Silver Linings Playbook
Dir: David O. Russell
2013
****
Formulaic with a twist, predictable even in places but with a likable and hard to resist sentimentality. Pure Oscar bait. That's OK though, after what I thought was quite a shaky start, Silver Linings Playbook did turn itself around. All the performances were of a very high standard and I don't want to take anything away from Bradley Cooper, he was brilliant, it's just that Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver were so lovely as the Mum and Dad, Chris Tucker returned with a great supporting role and Jennifer Lawrence stole the show. Tough break for Cooper that, playing the best role but being surrounded by more likable characters. As I said, it is Jennifer Lawrence in her justifiable award winning role that really makes the film. That last scene, we've seen it all before, we sort of knew it was coming but we all loved it anyway. It's all good.