Director: David O. Russell
Awash with Oscar buzz, this romantic comedy was billed as having an edge over your bog-standard rom-com. It certainly did not disappoint, it is incredibly entertaining and sharply written with some standout lead performances from Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. The film tiptoes between slightly farcical and incredibly bittersweet without over stepping the mark on either count.
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| Pat Solitano Jr (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence) |
Pat Solitano Jr (Bradley Cooper) is released from a mental facility diagnosed with bipolar disorder after eight months of treatment. He was forced to go there after he assaulted a fellow teacher who was sleeping with his wife. He is incredibly determined to win his wife back but first has to deal with his anger issues. His parents Dolores (Jacki Weaver) and Pat Senior (Robert de Niro) look after him whilst Pat Sr earns money bookmaking after losing his job. At a meal with friends, Pat Jr meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who is just recovering after her husband died and they establish an incredibly strange bond.
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| Pat Solitano Sr (Robert de Niro) |
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are both excellent as the lead performers in the movie, they both exhibit characters with mental issues without resorting to worn out clichés to display them. They have been mentioned amongst the Oscar buzz and it wouldn't surprise me if either was nominated and the same for Robert de Niro as a supporting actor.
The slight twist in the movie is maybe rather predictable but the plot is only part of the enjoyment of the film as the script is incredibly well written. The back and forths between Pat Jr and Tiffany are sharply written and well thought out, during the comedic moments we never lose sight of the inner turmoil that each characters is tormented with. Plus any film that has a healthy dose of chatter about American Football will always impress with me.
3.5/4 funny yet touching rom-com
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