DISCLAIMER: SPOILERS MIGHT BE SOMEWHERE
Like what the title says, this is not a review. This is a mere expression of adoration. The difference? Personally, to make a movie review (or even a book review for that matter) means to dissect all the angles and components of the literature, good or bad, which I rarely do. I watch a movie because I want to (1) relax, (2) waste time wisely (with my movie buddy Ralph), and (3) be inspired. I won't be able to do at least the first one if I analyze or over-think the character, the story, or even the lines (though I admit I have a tendency to do these).
The intention of this post is to mainly discuss why I liked loved the movie. This way, I have an excuse to go past the analysis, logical thinking and even factual basis, haha.
1. Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany. I like her. I learned to have this bias in all of her movies. For some reason, I think she's underrated. She can act. And I think her pretty face has a different level of Soft and Fierce combined. I can stare at her face all day and never get tired. Ok I'm sounding creepy. But seriously, I find her to be one of the most good looking and talented young actress in Hollywood now. I like that she's not sick thin and not overly meaty either. She actually has a nice body. I have not read the book though so I cannot really say that her portrayal of Tiffany was the best. All I know was that she became the character. I think that's one good measure if an actor is good or not -- if we forget who the actor is because he just became the character. Before this becomes a Jennifer Lawrence appreciation page, can I just say that the Tiffany character is already interesting in itself so kudos to Matthew Quick.
2. Bradley Cooper as Pat. What can I say, he is good looking too! You now know how superficial I can be when critiquing an actor. The looks star factor really matters. Did he intentionally lose some pounds for this movie? I'm not sure. The Pat character, especially the bipolar and delusional one, is so interesting! I myself have a brother who has a mental condition and so I don't mean any disrespect when I say that watching Pat's episodes was entertaining. I was laughing the entire time. Maybe it's because Bradley Cooper was hilarious, I don't know. Again, no disrespect, I know how the story is entirely different in real life when you have a family member that has special needs. My heart went to Robert de Niro and Jacki Weaver's character. It wasn't easy.
3. The uh-mazing lines. One reason why I feel sorry for myself for not being able to read the book (or at least not yet). Can somebody tell me if the lines in the book and the movie are the same? Or the movie's scriptwriter is plain sick for coming up with really intense lines? Anyway, let me cite 2 of the many favorite lines that I have (taken from IMDB):
Tiffany: I was a slut. There will always be a part of me that is dirty and sloppy, but I like that, just like all the other parts of myself. I can forgive. Can you say the same for yourself, f*****? Can you forgive? Are you capable of that?
Pat: I just see that you made an effort, and I'm gonna be better with my wife. I'm working on that. I wanna acknowledge her beauty. I never used to do that. I do now. Just practicing. How'd Tommy die?
4. They were dancing. I have a love for dancing. Only it's an unrequited love. When I watch dance movies like Step-Up, I get so frustrated because I can't dance like them because I'm normal and they are not. Obviously, something has to be wrong with their bodies to be able to move like that. But when I saw this movie, I was able to relate. Especially when Tiffany said "Pat is a beginner, I am OK" when asked how good they were. Their dance sessions were fun to watch especially that scene with Chris Tucker. It was like crazy people having fun, literally. Lol. And I can't miss to mention, I rolled on the floor laughing crying during that ridiculously awkward "big move" scene which screen caps I failed to find. (If you've seen the movie, you would know what I'm talking about.)
5.
I am fascinated by people with mental condition and I think this is the first film I saw that shows how "craziness" is dealt with, from a first person point of view. I have seen different situations where people around the person with special needs intervene in their daily living to better them, or at least their situation. Tiffany and Pat's crazy is different. Or at least it was depicted differently. It was like logical crazy. "We're not liars like they are."
I actually did a research on the difference between the movie and the book and found this comprehensive blog which might also interest you:
Movie vs Book.
*All images are taken from the amazing that is Google.
