Friday, March 29, 2024

Toronto: “Silver Linings Playbook” Wins People’s Choice Award

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The Toronto International Film Festival is over, and the winner of the Audience Award–given by Blackberry–was David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook.” Runner up was Ben Affleck’s “Argo.” Each of these movies will be Oscar nominees for Best Picture. I do think “Silver Linings” could win, and bring awards to Russell. and actors Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro. Star Bradley Cooper will also be nominated. But he’s in a tougher crowd, with Daniel Day Lewis, Joaquin Phoenix, Tommy Lee Jones, and several others.

“Silver Linings Playbook” is simply going to win over everyone who sees it. It has that rare combination of heart, art, and soul. You root for everyone in the film, which is beautifully crafted throughout. There isn’t a false note to be heard, and it’s utterly original. Good for David O. Russell, who finally found his footing a couple of years ago with “The Fighter.” Now he’s in ‘the zone.’

The Toronto People’s Choice Award is a good indicator of the Oscar. Past winners  have included “The King’s Speech,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “American Beauty,” as well as “Precious,” as well as “Hotel Rwanda” and “Chariots of Fire.”

PS Chris Tucker is excellent and very funny in his first non “Rush Hour” movie. He’s confident as an actor. It’s time he made more movies!

Here’s the release from Toronto:

BLACKBERRY® PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
The BlackBerry People’s Choice Award is voted on by Festival audiences. This year’s award goes to David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook. The film is an intense, loving, emotional and funny family story from the director of The Fighter, David O. Russell, in which Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence find themselves partners in a secret arrangement to rebuild their broken lives. Robert De Niro yearns to get closer to his son (Cooper), as he tries to keep the family afloat with his compulsive bookmaking. The award offers a $15,000 cash prize and custom award, sponsored by BlackBerry. First runner up is Ben Affleck’s Argo. The second runner up is Eran Riklis’ Zaytoun.
The Festival presents a free screening of the award-winning film Silver Linings Playbook tonight. The screening takes place at 6 p.m. at the Ryerson Theatre. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first served basis beginning at 4 p.m. at Ryerson Theatre.
The BlackBerry People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award goes to Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths. Seven Psychopaths follows a struggling screenwriter (Colin Farrell) who inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends (Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell) kidnap a gangster’s (Woody Harrelson) beloved Shih Tzu. Co-starring Abbie Cornish, Tom Waits, Olga Kurylenko and Zeljko Ivanek. First runner up is Barry Levinson’s The Bay and second runner up is Don Coscarelli’s John Dies at the End.
The BlackBerry People’s Choice Documentary Award goes to Bartholomew Cubbins for Artifact. Telling harsh truths about the modern music business, Artifact gives intimate access to singer/actor Jared Leto and his band Thirty Seconds to Mars as they battle their label in a brutal lawsuit and record their album This Is War. First runner up is Christopher Nelius and Justin McMillan’s Storm Surfers 3D. Second runner up is Rob Stewart’s Revolution.

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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