Silver Linings Playbook Despite the rather unfortunate Hunger Games, we're ready to forgive Jennifer Lawrence for this one. Silver Linings Playbook is about bipolar Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) whose life does not go according to plan; he loses his career, his house and his wife. After moving back to his parents' house after an 8 month stay in a mental institution, Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who has her own share of problems and this is where the plot thickens. Tiffany offers pat to help him reconnect with his wife but only if he'll do something for her in return. As they go through with their deal, they form an inevitable bond and the film moves towards its climax. Both Lawrence and Cooper have been nominated for Best Actor/Actress at the Golden Globes and the film has been nominated for Best Picture. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film received overwhelmingly positive critical reception and has a 90% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Elizabeth Wietzman of the New York Daily News called it, “An edgy romantic dramedy that suits our anxious times," while Tom Long of the Detroit News said, “It shouldn't work – there's just too much going on. But it does. Spectacularly. Go see it." It seems not everyone had forgotten Lawrence's Hunger Games performance and a somewhat bitter Rex Reed from the New York Observer said this, “There's nothing wrong with the overrated Jennifer Lawrence that some serious acting lessons couldn't improve. The rest of the actors are pretty much on their own." We recommend you go see this one anyway. It has Robert De Niro. Showing at: Galaxy, Galaxy Cineplex, Golden Stars, Ramses Hilton, Stars Cinema, Plaza Cinema, Concorde El-Salam Cinema
Alex Cross A young homicide detective follows the case of a serial killer who proves that the detective has finally met his match. But wait: the young detective is played by none other than not-so-young Tyler Perry. We're not sure if you should avoid this because it has Perry or because it's based on a James Patterson novel. The cat and mouse plot gives you the same elements Patterson uses book after book, which Hollywood then uses film after film. Of course, the mission becomes personal, heightening the stakes and testing Perry's psychological well-being in a no doubt tense and exciting thriller. Both critics and audiences seem to agree on this one: the film has a 12% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics lashing out on the lacking performances, the dumb plot and the graceless writing. David Edelstein of New York Magazine said, “Alex Cross is coarse, punishing, and, in all the ways that matter, conscienceless," and Eric Hynes of Village Voice called it, “A strong candidate for dumbest film of the year." Just stick to Madea, Perry. Showing at: Galaxy, Galaxy Cineplez, Stars Cinema, Concorde El-Salam Cinema, Plaza Cinema.
