American Hustle (2013)

After the masterpiece that was Silver Linings Playbook, I eagerly anticipated director David O. Russell’s follow-up and entry for the 2013 awards season. The buzz surrounding American Hustle has been constantly strong, add to that it’s recent Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination, and moviegoers are definitely anxious to catch what exactly the hype is all about. I’m also sure that Filipino cinephiles are currently very thirsty for a film that deserves their attention and money after the annual atrocity that is the Metro Manila Film Festival. Fortunately, technology has allowed me to watch the film before it hits local cinemas. So is it worth your time and money? In a word, yes.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Five down, four to go. With my recent viewing of Silver Linings Playbook, I’ve crossed the halfway mark in my goal to watch all of the Best Picture nominees in the 85^th Academy Awards next month. Before watching Silver Linings, I had Lincoln winning best picture based on the films that I have already viewed. Now after watching, did my prediction change? Honestly, no it did not. That does not mean though that Silver Linings Playbook is not a good movie. Truth be told, it may possible be one of the best and most certainly the most enjoyable and endearing films I have watched in quite some time.

Bradley Cooper stars as bipolar Pat Solitano, who after serving the court ordered eight months in a mental institution because he beat up the man he caught making love with his wife, is released into the custody of his parents. When he gets out though, he finds out that his father, who is played by Robert De Niro, has lost his job and is making ends meet as a bookmaker (did I mention Pat Sr. has OCD). Pat Jr. immediately gets in touch with common friends in order for him to get in touch with his wife and get their marriage on track. Seems like a pretty basic premise for any love story right? Lovelorn guy does something wrong and wants to make up for it with girl. It’s a Hollywood cliché. This movie though, offers so much more, especially when Pat finally meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who has some issues of her own.