Silver Linings Playbook

I agree 100%!!!

Feb 10 - 05:36 PM

The ending. It was a happy ending, just because of that, it's not believable? it's sappy?. When Pat read Hemmingway's book, he's angry because of the sad ending. I think the film's ending was related to that. The world is depressing enough, and even in fiction we get more depressed. Why not once in a while, get a happy ending?

Feb 9 - 09:09 PM

Nena Linda

Nice explanation, Jackie. But I'd still prefer another ending, it would be, just, more "logical" and memorable in my guess. But I still love your answer! ^^

Feb 10 - 08:34 AM

Craig McLaughlan

Two things that jarred with me: the family didn't seem credible as working class (a bit like a film with Michael Douglas NOT driving an S class Mercedes) and the idea of Bradley Cooper having recently been obese. Various other WTF moments but these 2 haven't been mentioned.

Feb 5 - 01:12 PM

John von Dohren

It was great through the 3/4 mark?!?!?!? At the 1/4 mark we walked out because we simply couldn't take a movie that bad anymore!!!!!

Feb 4 - 05:02 PM

Todd Garry

people like you make no sense.

Feb 4 - 09:05 PM

Elizabeth Fischer

I applaud you for walking out. Life is too short to waste time. I have walked out on movies, too, and would have walked on this one but a friend was treating me for my birthday. She liked it a lot more than I did. The psychiatrist was completely absurd with the football game scene and ending back at his client's house? Please! I've known folks with M.I. and it's not a comedy. The one good thing about this movie: Jennifer Lawrence. Great acting.

Feb 8 - 08:51 PM

Susan Schaar

Steve: Spot on. My reaction as well. "SLP" suffers its own identity crisis at the three-quarter mark and just completely changes personas, going from a drama on the human condition to a rom-com about the "big dance competition." The whole question of Pat taking his meds is basically dropped, the manic-depressive episodes vanish, the weird dynamic with his family suddenly becomes cutesy, and we even got re-tread scenes from "Dirty Dancing." Makes you wonder if the original script was tampered by the executive suits looking for a more commercial ending.

Feb 3 - 02:02 PM

Patrick Acciani

If you like contrived and stupid plot lines, corny, and predictable endings, you're going to love this movie. I thought I was going to see a deep emotional movie about a serious subject matter. It was the farthest thing from that. But then my bad, I did not see the genre was listed as a comedy.

Feb 2 - 04:42 AM

Imy Blinky

Yes! My thoughts exactly! Such a shame. I would've rather had a not-so-happy ending that was interesting than an easy emotional payoff like that.

Feb 1 - 12:37 AM

Dane Aulph

I agree Steve. What the hell were the critics watching that praised this film? And being nominated? There is 10 minutes left in the film and all of the sudden he isn't interested in his ex wife; that he has been pining for like a lunatic, and boom, he falls in love with whatever Lawerences character was called.

Jan 31 - 08:45 AM

Imy Blinky

I must say that there is a perfectly good reason for his sudden loss of interest in his wife. Because he's not in love with her - he's delusional and obsessed. His relationship with Lawrence's character kind of breaks the chains so to speak and he moves on to the next thing: her. Because that's what people like him do.

Feb 1 - 12:38 AM

Nena Linda

I think the ending would be make sense if they showed more scenes about developing relationship between Lawrences & Pat. With this kind of sudden ending, it feels like there is something missing.

Feb 10 - 08:37 AM

John Binden

It seems to me like a movie with an identity crisis. It wants to be a smart, hip indie movie and the camerawork and high-speed dialogue work to that end. But then it's loaded to the gunnels with star fire-power and eventually a combination of slebs mugging screen time and a happy, sappy ending mean its sells what soul it may have had. Not the worst movie in the world, but strangely charmless.

Jan 29 - 06:47 PM

Nena Linda

I can say, it is "strangely charming" and "strangely charmless" at the same time! 0_o

Feb 10 - 08:39 AM

Anthony Thompson

So true! And the girl who had evinced no interest in football suddenly started quoting the scores for the past month or so! At that point, I no longer believed.

Jan 28 - 10:01 PM

Abby Reyes

I think they were trying to imply that she (a) actually was a closet football fan - hence her hesitation when saying she did her research, or (b) she just cared about spending time with him so much that she went the distance to remember these things. I thought that part was brilliant.

Jan 29 - 05:16 PM

Dane Aulph

I can see what you are saying but I don't think the movie was smart enough for that Abby.

Jan 31 - 08:47 AM

Michael Hagood

I wasn't that impressed...so much of it seemed very contrived...in my view, not in a league with other Best Picture nominees.

Jan 27 - 07:46 PM

Jennifer Blackler

I agree. While enjoyed the movie I found the portrayel of mental illness (I am a health professional), did not always ring true and at times the movie appeared to be creating new unrelated story lines eg Tiffany suddenly quoting reams of information about football. Anyway it was entertaining but I do not think deserves the huge acclaim it has received.

Feb 8 - 10:43 AM

Brooke Greer

Hopes were high...however the depth wasn't too deep...darnit...

Jan 27 - 01:07 AM

hollis mills

i cant believe it is still making the money it is earning

Jan 26 - 09:17 AM

Aiden Parker

You forget that everyone was taking advantage of Pat AND he was aware of the situation. The happy ending was only happy because he chose the silver lining. That alone redeems the final 1/4 of the film and gives it permission to be a little sappy!

Jan 23 - 06:27 PM

Ra�l Reyes Mancebo

I agree with you. I still liked it, anyway. I must be an optimistic these days. Or maybe its the silver linings.

Jan 22 - 03:22 PM

Fred Rich

I liked Tori's comment about thie wife delusion but it wouldn't' make such a crowd pleasing movie.Deniro plays a great dad.

Jan 22 - 02:55 PM

Donna Moon

I could not tell if he killed this wife's lover or hurt him badly or whether it happened the way he said it happened.

Jan 20 - 01:37 PM

Dan Benge

There was a scene where they talked about how his wife might still be with the history teacher, so I'm sure it wasn't murder.

Feb 3 - 01:02 PM

Grant Welcome

I suppose he should have ended with his wife then? The ending of the film was obvious from the start but its how you get there that makes it a good film. Personally the only issue I had with it was the standard "girl runs away guy chases after to confess" trope. Other than that I thought it was solid.

Jan 19 - 02:06 PM

Teresa Mafalda

I think you make a valid point about "girl runs away guy chases", but my impression is that of a nod to the mid-film "guy runs away girl chases", with the same "Hey".

Jan 20 - 08:32 AM

susan brown

The book was less about their relationship and more about his adjustment to life outside the hospital. I recommend the book! I also recommend Bradley Cooper's Limitless!

Jan 19 - 05:02 AM

Kathi Noaker

Call me superficial, but I'm all about the happy ending.

Jan 18 - 09:24 PM

Carol Dangelis

This is the best thing Bradley Cooper has ever done, great performances all around actually.

Jan 18 - 04:57 PM

Nena Linda

The Hangover..?

It is Jennifer Lawrence's.

Feb 10 - 08:42 AM

Rich Aurillia

Yeah that is also my feelings as well, i actually liked the film more than i thought i was going to but i really hope they dont give it the oscar.

Jan 17 - 04:33 PM

Blake Black

Your hopes are misplaced.

Jan 20 - 12:27 PM

Claude Whiffen

I agree that it turned into a bit of a rom-com at certain points of the film but it didn't ruin the movie for me. The cast was great, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro played great father and son rolls, Jennifer Lawrence really surprised me too.

Jan 16 - 02:09 PM

Thomas Lindholm

I agree. The movie went downhill from the parlay and onwards. Really liked it untill the bet was made but I was genuinely upset that they chose such a generic and clich� ending to an otherwise great movie.

Jan 12 - 10:12 AM

Jimmy Maloney

SPOILER ALERT (for my question):

How does De Niro's character get money to open his restaurant? He lost the bet for the Giants/Eagles game, then goes double or nothing on the Cowboys/Eagles + dance competition parlay. Since he wins the parlay, he doesn't have to pay double, but he wins nothing.

Jan 23 - 11:58 PM

Beret Furuseth Hagen

I agree with Steve- it started out with lots of promise and then went downhill into comedy/schlock.

Jan 12 - 08:55 AM

Brent Starnes

maybe he should have shot her in the end

Dec 4 - 03:08 AM

John Rushing

nice one. it seems the disappointed reviewer was determined to have a bad night out. i'm usually doggedly and tiresomely negative; and i saw nothing not to like about this film. rollicking fun and touching.

Jan 13 - 06:29 AM

Todd Garry

LOL

Jan 30 - 07:03 PM

Brent Starnes

youre wrong steve

Dec 4 - 03:06 AM

Andy Graves

I agree with Paul, I think if a film earns it's happy ending and is able to tie things up thematically then there is no shame in in being 'sappy' or clich�d. SLP did just that, it wore its heart on its sleeve the whole way through and it did so with nuance and genuine humanity

Nov 24 - 03:47 PM

Paul Jimenez

...you mean the ending that is foreshadowed throughout the entire movie?

When Cooper did the whole Hemingway rant, it couldn't have spelled it out any clearer. He might as well have said "this movie is going to have a happy ending, deal with it"

I think it's sad that American film snobs dismiss any movie with a neatly wrapped up ending as too cliche. I think it's cliche for movies that don't earn a happy ending, but I think this one definitely went the distance.

Nov 24 - 02:22 AM

Steve Copeland

The question isn't the happy ending - hopefully everyone watching the movie will see that coming. I just expected it to be as clever as the rest of the movie.

Nov 27 - 06:21 PM

Joanne Newton

How would you have ended it, Steve?

Dec 2 - 03:04 PM

Tori Croell

I wanted the wife to be a delusion -- ie. he was never married, it was just some girl he was obsessed with and had called his wife. He still could have had his happy ending with Lawrence, but that would have added some depth in my opinion.

Dec 14 - 08:27 AM

Daniela Mahan

I think that chosing Lawrence is much more meaningful that "the wife was a delusion". He tries to improve himself all along for the sole purpose of recovering his wife. And he chose Lawrence instead.

If it was a delusion, it is, I think, too lazy, and he would not choose J.Lawrence, she would become the only option available.

Jan 25 - 09:47 AM

Todd Garry

Tori the whole imagining a person plot is beyond played out.

Jan 30 - 07:05 PM

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Started out great - then jumped the shark 3/4 of the way through

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