Silver Linings Notebook

17 December 2018

Silver Linings Notebook 2012

• Director: David O Russell
• Based on the novel by Matthew Quick
• Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jackie Weaver, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher, John Ortiz, Julia Stiles, Paul Herman, Dash Mihok
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Bradley Cooper – Joy, He’s Just Not that Into You
• Jennifer Lawrence – Joy, The Hunger Games, X Men Days of Future Past, Winter’s Bone
• Robert De Niro – Joy, Stardust, Extras, Fifteen Minutes, Flawless, Great Expectations, Jackie Brown, Copland, Marvin’s Room, Heat, Frankenstein, Awakenings, Stanley and Iris, Brazil, Deer Hunter, New York New York, 1900. Taxi Driver, Hi Mom
• Chris Tucker – Jackie Crown, The Fifth Element, Dead Presidents
• Julia Stiles – Mona Lisa’s Smile, The Bourne Identity, O, Hamlet, 10 Things I Hate about You
• Paul Herman – Joy, The Sopranos, 15 Minutes, Copland, Heat, Billy Bathgate, The Last Temptation of Christ
• Dash Mihok – I Am Legend, The Day after Tomorrow, The Perfect Storm, The Thin Red Line, Romeo & Juliet
• Why? Jennifer Lawrence
• Seen: 16 December 2018      

       Patrick (Cooper) is fetched by his mother (Weaver) from the mental hospital, against the doctor’s advice. Patrick’s father (De Niro) tells him that his wife has left him and sold their house. Patrick’s behaviour indicates that he really is not ready to leave the hospital and stop his meds.

       He meets Tiffany (Lawrence). She’s almost as nuts (to use the official medical psychiatric term) as he is.

       It’s described as a feel-good film. It got lots of stars and awards. I don’t understand why. Half-way through it I’m just irritated and depressed.

       Sorry. The story doesn’t hold up and there’s too much American football (or some sport anyway) and too much yelling.

       Cooper and Lawrence are very good and make this worth seeing but Lawrence could have got her Oscar for several other roles instead.

2 ½ * of 5 (Hal gave it 3*)