Over the years many movie directors have strayed away from incorporating humor around sensitive topics in fear that it will backfire and come off as offensive to the public eye. Movies tend to fuel a negative stigma of mental illness with inaccurate depictions of what living with a mental illness is really like. There are not many movies out there about mental illness that portray it at its core better than The Silver Linings Playbook. The comedy drama rom-com directed by David O. Russell and based on the novel by Matthew Quick released in 2012 dared to portray mental illness in a fresh light ("Silver Linings Playbook." IMDb.). This beautiful film delivers a more authentic story of mental illness through its acting, writing, directing, cinematography, …show more content…
The Silver Linings Playbook centers on Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper), a man who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a long stint of being in a psychiatric hospital after being admitted for having a violent episode where he beats up his wife’s lover. After being released, Pat who moves back in with his parents, (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver) is still in love with his wife so he makes it his mission to try and get her back. Pat ends up meeting Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence) a woman who has recently lost her husband, and dealing with depression, who offers to help him get his wife back if he enters a dance competition with her. As they train, they grow closer and relationships are put to the test ("Silver Linings Playbook." IMDb.). Throughout the film, we see how Tiffany and Pat’s friendship cultivates into something more meaningful. One of the most incredible elements to this film is the acting, and execution of the characters. This film consisted of an impeccable cast which in no time allows you to …show more content…
Tiffany who has also suffered a recent psychological breakdown is a character who comes across as volatile and blunt, but we also see a very scared and vulnerable character come out. Robert De Niro shines in his stellar performance acting as Pat’s superstitious OCD father that is a true die hard Philadelphia Eagles Fan. We see this intricate character that has a tough guy exterior but when he lets his guard down a loving and concerned persona is revealed. The remaining cast is compiled of dynamic and unique characters. Pat’s mother acts as a calming mediator amongst all the craziness and madness, with other characters like Pat’s friend (Chris Tucker) showing off charisma as he makes an escape from the institution hitching a ride with Pat and his mother ("Silver Linings Playbook." IMDb.). We see a variety of different characters that each have their own colorful personalities and all have their own issues that they are trying to deal with throughout the movie. David Rooney, from The Hollywood Reporter, couldn’t have described the workings of this film any better: Russell is working in an absurd, comedy-of-awkwardness vein, but he captures genuine vulnerability in his characters and