Silver Lining and the Oscars...

With The Oscars done for 2013, I looked back on the winners and found no surprises, other than that of Best Actress. This year it went to Jennifer Lawrence, and up to that point my main knowledge of her came from The Hunger Games.  When initially offered the part of Katniss Everdeen, Jennifer Lawrence said she needed several days to think about it. Even though she was a fan of The Hunger Games novels, the scope of the part and the project could potentially go on to effect her future career.  As we know, she took the part, and I must say that it definitely seemed a part that didn't quite sit comfortably with her on screen. It will be interesting to see if that changes in the next instalment, now having one under her belt.  As a result of that performance, I couldn't imagine her sinking her teeth into a role that went on to land her the Best Actress Academy Award.

I missed the initial run of The Silver Linings Playbook at the cinema.  It was a time when I was still suffering the effects of an awkward and unintentional 'man date' situation.  Myself and a friend went to see Ruby Sparks together, not really knowing what it was all about.  As the credits began to roll, we looked across at each other knowing exactly what the other was thinking. What we had seen could only be described as a date movie.  Because of this, and an inkling that Playbook could be another potential 'man date' situation in the offing, Playbook passed me by.

Luckily, due to it's Oscar success, it was brought back for a select few showings.  So off I went, making sure I didn't miss another opportunity.  I had to get over my initial frustration at my local cinema not putting any trailers in before hand (something I've only experienced once before), which lead to me missing Bradley Cooper's opening monologue.  Once I had done this, I knew from the start I was watching something that I wouldn't find entirely comfortable.  In part due to the brilliant performances by Lawrence (Tiffany) and Cooper (Pat), and in part because they are so well supported by the likes of Robert De Niro (Pat Snr.), Chris Tucker (Danny) and Jacki Weaver (Dolores).

Pat and Tiffany are both Bi Polar sufferers.  Pat begins that film in a mental institution, where he has admitted himself to avoid jail time for beating his wife's lover to within an inch of his life.  Tiffany has lost her husband, and subsequently started sleeping with everybody she can.  The mental problems suffered by the main characters are so well executed, and between them Cooper, De Niro and Weaver create a home that is so exquisitely dysfunctional that you can see where Bradley Cooper's Pat has come to suffer from his own demons in the way that he does.  Pat's then dogged refusal to believe that his relationship with his wife is over, and his and Tiffany's using of each other to get what they want, is played out well enough to make you wonder why this would ever be considered a romance of any kind.  So that in the end, I was so convinced that their happy ending wasn't going to happen that I found myself fighting the urge to shout at the screen in frustration.

I enjoyed the film that much that it left me wondering not whether Jennifer Lawrence was good enough for her Oscar, but whether her own amazing performance was verging on being swallowed up by the strength of the supporting cast.  If you haven't seen this film already, get in there while you can for this limited post Oscar run.  You won't regret it.

Red Lights not lighting the way...

Red Lights, a film that I found at least enjoyable, even though it never quite decided what it wanted to be.

**Spoilers Ahead**

To begin with you are introduced to Sigourney Weaver's 'Dr. Matheson', and Cillian Murphy's 'Dr. Buckley' (add in Robert De Niro, and Ashley Olsen, and you have a good enough reason to give this film the time of day).  The two are scientists investigating and debunking apparent paranormal occurrences.  At the point where we are told about the concept of 'Red Lights' by Dr. Matheson, I'm enjoying the film.  Red Lights are the tell tale signs that the paranormal is in fact normal, and we're just having the wool pulled over our eyes.  In the context of the film, the characters are sat outside a clairvoyant event looking for the people planted in the crowd, gathering information that can be used to convince them later that the person in front of them is able to read minds and talk to the dead.

At this stage De Niro's character is introduced, Simon Silver is a man who has lost his sight, but gained psychic powers.  And as both Sigourney's and Cillian's characters have history when it comes to being upset by people claiming to have some sort of psychic powers, they both undoubtedly want to see Silver exposed for the fraud he is (Matheson's history involves a son who is on a life support machine that she refuses to turn off as she doesn't believe in an afterlife.  Remember this for later, it's important).  Matheson is reluctant as she knows the dangers of going up against Silver, Buckley disregards this and just goes in all guns blazing....so far, still enjoying the film.

Matheson then dies, and as Buckley's attempts to uncover Silver as a fraud get more desperate, all kinds of weird goings on occur.  I'm suspending my skepticism as the sudden increase in 'unexplained goings on' is inline with Buckley's deteriorating mental state.

Then in an attempt to pull a Sixth Sense style cat out of the bag, the wheels fall off.  Whilst Sliver is exposed as a fraud (owing to the fact he can see), it turns our Buckley is the one with powers.  He being the cause of all the weirdness.  He knew this all along.  That for me is the nail in the coffin.  Knowing the situation with Matheson and her son, yet still keeping his mouth shut about the actual existence of some kind of paranormal just didn't sit well with me. 

In my opinion, Matheson should have also slipped into a coma, and the end scene of Buckley turning off the son's life support should have included Matheson as well.

The film started with great potential, but lost it's way with the ending.  Great performances from those involved make it worth the watch none the less.