Film Review: Silver Linings Playbook

 

    Based on the debut novel of the same name by Matthew Quick comes this incredible romantic, comedy, drama film about true love, second chances, family bonding and having faith for the bright side of life. Currently nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and all four Best Acting Categories, "Silver Linings Playbook" is easily one of the best and disappointingly overlooked films to come out of 2012.

Pat Solitano Jr. (Bradley Cooper) is a recently released mental health patient suffering from Bipolar Disorder and episodes of violence after walking in on his wife, Nikki, having an affair with another teacher. Released after 8 months into the custody of his parents Pat Sr. and Dolores Solitano (Robert De Niro & Jacki Weaver), Pat begins to "better" himself by training mentally and physically for his supposed reunion with Nikki. Along the way he develops an odd friendship with the young, beautiful, recently widowed Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence) who is also a recovering sex addict and has gained a reputation as the "town whore". Discovering their shared emotional struggles, Tiffany agrees to give a letter to Nikki, as Pat's restraining order prevents him from contacting her, but only if he will be her partner in an upcoming dance competition. In between all this Pat struggles with his condition, holding back violent tendencies every time he hears his old wedding song, being his father's "good luck charm" for the Philadelphia Eagles and looking for the "silver lining" in his life.

 

 

Bradley Cooper is at his manic best as a character who in one second can turn from a shy, respectable man driven by love into a raging powerhouse destroying anything and anyone in his way. Cooper, who is best known for his role in "The Hangover" quite possibly gives his best performance to date. Playing Tiffany, Jennifer Lawrence proves that she is without a doubt one of Hollywoods' youngest and obscenely talented stars. Despite being sixteen years junior to Cooper, Jennifer more than well holds her own on screen as a woman who has many neurotic, foul mouthed and manipulative tendencies on the surface but internally suffers from insecurities and demons from her past. Legendary actors Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver play very loving but fair parents who want nothing more than to see their son find happiness...and to see the Eagles win.

 

 

Despite several differences between the original novel such as the time period Pat spent in treatment, the significance of his therapist Dr. Patel, Stevie Wonder haunting his thoughts instead of Kenny G. and the age of Tiffany who in the novel was a women a few years older than Pat was changed to someone who is considerably younger, are all minor gripes in an otherwise fantastic and very moving film. It is not without its moments of light hearted-ness specifically the banter and quips between the two main characters as well as portraying how seriously a city can take a national sport. But unlike so few romantic comedies there are plenty of serious heart wrenching scenes that would be enough to make one start shedding tears and reconsider one's life.

 

 

In a year glorified with superpowered teams, caped crusaders, wizards, secret agents and teenagers fighting eachother to the death, "Silver Linings Playbook" was a severly overlooked film that did not get the proper recognition it deserved when it was released in the fall of 2012. Powerful, driven but yet witty and depressing with superb acting, this film should be watched by those who missed their chance before, fans of the novel and movie audiences that are looking for something different.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Film Review: Gangster Squad

  At the height of his power, former professional boxer turned Jewish Mafia member Meyer "Mickey" Cohen moved from Chicago to Los Angeles in attempt to take the city for his own, started to set up shop on the West Coast with business in drug trafficking, extortion and brothels. In hopes to keep the City of Angels safe, an anonymous group of honest LAPD officers and detectives form a unit tasked with targetting Cohen's businesses and the gangster himself.

  The film originally was supposed to be released in September of 2012 but in wake of the Aurora Shooting in Colorado, the film and its trailer was pulled and pushed back at a later release date due to a scene in which several characters open fire inside a movie theatre. That scene was ultimately scrapped from the final cut. Featuring an ensemble cast and director Ruben Fleisher brought a film in what was supposed to be a nice ode to classic gangster films set in the 1940s and 1950s, instead turned out to be a slightly disappointing and cliched movie.

The ensemble cast which features quite a few talented Academy Award Winners/Nominees, young and old, were somewhat wasted. Rounding off the cast is Sean Penn who as usual gives a role that is nothing short of well done, with plenty of malice, anger and intimidation as the head of a powerful criminal organization. Starring opposite him as Sergeant O'Mara is Josh Brolin who once again shows off his versatility as an honest cop and loving husband who's sense of duty and concern for the safety of his city leads the squad
against a rising crime lord. Current It-Boy and Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Gosling plays a young Sergeant who is essentially O'Mara's right hand man of the team, proving once again that Gosling can more than well hold his own against veterans like Brolin and Penn. The always lovely Emma Stone plays Grace Faraday, Cohens' girlfriend but has won Wooters' (Gosling) heart. Emma is reunited with "Zombieland" director Ruben Fleisher and former on-screen love interest Ryan Gosling in their second movie together since "Crazy, Stupid, Love.". While she has shown that she can do serious and dramatic just as well as she can do comedy, it was disappointing to see her in what was nothing more than a simple 'damsel in distress'. Also in the cast is Oscar Nominated Nick Nolte as LAPD Chief William Parker, Anthony Mackie as Det. Rocky Washington, Giovanny Ribisi as Det. Conway Keeler, Michael Peña as Det.Navidad Ramirez and "X-files" alum Robert Patrick as Det. Max Kennard.

Despite being a disappointing film, there are still many set pieces and moments that make this an enjoyable movie. The shoot-outs and gun-play are fun scenes in which firearms are currently a touchy subject in news today. The ending battle between the squad and Cohen's men, the car chase in the second act and the shooting practice scene in which Kennard (Patrick) shows off his skill with a Colt Single Action Army on a beer can in mid-air are some of the highlight action sequences. Some of the softer moments are well done, for example a scene where O'Mara (Brolin) comforts a young boy who just lost his father and when a hit takes place on O'Maras' house late at night, whos pregnant wife is home alone amidst the gun fire.

While not as good as it was hoped to be, Gangster Squad is still a very watchable fun action crime film with great performances from a well rounded ensemble cast and great set pieces. Movie goers who want a fun friday night film with plenty of gun play and bullets would enjoy this. Those who were hoping for something deeper and more dramatic should just skip this and wait for what should be a very exciting year for films.

 

 

Film Review: Skyfall

"Bond.....James Bond."

There is not a single movie goer, casual or hardcore, that does not know that name or his code number, 007. And after 50 years and 23 sequels later, he returns in one of the best films of the entire series.

Skyfall starts off in typical Bond fashion, on a mission in Istanbul in pursuit of a mercenary alongside new MI6 Field Agent Eve. The mercenary in question has stolen a hard drive containing the names of all currently undercover agents so it is vital for James to retrieve the drive in order to keep those identities safe. The chase ensues eventually making its way atop a train where Bond and Patrice fight, in an attempt to aid her partner, Eve grabs an Assault Rifle and takes aim at the two men however amidst a moving train and two agents throwing punches, she misses her mark and shoots her partner who falls into a river below. The mission fails with the drive in terrorist hands and an agent presumably dead....

However as we know in Hollywood that is never the case as Daniel Craig returns, not just in narrative but also in portrayal as the famous British Secret Service Agent. Craig's Bond is aging and that is certainly explored in the plot, with the new Q and Ms. Moneypenny, played respectively by Ben Winshaw and Naomie Harris, being mere kids compared to Bond. James is not the only character dealing with age as M played by Dame Judi Dench is gearing towards retirement. Daniel Craig is at his best portrayal yet in the role trading in the arrogant newly appointed Double-0 Agent in Casino Royale or the hell bent on revenge lover in Quantum of Solace for a more aged, cynical and depressed personality. Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva draws similarities between Hannibal Lecter and Heath Ledger's Joker finally gives the Craig-era a memorable villain. Ben Winshaw as Q brings the classic Q and Bond banter back with a more youthful flair. Berenice Marlohe as the film's lead "Bond Girl" gives a very Xenia Onatopp-esque performance to a very short and somewhat wasted role as Severine. As far as "Bond Girls" go, many would argue that the films true "Bond Girl" would be M. Dame Dench gives her final outing as Bond's Senior and MI6 Head a truly memorable one with more overlying undertones of a Mother-Son relationship between Bond and M.

Visually this was one of the most beautifully shot films of the year, from the entire sequence in Shanghai to the third act at Skyfall Lodge to one of the final shots of James overlooking the rooftops of Britain, provides some of the best cinematography of 2012 and in the entire franchise. If fans of the series claim that Sean Connery's best film was Goldfinger and Pierce Brosnan's was Goldeneye then Skyfall is certainly Daniel Craig's best film yet as he has signed on for another two films. Casual movie goers will not have need to have seen the previous 2 films before seeing this one as unlike Quantum of  Solace being a direct sequel to Casino Royale, Skyfall is a completely new storyline and a new beginning for the Craig era. Longtime fans willl appreciate the elements and callbacks to previous films such as bringing back the classic Aston Martin DB5, Bond giving information "For her eye's only" or the playful banter with Moneypenny in what is a classic 007 film set in a modern age.