Movie Reviews by Cinema Siren

Oscar Time: Five Non-Holiday Movies Worth Seeing

The holidays are a great time to get a head start on Oscar viewing.

December is Oscar time. Filmmakers need to get their movies in under the wire so they'll be in the running for this year's awards. Consequently, this month is a weird mix of crowd-pleasing mediocrity and painfully long masterpieces that mix horribly with a need for fluff. But what's a movie lover to do? Gotta see them! Having only viewed two of these films — "Lincoln" and "Silver Linings Playbook" — I'm as in the dark as you all are about how truly great these movies are, and how they measure up to each other as far as acting and scripting are concerned. All I know is what I hear, and I'm hearing a lot. All the critics associations are putting together their lists of bests, and they all influence how the Oscars go. So far, these are the …

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'Silver Linings Playbook' Offers Optimism During Holiday Season

David O. Russell directs ensemble cast in film garnering Oscar buzz.

Cinema Siren knows mental illness. Who doesn't? Like me, most of you probably have friends or family who struggle with the challenges of bipolar disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder on a daily basis. What makes "Silver Linings Playbook" so endearing and what will make it so enduring as a new fan favorite is the straightforward, unflinching way it portrays those disorders while maintaining a surprising sense of charm and a great comedic heart. This is a movie worth any movie lover's time and money and will resonate with anyone who has personal experience interacting with those who live with these diseases.   The story, directed and adapted by David O. Russell ("The Fighter," "Three Kings"), follows prodigal son Pat (Bradley Cooper), …

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