I
looked forward to watching this movie. Especially, for its star cast. And because
of its subject and theme: bipolar disorder and depression and life.
Let
me say at the very outset that there was a Malayalam movie Vaddakunathan that dealt with the subject of bipolar disorder
better than this one.
So
I finally got down to watching this movie yesterday afternoon… Well, at the
end, I feel that it is a Bollywood script filmed by a Hollywood director! It
just contains a lot of hamming and unrestrained acting by Bradley Cooper and
his parents.
Only
Robert De Niro excels and Chris Tucker excel in parts. In fact, Chris Tucker's character could have been given some depth.
It
becomes a ‘trying-too-hard-to-be-a-feel-good’ film. About happy endings and how
we all can live with bipolar disorders and sex addictions and manic depressions…
But portrays everything in an unscientific and impractical way. Here, the lead
character knows what he is suffering from, can’t let go of his wife, his past,
frustrates everybody, yells in the middle of the night, etc., but wants
everybody to understand him and love him.
Somehow
a woman, who suffers her own tragic situation (accidental death of a husband leaving
her high and dry), is plotted into his life and love blossoms between the two. In
fact, love (lust?) is almost thrust upon the bipolar-disordered leading man without any
idea about its consequences or humane thoughts. This very approach is clichéd and
insults the intelligence of the average movie lover.
Jennifer
Lawrence’s performance and the well-choreographed dance sequence are the only silver
linings in this dark cloud! I shall let this one pass by and await good rain
and sunshine from another one.
