Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook

Jennifer Lawrence took home an Oscar for her performance as a young widow in this crowd-pleasing award season darling. The film centers on Bradley Cooper as a bipolar former teacher returning home after a nervous breakdown. The fantastic David O. Russell film is as comedic as it is dramatic, and the leads have undeniable chemistry. Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, and Chris Tucker round out a terrific cast. The DVD comes with deleted scenes and three behind-the-scenes featurettes.

92%

The Guilt Trip

Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand muster all the spirit they can for this schmaltzy, predictable film. Streisand plays mother to Rogen, an inventor who invites her along on a road trip he has planned to sell his latest invention. Though high jinks inevitably follow, the movie is more targeted at feel-good humor than crude jokes — not to say that there aren't a few in there. The DVD includes deleted scenes and three featurettes.

37%

See one more new release after the jump.

Football season may be over, but there's another big competition to focus on — the Oscar race. The ceremony is on Feb. 24, and if you're having a viewing party, you can incorporate a bit of the game into it — if you theme it after one of this year's biggest nominees: Silver Linings Playbook. Here's how to use Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence's dramedy as inspiration for a fun Oscar-night fete, and don't forget to fill out a ballot for a chance to win big yourself.

• How to decorate: Your accent colors should be green and silver to pay homage to the Philadelphia Eagles, the favorite football team of Cooper's character, Pat. Scatter footballs around the party for more of a feel (and give people something do when those Oscar speeches run long).
• How to dress: Gray sweats with a garbage-bag poncho or Lululemon pants, though if you'd prefer to go more formal, don your finest Eagles jersey and chain.
• What to serve: The same kind of Sunday football-themed snacks Pat's mom serves religiously: "crabby snacks and homemades." Improvise those eats with crab dip and other finger foods like pigs in a blanket, buffalo wings, and seven-layer dip. Don't forget the cold beer.

Comedy duo Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy helped Identity Thief top the box office in its opening weekend, taking in a $36.6 million haul. Warm Bodies, last week's No. 1, dropped to second place with $11.5 million, and Steven Soderbergh's pharmaceutical thriller Side Effects opened with $10 million at third place. Silver Linings Playbook held tight with $7 million, and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters rounded out the top five with $5.8 million. Top Gun 3D, the week's other "new" release, earned $2 million in select theaters.

Australian actress Jacki Weaver is up for best supporting actress for her role in Silver Linings Playbook, and at today's Oscars Luncheon, she talked about all the good things she's heard about the film. Weaver spoke about not only the movie's reception from psychological professionals, but also how average people on the street have approached her to talk about it.

On what she's learned about mental illness from doing the film: "Like most people, I have acquaintances and friends who have problems with psychological ailments. I did a lot of research, and I've got a couple of girlfriends who are clinical psychologists, and I also know a couple of psychiatrists myself. One of the things about the film coming out is that they've always responded so positively, saying that it is the best depiction and most authentic portrayal of mental illness that they've ever seen, and they're professionals."

On the public reaction of the film: "I've had people walking up to me on the street, and apparently the website is filled with messages from people saying how it resonated with them. David O. Russell has gone on record saying he made the film partly so that his son would not feel that he was on his own, and I think this is proven by the response it's had."

On her award recognition in the US: "I'm amazed. I still can't believe it's happened to me."

On being recognized by the AARP: "I'm 65 and very happy about it, I have to say. That's very nice! It's even more fun when schoolboys in the street recognize me."

Several of Silver Linings Playbook's stars have been nominated for their work at this year's Oscars, and they each made time to stop by today's Oscars Luncheon press room to chat. Best supporting actor nominee Robert De Niro talked about why he wanted to work with director David O. Russell so much and whether he, as a veteran actor, gives advice to his colleagues.

On the fun of working on Silver Linings Playbook: "David [O. Russell] is terrific, and I wanted to work with him for a while. This came along — we had other projects that maybe happened but then didn't. So this one, as soon as he wanted to do it, I said, 'I'm in.' He did a rewrite, and I didn't care what the rewrite was. I knew whatever he did would be good, just based on what I've seen. It was that simple."

On working with his Silver Linings costars: "The actors were great. I like to work with everybody, and young actors, of course. If they ever ask me for advice — I never volunteer it — but if they ask me, I'm always very happy to give it."

On whether another Oscar nomination is still exciting: "It's still a big deal. Yeah."