Jennifer Lawrence & Bradley Cooper (credit: The Weinstein Company)

 
(KCBS) – KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl reviews ‘Silver Lining Playbook’ starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro. Also, Jan reviews the period piece ‘Anna Karenina’ with Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Emily Watson.

KCBS Entertainment Reporter Jan Wahl:

 
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (R)

Pat (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything: his job, his home, his wife – also his mental balance. After spending 8 months in a state institution, he moves back in with his parents. He’s determined to rebuild his life, though his own battles keep getting in the way.

This is a quirky, adult romantic comedy drama that goes beyond cliché. David O. Russell (3 Kings, The Fighter) opens up the story of love, pain, mental illness, recovery and reconciliation. Bradley Cooper is excellent, as he was in this year’s earlier film The Word. Jennifer Lawrence is like a volcano ready to erupt, Robert DeNiro delight as a troubled father. Unfortunately, the film lets go of Cooper’s illness in a way that feels off, but the rest of the movie is well worth seeing.

Three hats.

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Keira Knightley in ‘Anna Karenina’ (credit: Focus Features)

 
ANNA KARENINA (R)

All the world’s a stage… Director Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement) took Shakespeare’s words and made them a theme for his latest film. This time the Tolstoy classic is based in a theatre that keeps changing sets. The film looks absolutely gorgeous; the problem here is casting and characterizations. As we follow Anna and her forbidden love affair, pre-Revolutionary Russia is brought alive in its entire splendor.

But, we never feel sorrow for Anna since her husband is actually a nice guy and the apparently notorious Count Vronsky is too young and not very sensual.

Keira Knightley, Jude Law do the best they can, a miscast Aaron Taylor Johnson tries, too. Look for Set Design and Costume Oscar nominations.

Two hats.

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See Right Now: The Sessions, Lincoln, Skyfall, Argo, A Late Quartet, & Cloud Atlas.

Home Viewing/DVD: Bernie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Candidates, Your Sister’s Sister

You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl’s movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

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