problem.
Tiffany: I have a problem? You say more inappropriate things than appropriate things.

* * *

Tiffany: There's always going to be a part of me that's sloppy and dirty, but I like that. With all the other parts of myself. Can you say the same about yourself? Can you forgive? Are you any good at that?

* * *

Tiffany: You know, for a while, I thought you were the best thing that ever happened to me. But now I'm starting to think you're the worst.
Pat: Of course you do. Come on, let's go dance.

* * *

Pat Sr.: Yeah, have Ernest Hemingway call us and apologize to us too.

* * *

Pat: You look nice.
Tiffany: Thank you.
Pat: Oh, I'm not flirting with you.
Tiffany: Oh, I didn't think you were.
Pat: I just see that you made an effort, and I'm gonna be better with my wife. I'm working on that. I wanna acknowledge her beauty. I never used to do that. I do now. Just practicing. How'd Tommy die?

* * *

Tiffany: Yes! Do you feel that? That's emotion.
Pat: I don't feel anything.

* * *

Pat: Oh, you know. You know. Come on. Sometimes it's okay with girls like this, they wanna have fun and it's not because they got a broken wing, and they're hurt, and they're an easy target. And in this case, in this particular case, I think that wing is being fixed. And you gotta make sure it gets mended. And you're gettin' in the way of that right now, okay? Because she's sensitive and she's smart, she's artistic. This is a great girl and you gotta be respectful of that. Come on. Let me walk you down to your car. You're a better guy than this. I can see it in your eyes.

* * *

Pat Sr.: Have some respect for what I do.

* * *

Pat: We have a very unconventional chemistry, it makes people feel awkward, but not me. Alright? She's the most beautiful woman I've ever been with. It's electric between us! Okay, yeah, we wanna change each other, but that's normal, couples wanna do that. I want her to stop dressing like she dresses, I want her to stop acting so superior to me, okay? And she wanted me to lose weight and stop my mood swings, which both I've done. I mean, people fight. Couples fight. We would fight, we wouldn't talk for a couple weeks. That's normal. She always wanted the best for me.
Tiffany: Wow.
Pat: She wanted me to be passionate and compassionate. And that's a good thing. You know? I just, look, I'm my best self today, and I think she's her best self today, and our love's gonna be fucking amazing.
Tiffany: It's gonna be amazing, and you're gonna be amazing, and she's gonna be amazing, and you're not gonna be that guy that's gonna take advantage of a situation without offering to do something back. So think about the dance thing.

* * *

Pat Sr.: Here we are again at the one yard line. DeSean, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. There you go.

* * *

Pat: Nikki's waiting for me to get in shape and get my life back together. Then we're going to be together.

* * *

Tiffany: You are afraid to be alive. You are afraid to live. You're a hypocrite. You're a conformist. You're a liar. I opened up to you and you judged me. You're an a**hole. You're an a**hole! Get off of me! He's harassing me! HE'S HARASSING ME!

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 8/10

Entertainment: 8/10

Acting: 10/10

Originality: 9/10

Music and Sound: 7/10

8/10