Silver Linings Playbook was one of the most popular and honored films of 2012. I watched it last night, courtesy of Netfilx. The first half is rather unconventional, interesting, even scary, the second half nice but pat. It is the story of two young people scarred by past experience and how they help each other recover. It received eight Oscar nominations. Jennifer Lawrence, star of The Hunger Games, won the award for Best Actress. She is Hollywood’s hottest star, literally and figuratively. The acting is the film’s strength. Bradley Cooper is excellent in the male lead. Curiously, this was my introduction to his skills, although he’s been around a while and frequently mentioned on Page Six in the NY Post. Julia Stiles brings her usual brilliance to a small role. Robert DeNiro’s performance as the Obsessive-Compulsive dad was hailed as a comeback. It is certainly better than his work of the past decade or so. Based on the novel by Matthew Quick, the screenplay was written by David O. Russell, who also directed. It is the first of his films since Three Kings (1997) that I’ve enjoyed. Made on a modest budget of 21 million, it grossed an impressive 132 million, and to think the only explosions occur in verbal outbursts. On a scale of five, 3.2. Those who rated it at IMDb were much more enthusiastic: 7.9 of ten.
There is another troubling aspect that has come from the controversy over what to do with Syria. Some Americans, and it appears most are on the right of the political spectrum, are praising Vladimir Putin. One of my Facebook friends, blinded by his hatred of President Obama, has even called the Russian president a statesman. This is nonsense. Putin sits at the throne of what some pundits have dubbed a kleptocracy. He is an enemy of the United States. When President Bush looked into the former KGB agent's eyes and saw a good soul, he was sadly mistaken or taken by wishful thinking. There is no shame in opposing Barrack Obama's policies but there is in claiming Putin is a leader to admire. He should be feared and opposed.
The floating book shop had a great day despite being curtailed by the weather. My thanks to the folks who bought the huge tomes on MLK and on emotions, and to Gene, who donated a "potpourri" of non-fiction just before the rain started. As soon as I'd packed up, I headed for an apartment building about 150 feet from our complex. One of my best customers, Lev, got an ultimatum on getting rid of books from his wife. He gave me three large boxes worth, about 150 in all, and only five are not marketable. He loaned me his hand cart, which he is unable to use at present because of a bad back that has kept him out of work. It took me about 20 minutes to transport the books and return the cart. Many are choice, and it is an eclectic mix. I'll leave the ones I don't think will sell in the lobby in the morning, as I've done before. They'll be gone by the time I go out to run the book shop at eleven. Thank you, sir.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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