We don’t go to the movies that often, and at $11.50 a ticket we won’t be going too often in the future. But I wanted to see Silver Linings Playbook because I’d heard good things about it, the great cast (Robert DeNiro, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence), and mostly because the setting of the movie is the Delaware County suburbs where I grew up. The movie was filmed in my stomping grounds and I recognized all of the locations. I’ve eaten at the Llanerch Diner, where one of the scenes took place. The setting is Ridley Park, which is about 5 miles from where I grew up. The inside of the house has all the traditional Catholic statues and pictures of Jesus that were in all of our homes.
One of the key storylines throughout the film is the love of the Philadelphia Eagles. The fanaticism of their fans is captured perfectly. DeNiro is fantastic as the fanatic Eagle fan, OCD father who has been banned for life from Eagles games for fighting other fans. The movie is darkly humorous. It’s a One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest love story. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence give great performances. The scene where DeNiro blames Cooper for the Eagles losing a key game against the New York Giants is a classic, with Lawrence stealing the scene.
You’ve gotta love a movie where someone is killed on the Schuykill Expressway.
I’d highly recommend this movie to anyone, and especially to people from Philly. Bradley Cooper is from Philly. Another feather in his cap. Avalon thinks he’s hot. It must be his uncanny resemblance to me.
I also must make some observations about the economy. We went to a restaurant next to the movie theater before the movie for a bite and a drink (actually a pitcher of Sangria). At 7:00 pm on a Saturday night there was no wait for a table. Previously, we’ve waited 40 minutes for a table. There is a Target, Lowes, and BJ’s Wholesale adjacent to the restaurant, so there should have been plenty of traffic. The movie theater appeared vacant. No wait for tickets. Usually there are multiple long lines. Avalon insisted this was due to everyone out Christmas shopping. I’m not buying it. I believe we’ve hit a wall. The signs are everywhere. Life is about cash flow. Declining real wages and the highest gas and food prices in history have sapped the life out of consumers. Taxes are going up, Obamacare has already increased our healthcare costs, and four more years of Obama economics will crush the middle class. It’s not a collapse yet, but spending growth has come to a halt. You heard it here first.
http://youtu.be/2MP7A1k8Jr0
About your economic news. Went to jacks pets to get crickets for the kids frogs and it seems that the suburbs north of Cincinnati have not gotten the message about economic doom. 10 minutes to get into the plaza and 5 minutes to find a parking spot. Endless pickup lines at best buy with big plazma tv sized boxes being loaded into 2.year old suv’s.
One major drop off in “customers” is the blue ash rec center. I am back on the bike and circuit stuff but most of the regulars seem to have given up. I am sure i will see them back after the first of the year.
Agree 100%! My wife and I went out last night. She has been busting her ass and losing weight for about 18 months now. She gives herself a “cheat day” once in awhile and yesterday was one of those days. Dinner was at a local place that cost $46 including tip for a great meal that tasted like food instead of salted chemicals. The place was dead! Six people total counting ourselves. As we all left, a family of eight came in. We walked to Trader Joe’s to pick up a few things (dead) then walked to an ice cream shop for dessert. There was no one in the place the whole time we were there. It was 18F outside so that could have been a factor. We walked back to the car and drove through a strip mall parking lot with plenty of stores and several fast food joints. The parking lots were empty! I told my wife to look at all of those stores and stock up on things you buy there because most of them will be gone next Christmas. Even the tree lots are dead with tons of inventory.
I_S
Oh yeah…..thanks for the movie review. Sounds like something I’ll like.
I_S
Jim, you should do movie reviews more often. Good stuff. Another good sign … it gets 90% on rottentomatioes. Good to see DeNero getting away from that fucking retarded Focker crap … well, the 2nd one was pure crap.
60 Minutes today did a segment on an upcoming movie (Dec 25th) with Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Russel Crowe; a musical rendition of les Miserables. Hugh has one helluva voice. It looked fantastic.
Stuck
We’ve seen the Les Miserables play three times. I’ll fork over $11.50 to see that one.
I saw “Silver Linings Playbook” last night too and agree with you, it is a most enjoyable movie.. I thought it captured well the reality of living with someone who has mental health issues and won’t take his meds. Also a sweet love story, but the Eagles subplot moves it out of the chick flick realm.
Tonight I saw “Anna Karenina” and it was great – the art of moviemaking at its finest.
Movie tickets in my city are $16.00 now.
Sounds like a good flick, but is there any reason not to wait till it comes on cable or DVD? I rarely go to the theatre-when I do it is for pics w/ special effects or scenery. Speaking of Jennifer Lawrence, wasn’t she Katniss in Hunger Games? Last pic I saw at the theatre-in part due to Admin’s positive review.
Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss. There’s no truth to the rumor that I only go to movies starring Jennifer Lawrence. It’s just a coincidence.
Stuck, the one good scene from the second Focker crap flick was watching an annoying little dog get flushed down the toilet. I can’t tell you the many times I have wished I could do that.
The cat pissing on the ashes scene in the first focker movie was hysterical.
Nighttime tickets around these parts are $12. Plus $20 for 2 sodas and a large popcorn.
Went to see Skyfall last week, we traded the standard popcorn and soda for a (delicious, small brewer) beer and a pretty good seafood bisque before the show.
Usually, we opt to go see movies on Sat or Sun mornings. Tickets are generally less than $5 a piece, and we skip concessions to opt for breakfast/lunch at one of our numerous, local, “coneys” (Greek diners). This time we went out like adults, at night!
My grandbaby is due anytime, I’m gifting the kids a combo dinner/movie certificate, which come January they will be more than ready for their night out. Bonus is Nana gets a night with baby.
Anyway, we found the same things. The bar/restaurant we stopped at was no waiting at 6 pm on a Friday night, no waiting at 7 for movie tickets and the mall looked like it was regular season busy.
Followed up by a trip to see Santa at the “ritzy” mall yesterday. Lots and lots of people, not carrying lots and lots of bags, and the clerks were more often viewed standing around talking to each other without a customer bothering them in sight.
My fractured family has opted out of gift exchange for the kids this year, even though hub’s family still behaves like it is 1999, I have to believe that many extended families are at least starting the conversation about toning it down to reflect our new “temporary” reality.
Thanks for the review, sounds interesting and I’ll have to try and catch it when it comes out on DVD, I’ve reached my movie-out quota for the year (three of them, I’m not a big movie goer anymore).
Admin—sounds like you went to the Regal in Oaks? We took the kids there the previous Saturday and it was the same way. Usually stand in line for tickets, this time we walked right in. Pretty creepy for that place, being in a 4/5 empty theater.
Was dinner at Max & Erma’s?
Yes, Gene, you guessed it, Regal in Oaks. Went to Max and Erma’s before movie. If you get a chance to go to M and E’s again soon, I recommend ordering the pitcher of Festive Cherry Sangria (half price – only $8- on Thursdays!). It came in a tall clear pitcher and was beautiful to look at and delicious to drink. I paired my sangria with an order of Buffalo Chicken fingers, lol, mmmmm yummy.
AKAnon, the movie was really good, but it will be just as good on DVD.
I miss Max & Erma’s. The Regal even serves real coffee, rare for a movie theater.
Thanks Avalon-will catch it when I get a chance.