Finally got a chance to watch this. A very difficult movie that wants you to not like it. The script is much softer than what David O. Russell does with it. He challenges you to identify emotionally with characters you're not likely to connect with on other levels. He can't hide all of the material's B.S. movie moments, but I think he sees that as part of the challenge.
Hell, I didn't like this movie much at the beginning. The camerawork felt random in places and the editing was all over, deliberately preventing a rhythm from being established. It's the most discomfort I got from a film I was trying to get into since Punch-Drunk Love. There's a chaos to these people's lives, even more so than in The Fighter, that Russell captures with real skill.
I talked about the enigma of Holy Motors and that ultimately I need to decide what the film means to me because Leos Carax isn't going to put it together for me. (In school I was told that great art can usually support multiple interpretations.) I like reading all the prior posts because I pretty much agree or at least understand where everyone is coming from. I don't know how to feel about Pat and Tiffany, Pat's parents, the whole sports team mentality. I have my opinions, but nothing that I believe concretely because there's too much messiness. Plus I like looking at these dynamics from different ways. I like having the option to do that and not feel like I'm wrong or that the film doesn't have its own answer, which is my problem with Holy Motors. Don't ask me to explain why Jennifer Lawrence or Bradley Cooper do some of the things they do. I was too busy enjoying the fireworks they could create with any situation.
I hated the neighborhood kid attempting to make a flipcam documentary. It ended up being only 2 scenes, but they were both terrible. I also didn't like the Eagles parking lot with the slow motion pep rally. I see now Russell was setting up the atmosphere of the inevitable drama, but I thought the film went right off the cliff for a moment. De Niro was mostly uninspired, but he did have a couple of nice moments, my favorite being his speech to Cooper at the dance. Jacki Weaver was completely wasted. Nothing to see here. I've liked Bradley Cooper since "Alias", and while this doesn't show too much surprise in his acting, it places him into more elevated dramatic surroundings, which maybe will earn him more respect and better dramatic roles in the future.
RATING: * * *Silver Linings Playbook is my new
#7 film of 2012.