'Silver Linings Playbook' released on DVD

I don't know about you guys, but I'm having a great time with my DVD rentals lately. So far I've seen nothing but excellent films, including a few repeat viewings (Lincoln and Les Miserables, most notably). This week, another excellent movie I'm itching to see again finally gets a DVD release: Silver Linings Playbook.

Believe me when I tell you that this week, at least, Silver Linings Playbook is the best out there. The other new DVD releases, well, I've seen a couple and they're...well, they're terrible. I'm talking about the cop drama Broken City (starring Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe) and the comedy The Guilt Trip (starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen). I am ashamed to admit that yes, I did actually spend my hard-earned cash to see these films. Is it enough that I regret it? Please, try not to think less of me.

I hope I will redeem myself by telling you that Silver Linings Playbook was one of my favorite films of 2012. I lobbied very hard for Jennifer Lawrence to win that much-deserved Oscar, and I was thrilled when she did. And Bradley Cooper? I am now willing to forgive him for Limitless, because his portrayal of Pat Solatano, a man who is in the throes of a major life crisis (and mental illness) was just fantastic. The ensemble cast, which also includes the likes of Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver, is remarkable. See this film. I can't recommend this one enough.

I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention that the period cop drama Gangster Squad is also now out on DVD, but I can't offer any review. I haven't seen it yet. The use of Jay-Z music in the trailer turned me off so completely that despite my love of all things Ryan Gosling, I just couldn't justify a theater trip. I have absolutely nothing against Jay-Z, it's just that his song doesn't seem to gel with the whole 1940s storyline. Add to that some pretty dismal reviews and well, I'm pretty sure I didn't miss much.  I'll check it out this weekend. Can anyone offer up a few nuggets of wisdom about Gangster Squad in the meantime?

And finally, let's discuss a movie that I just watched two nights ago: The Impossible, the tsunami disaster film starring the always incredible Naomi Watts. I'll skip the synopsis, except to say that this movie involves a pretty remarkable tale of survival in the midst of utter hell on Earth. It's sticking with me, days later. Watts completely deserved her Academy Award nomination for this film, and overall the acting is fantastic -- even where the story is somewhat lacking.

Photo courtesy of RopeofSilicon.com