Silver Linings Playbook

Most movies are made from a novel, or based on a short story. I do not read very often, maybe because i never feel very interested in reading books, unless i am travelling by train or on an airplane. Making a movie based on a novel is not easy, you have to capture the feeling of the story into screenplay, and still stay true to the content so fans of the novel will recognize themselves. The Silver Linings Playbook, written by author Matthew Quick, is his first novel that recieved great reviews and readers praised his writing. I have not read the novel personally, i only heard about the novel while the movie was being made. After movie awards, and crititcs fell in love with this movie adaption, is it possible Silver Linings Playbook finally give american cinema a fresh perspective on cinema experience, or is this just a media seller to get audiences pay for a ticket ?

Pat Solitano Jr. (Bradley Cooper ), is released from a mental health facility. His parents Dolores Solitano ( Jacki Weaver ), and Patrizio Solitano ( Robert De Niro ) agree to take care of him in their home, after 8 months of treatments from bipoler disorder. While Pat stayed at the mental health facility, he became a very good friend with patient Danny McDaniels ( Chris Tucker ), who tries really hard to get out, but with no luck. When Pat returns home after such a long time, he finds out dad Patrizio is out of a job, and now tries to get cash through bookmaking. Patrizio hopes he will earn enough money to start a restaurant. While Pat was away, he hope to get his life back on track, and hope to get back together with his wife Nikki Solitano ( Brea Bee ). But since Pat lost control, over his wife cheating, she obtained a restraining order against him after the violent episode that sent him away. His parents does not think this is a good idea, to get back together with Nikki and advice he should do something else, like watching football with his dad Patrizio. But Pat´s mental illness is giving him problems, he can´t control his behaviour, and complaints are being made in the neighbourhood. He tries to stay away from medication, but at some point realise he can´t ignore this. While out running, he meets his old friend Ronnie Maxwell ( John Ortiz ), who invite him for dinner one evening. At the dinner, Pat meets Ronnie´s sister-in-law Tiffany Maxwell ( Jennifer Lawrence ), a widow who also lost her job. From this moment, Pat and Tiffany begin to find out, they have more things in common than anyone of them ever knew.

I am stunned. Acting on this level like in Silver Linings Playbook is not served very often. So many powerful performances from Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, that you can´t help to feel more than pleased. And Robert De Niro does his best performance in many years, gives this movie adaption alot to talk about. Since the story is based on mental illness, and i personally work in health care, you can recognize moments you have seen, while helping people. Not exactly like in the movie, but after 14 years in health care you get a lot of experiences, meeting people in different life situations. One scene i find very interesting is the dinner scene, at Ronnie´s home, when Pat and Tiffany discuss medications. They both have problems mentally but are open about it, while Ronnie´s wife feel they can´t be treated normal. This kinds of make you angry. Because even if people with mental problems may be different, does not make them bad people. I have met many people with mental illness, and i have to say, some of them are more wonderful than ordinary people, because they try and live a life, even with their issues. It does not matter what problems you have, or what medication you are on, what matter´s most is how you are as a person, and what you give to the world. Silver Linings Playbook is one of the best health care drama movie adaptions i have seen in many years, i think the last time i felt this much joy was in 1990 with Awakenings. And that motion picture also starred Robert De Niro, what a coincidence. Director David O. Russell, who gave us the incredible boxing drama The Fighter, once again deliver a motion picture with such high quality, you can only feel joy in your heart. You have to see this one, especially if you know someone in your family diagnosed with a mental illness, or if you have a friend in a situation, you wont find a more honest portrait anywhere else at this moment.

Rating: DDDD