So I finally watched Silver Linings Playbook this weekend. For some reason I thought it was going to be a lame romcom. I ended up enjoying the film so much that I ended up watching another David O Russell film this weekend. That got me thinking about mixing up the trailer feature this week to concentrate on one director. So for this week all the trailers will be from David O Russell Directed films.
Three Kings (1999) Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube is an action adventure comedy. At the conclusion of the Persian Gulf War a group of soldiers set out to find a stash of gold hidden in Kuwait. I must confess that I have not watched this film since it was first released but I am ready for a re-watch.
I Heart Huckabees (2004) Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Mark Wahlberg, Lily Tomlin and Dustin Hoffman star in this quirky film. This is a screwball comedy that encompasses existential and nihilistic philosophies, but is actually about Buddhism. At least I think so after watching it for the first time last night. This film reminded me an awful lot of a Wes Anderson film.
The Fighter (2010) Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams is the story of Lowell’s “Irish” Micky Ward’s attempt to win the welterweight title in the 1980′s. This film had some great boxing scenes coupled with a lot of family drama. My favorite thing about this film was how much of the local style and atmosphere they managed to capture with this film. I read somewhere that they utilized a lot of locals for extras on this film and it looks like it.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro is a romcom dealing with love and mental illness. I procrastinated watching this film for a long time. Finally a romcom where you don’t have to leave your cojones at the door when you walk into the theater. Also a film where De Niro does not mail in his performance. Lastly, hooray for yoga pants.
Have you seen all of these films? What are your impressions of David O Russell as a director/writer.
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I also didn’t have high expectations for SLP but really enjoyed it. Lawrence and De Niro were really good in it.
Ckckred, Yeah I am not sure what finally let a fire under De Niro’s ass but I am glad something did. Who knew mixing dancing and football together in a film would work so well?
I more than just liked most of these films and I have seen them all.
Scott am I crazy or did you mention one time the misses was into I heart Huckabees?
Yeah I think she did, long time to remember but I beleive she was a fan.
Haha! “How am I not myself?” Yes, I loved this movie. It’s quirky and has Jason Schwartzman AND Mark Wahlberg in it, what’s not to love?
See I knew I remembered something about that. Thanks for making me think I am not crazy Erin
I absolutely love Jennifer Lawrence so I couldn’t wait to see it. She didn’t disappoint me. The film even made to my top 10 of 2012.
Erik, I think that film would fall somewhere in my top 5, It really caught me off guard.
I have a cinema crush on her also but I was not totally blown away by her in this film, something was off to me, not much but noticable. I do not think it took away from the film that much and still really liked SLP.
maybe the fact that she was a crazy nympho was what set your radar off.
I’ve only seen Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook, but that to me is one of the best films of all time. I cannot wait to check out the other featured films on this list.
Teddy, The Fighter is awesome, I Heart Huckabees is enjoyable if you like Wes Anderson type films.
I love Wes Anderson. Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll be sure to check them out soon.
Haven’t seen I Heart Huckabees, but I’ve really enjoyed the hell out of his other work. The Fighter was great, and Three Kings is among my all time favorites. I feel SLP is, by far, his weakest outing yet, however, and though it’s not terrible, I find myself baffled at all of the awards recognition it’s been getting. Bradley Cooper’s quite frankly the only nomination that deserves it, but eh…
Chris I agree on Cooper but I really feel the movie was made by the supporting cast, without them the film is meh with them it is pretty good.
Chris that was actually a great performance by Cooper and the one that caught me most by surprise.
Check out I Heart Huckabees if you get the chance would love to hear what you thought about it.
I didn’t even realize The Fighter was one of his movies. It didn’t look that great to me, but I’ll watch it at some point now. I love Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees, and I haven’t seen SLP. He’s a pretty good director, but he seems like kind of a dick. At one point, he was attached to direct the Uncharted movie, and when someone asked him about Nathan Fillion playing Drake, he said he didn’t know who he is. He said some other stuff, too, that really pissed me off, but I forget what exactly.
oooo The Fighter is a good one. Also that film really nails the speech and mannerisms of a lot of the locals. I also don’t know who Nathan Fillion is
However, I have read about and watched several instances of David O Russell being a dick.
Yea, I mean, whatever. Be a dick if you want. Just make good movies and don’t go over the line of douchey-ness.
I’ll check out The Fighter pretty soon.
And Nathan Fillion doesn’t know who you are, either. So there.
Ok you forced my hand now going to Bing Nathan Fillion.
You should tweet him and ask him who he is.
Wow. figured youd be focusing on all the Super Bowl ads like everyone else.
Guess I was wrong, huh?
If it’s not the Pats or has no bearing on my fantasy football season I really could care less.
I have to admit I didn’t watch a single minute of that Super Bowl. Probably the first one I haven’t watched as far back as I can remember. Just had no interest in it. Anyway, I have seen all of these and they are great films. I never realized they were all him either. Nice job with this post Adam!
Not watching the super bowl made the whole thing seem even more ridiculous somehow. Especially how excited people get about the commercials.
I’ve seen all of these with the exception Silver Linings Playbook and since I’ve heard nothing but good things about it hopefully I’ll be seeing it soon. I, Like Mark, had no idea that the same guy was involved in each of these movies and I definitely liked the films that I’ve seen listed here. Sweet post, Adam.
Joe you got to see SLP, it choked me up a bit watching it.
I just saw Jude Law’s interview w/ Jimmy Kimmel where he talked about O. Russell, he’s one interesting character. I have seen all of these and enjoyed them on varying degrees. Silver Linings Playbook is my fave so far, with The Fighter a close second.
Ruth I just watched his blow up’s with Lily Tomlin on the set of I Heart Huckabees on Youtube. Damn both of those people look like they would be a joy to work with.
Ahah yeah, that blow-up is ridiculous but fun to watch. Sooo many profanities flying between the two of them. Kimmel asked Jude about that incident but he said he got along well w/ the director. I’m surprised nothing happened between Bale and O. Russell on the set of The Fighter, you know both are quite fiery guys!
Ruth I am actually writing up a post about that right now lol
Ruth was that on Kimmel recently? I would like to check that out.