Analysis of Silver linings playbook

Analysis of Silver linings playbook

As a romantic comedy, the film opens with a serious tone and begins as a character study of Bradley Cooper. The film directed David O. Russell opens with Bradley Cooper within what can be suggested as a Hospital.

Mise en scene

 The Mise en scene used in the film is very important. The showing of the character with his back turned on the screen indicates he is shy, afraid or distracted by something, instead the focus is on the window, and from the room he is in (isolated) the suggestion is he is trapped, and by looking out of the window indicates he wants to be free. This again is said when the character is seen looking throughout his room. He is isolated, alone and afraid. Some of the props used also show this isolation and in need for help. Another key prop would he the use of showing the audience of medicine, which adds all the more reason to sympathize with the character. We understand his character more through spitting out the pill, he is reluctant to get help, yet he is in need of it, indicating he is confused or possibly arrogant. All this gives us a general understand of Bradley Coopers character, he is delusion thus he has some sort of mental health issue (through the use of a hospital surroundings and the use of showing use medicine) . There are also other indications as to his character being unwell through the use of several other props, some of which are the characters clothes, for example, the clothes that the doctors wear all the more make the character stand out and constantly  reminds the audience of the characters situation he is in. With this said, it also represents an environment providing help and support, yet through other uses of mise en scene we understand that Bradly Cooper is reluctant to get help. All this provides in great detail his character, and the purpose of him being within the opening suggests that he is the main character in whom we as an audience are to root for.

Cinematography 

The director uses a variety of techniques when portraying Bradley coopers character as this vulnerable character, one is which are close ups. There is a key shot where the director uses a close up if an important way to show Bradley Copper’s characters confusion. The close up is spun round the characters face, giving a delusion feel for the world around him, thus the audiences response would be one of sympathy for the character due to his lack of focus and situation. This use of camera movement round the character suggests his mind cant be set upon one thing at a time, and therefore it suggests a lack of focus of the character. This is the only time for the first few moments of the film where the camera is moving. When showing the room Bradley is living in the camera is very still and precise, and with the contrast in movement from when the camera is moving it gives and suggests the feel of confusion, so through the use of cinematography it is clear that the character is in some poor health. Towards the finale scene, the camera is looking down upon the character, which in itself makes the character smaller, thus more vulnerable. As seen and read before, the use of mise en scene also makes this character venerable and this vulnerability is carried through the film. Also the character looks up to a women after looking down to the man. The contrast in camera angle shows how far down and lonely and diminishing Bradly Coopers character is.

Light/sound

Sound and lighting are also used to portray a sense of characterization. Despite the character having his back turned away from the camera, there is a clear sunlight lit behind him thus suggesting something of hope for the character, and with the situation the audience already know he is in, the hope of getting well again soon becomes apparent through sunlight. Throughout the scene there is open daylight throughout, showing us again that hope for the well being of the character is carried on through the opening 3 minutes of the film. By no means is this a difficult film to watch, despite the hard matter of mental health, the use of lighting balances out the difficult subject matter and the genre the film is, Rom-com.
Yet, with the music within the background and the frequency so slow, it gives a clear sense of build-up, almost tragic, and with the characterization it builds to sympathy. The ambient sound, or lack thereof also creates a sense of loneliness due to the lack of sound within the background, and like the use of several props that also suggest isolation for the character which then like i previously said, add tot he sympathy for the character in which we have already.  Overall this makes the film have a clear balance of tragedy and hope.