Oscar Nominations 2013: Silver Linings Playbook

I am not overly familiar with David O Russell's work. I am aware that I Heart Huckerbees divides critics and that the Fighter was relatively well received when it was nominated for awards a few years ago. Silver Linings Playbook is a very different beast and has been described by the marketers as a rom-com. As is so often the case these days, there is far more 'rom' than 'com', but that is not to say it lacks charm. It only seems appropriate to me that any film nominated for best film should transcend the rom-com genre in some way, whether this film manages that is up for debate.

The film follows the story of two individuals both overcoming difficult periods in their lives and mental health problems. Pat (Bradley Cooper) has served eight months in a Psychiatric unit after walking in on his wife sleeping with a colleague and beating up her lover, he is subsequently diagnosed as bipolar. After his release, Pat is determined to rejuvenate his marriage despite a restraining order placed on him regarding his now estranged wife. Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who is the sister of one of Pat's friends, is also suffering with a form of depression after the sudden death of her husband and has had deep emotional problems ever since which involved her sleeping with the majority of her coworkers resulting in her dismissal. I shan't divulge too much information about the manner in which their relationship develops, but its course is obvious from the outset. As with all romantic films though, this is not the point, and rather the entertainment comes from the journey rather than the destination.

One of the most commendable elements of this film lies in its tackling of a tough subject, mental illness. It is perhaps fortunate that such a film is being so well publicised just as the US attempts to begin its own national conversation about the subject. One thing I have always noticed about the American approach to mental health problems (and health problems in general) is their reliance on medication. On their first meeting Pat and Tiffany have an illuminating conversation about the different drugs they have been taking and how they have affected their personalities. It is a subtle nod, but a point certainly worth making.

For all its charm however, there are numerous problems, so much so that one really has to question why it has been nominated in the best film category at this year's Oscars. First, and perhaps this is a conscious move, but the first half of the film is frantic and moves at an uncomfortable pace. Shots are short and dialogue has little time to settle, with characters often talking over one another. I can see why this may have been done, as a reflection of the characters' mental states, but I personally found it difficult to engage and involve myself with the film when it was so hard to settle.

I also found some of the opening dialogue hard to stomach as plenty of it committed the ultimate sin, in my view, of using lazy character and plot set up lines. A moment such as this occurred when Pat returned home to his father (played very well by Robert De Niro incidentally) and explained to him why he had been sent to the psychiatric unit in the first place, as if the father needed reminding. Of course he was really explaining this to the audience. I find this method of explaining back story patronising and jarring.

Knowing how predictable the Oscars usually are, I cannot see this film getting anywhere near the best film gong, but it did have its plus sides. Jennifer Lawrence does stand a chance of taking home the award in the best female actor category, especially after picking up a similar award at the Golden Globes, the barometer for predicting the results of the self appointed 'biggest awards in the movie industry'. I do still think the film is enjoyable, and some will really enjoy it, especially those who are used to, and usually enjoy the standard rom-com template, and this film is certainly more advanced than your average Richard Curtis or Hugh Grant romantic flutter. However, there hangs over the film an element of pretension in its belief that it is much more than an advanced rom-com, a belief that has now been vindicated by the Oscars committee. Enjoy this film, but don't believe it is anything more than a romantic film attempting to dress up in something more finessed.