Oscarwatch: Silver Linings Playbook
Jan. 11th, 2013 04:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
apocalypsosMy mom shot me a text this morning and asked me if I wanted to go see this with her, so even though I already have it on my computer (heh), I said yes.
That said, I thought it was really great. The acting was superb across the board, and I don't think I disagreed with a single one of the acting nominations. I kind of want to single Robert DeNiro out if only because I've questioned his taste in scripts the last ten years or so, but I think he showed why he is the legend that he is in this movie. Jacki Weaver does great supporting work as the mom, and it's hard to argue against Bradley Cooper's nomination after watching this. I am really not the biggest Bradley Cooper fan in the world, or at all, but I thought he really showed that he's got some acting chops.
I do think Jennifer Lawrence was the heavy hitter here, though. I stand by my assertion after watching "Beasts of the Southern Wild" that while I want Quvenzhane Wallis to win, if Jennifer Lawrence wins I will be thrilled and I wouldn't argue against it. I saw one review before I saw the movie which called her a Manic Pixie Dream Girl and after seeing the movie I heartily disagree. Manic Pixie Dream Girls are weird, but it's not a genuine medical diagnosis. Like, if she were a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, she would like the Smiths and dresses with weird prints and wearing jelly shoes unironically. This girl has honest-to-goodness mental illness. I don't know if I would call it manic depression or just depression, but she's not doing to be cute, which is usually the impression I get from Manic Pixie Dream Girls. She's just as ill as Bradley Cooper's character.
I think that's why my main issue with the movie is the ending. I think it might be too positive for my tastes. Normally, I'm okay with happy endings to a point, but I'm not sure if I'm satisfied with that last scene. They're still sick. They're getting better with each other's help and with the support of their family and friends, but mental illness isn't something that just goes away because you did better than expected in a dance competition or entered a relationship. It's hard work whenever something big happens, or when something small happens, or ... well, when anything happens. It just felt a bit, "Yay, we're in love, and everything is sunny and daisies and beer and awesome!" for my own tastes.
Still, I did like the movie for the most part. And hey, that's a good chunk of my Oscar checklist taken care of. \o/
That said, I thought it was really great. The acting was superb across the board, and I don't think I disagreed with a single one of the acting nominations. I kind of want to single Robert DeNiro out if only because I've questioned his taste in scripts the last ten years or so, but I think he showed why he is the legend that he is in this movie. Jacki Weaver does great supporting work as the mom, and it's hard to argue against Bradley Cooper's nomination after watching this. I am really not the biggest Bradley Cooper fan in the world, or at all, but I thought he really showed that he's got some acting chops.
I do think Jennifer Lawrence was the heavy hitter here, though. I stand by my assertion after watching "Beasts of the Southern Wild" that while I want Quvenzhane Wallis to win, if Jennifer Lawrence wins I will be thrilled and I wouldn't argue against it. I saw one review before I saw the movie which called her a Manic Pixie Dream Girl and after seeing the movie I heartily disagree. Manic Pixie Dream Girls are weird, but it's not a genuine medical diagnosis. Like, if she were a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, she would like the Smiths and dresses with weird prints and wearing jelly shoes unironically. This girl has honest-to-goodness mental illness. I don't know if I would call it manic depression or just depression, but she's not doing to be cute, which is usually the impression I get from Manic Pixie Dream Girls. She's just as ill as Bradley Cooper's character.
I think that's why my main issue with the movie is the ending. I think it might be too positive for my tastes. Normally, I'm okay with happy endings to a point, but I'm not sure if I'm satisfied with that last scene. They're still sick. They're getting better with each other's help and with the support of their family and friends, but mental illness isn't something that just goes away because you did better than expected in a dance competition or entered a relationship. It's hard work whenever something big happens, or when something small happens, or ... well, when anything happens. It just felt a bit, "Yay, we're in love, and everything is sunny and daisies and beer and awesome!" for my own tastes.
Still, I did like the movie for the most part. And hey, that's a good chunk of my Oscar checklist taken care of. \o/
