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Vice-President Joe Biden’s office today tweeted this photo of him meeting with Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell and actor Bradley Cooper. The duo, whose Oscar nominated movie is about people dealing with mental health issues, were in Washington to help announce introduction of the Excellence in Mental Health Act to Congress. The bi-partisan bill was drafted in response to the shootings last year in Newtown, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado. The legislation’s goal is to expand access to mental health services across the nation. Russell was scheduled to be in LA for a WGA panel Thursday night but dropped out for the meeting with the Veep.
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Do they ever stop hanging out with celebrities over there? I get the mental health issues thing. But seriously, it’s every chance they get.
this goofy comedy has nothing to do with or say about real mental illness. and trying to work that to win awards is morally reprehensible.
I completely agree – it’s appauling what Weinstein is trying to do with this film.
Beyond pathetic. I mean, I loved Silver Linings Playbook–my favorite movie of the year, actually–but is this really what governance has become in our Kardashian Kulture? What a joke Biden is.
I didn’t see any complaints when Ben Affleck was stumping with John Kerry or Lincoln was shown to the Senate. Not to mention the ZD30 controversy.
It’s fascinating how deadline continues to carry Harvey’s water during awards season. You know how many people refused to run this? Why not support a legitimate contender like Pi or Argo, or is it all about Harvey paying you off. Disgusting.
That movie is an irresponsible mess and I’m sorry but this is disgusting Oscar campaigning. Bradley Cooper should step away quietly. He won’t win anyway, and he is whoring himself out for a mediocre rom-com. ALl the while, Russell parades his teenage son’s private story around the talk show circuit and fake cries for the sympathy vote. What a disgusting display.
+1
I am very uncomfortable with this, and sure I could be just cynical, but if they are actually shameless enough to use a good cause for an Oscar-campaign, well that would be deplorable. Cooper and Russell BETTER stick with the cause for years to come, because if these stories stop around March (= AFTER Oscar), they will prove without doubt that, yes, they WERE that shameless. And don’t even get me started with the son-angle, bringing a teenager’s very personal struggles into an Oscar-campaign to win sympathy votes, is just disgusting.
The Washington Post put it best :
“Was this all about using a star to promote a cause — or using a cause to promote a “Silver Linings” Oscar campaign? The invisible hand of media-savvy executive producer Harvey Weinstein seems to be at work in Cooper’s last-minute advocacy blitz, a week before ballots go to Academy members.”
Co-sign the above 2 comments. What offensive and shallow exploitation for personal gain – and it was disappointing to see De Niro participate in this shameful campaign. The film isn’t even an accurate depiction of bi-polar disorder. And, first they pushed the film as a romantic comedy to sell tickets, now that awards season has rolled around, suddenly it’s a sobering profound study of mental illness. Why is Biden participating in this carnival. This is not about promoting awareness of mental illness, this is about pushing a mediocre movie and a mediocre actor for Oscars.
Yes, let’s continue to mix politics and celebrity and mental illness and idol worship all in the same toxic cocktail and drink to health.
Funny, you would never see comments like above when Lincoln was screened for Obama and people in Congress. Hypocritical much?
Umm maybe because that screening actually made sense? With all due respect, what does Bradley Cooper actually know about mental illness other than his first hand experience of being part of the Weinstein machine?
I thought that the movie “Silver Lining Playbook” was a get movie. It gave you a better understanding about people who are bi-polar. I believe I heard that Mr.Russel’s son is bi-polar. I give the VP Mr. Biden credit for takin the time to talk to these men about this issue.
Ronald and JFK spent just as much time with celebrities…nothing new…find a new argument
David O Russell is one of the most talent person around in this business.
We should be so lucky to share his talent and his intelligence.
Thank you DOR, you are a winner.
What Weinstein flack wrote this?
Silver Linings was a very important movie on the topic of mental illness, something that unfortunately runs rampant in many families. It’s a horrible thing to have/see someone you love suffer with this. The American gov’t is not doing enough to recognize and treat individuals, in addition to the overpowering lobbyist work of pharmeceutical companies that just want to over medicate the victims with the wrong medicine that will leave them hooked for life or worse want to make them kill themselves. WHAT IS WRONG WITH TWO PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS FILM visiting the Vice President to discuss and bring more awareness to the unfortunate non committment the current gov’t has made? WHY CANT THEY HELP EDUCATE BIDEN? SHAME ON ALL OF THE NASTY COMMENTS. It’s kind of sad, ok so you favor another movie for the Oscars, don’t take pot shots at this movie or Cooper, or O’Russell because they are trying to do some good here. Vicious comments, wow! Really sad.
phantom88 is just jealous (there plenty of people like them on the internet) of Bradley Cooper and David Russell success
You couldn’t be further from the truth. I am NOT jealous of their success, I was rooting for Cooper’s first Oscar nomination, I was very happy to see the criminally underrated Jackie Weaver getting in, and I am ALWAYS glad to see a low-budget indie doing THIS spectacularly well at the Box Office. I simply don’t GET how these two – Cooper and Russell – are qualified to have a discussion with the Vice President of the United States (!) about the SERIOUS issue they VERY vaguely covered in a fictionalized COMEDY. That’s all.
P.S. Claiming that opposing views can only derive from jealousy is a remarkably lazy, insulting and ignorant argument, one that suggests you can’t defend your opinion at all.
you may not be jealous Phantom but you sound really bitter then. Russell and Bradley are going to gov’t and yeah they are taking advantage of the buzz on the movie to bring attention to the fact that the US gov’t does nothing for sufferers of mental illness in terms of health benefits, in terms of placating the pharmaceutical companies that would rather give them the wrong medication that makes them addicted, therefore making a profit for those companies.
You seem really bitter. Maybe you’re not as good looking as Cooper or smart as Russell so waste your time picking on Lincoln or Argo who has similar visibility with the White House or gov’t.
In defense of Phantom, it doesn’t make someone bitter when they are bothered by the way a movie is being presented to the public. I, too, am bothered, and see from these comments that many are. The FACT is that SLP is a romantic comedy that deals with bipolar disorder in a very light-hearted way, and many MANY people who have seen the movie do not feel that it is an accurate way, or a way that helps shine a light on any administrative failures as regards mental illness. It’s fine if you want to make a somewhat silly and two-dimensional romantic comedy, but don’t turn around at awards time and try to sell it to me as “awakenings.” cuz it ain’t.
Thanks, Jim !
Urgh, riiight, so let me get this straight : if I – or anyone else for that matter – have a problem with what SEEMS to be shameless Oscar campaigning, I am either jealous or bitter for speculating about it, because clearly I can’t have my opinion b(i)ased on anything else…GREAT argument you have there…
As I said, IF they stick with the cause for years to come, kudos to them and I will be happy to admit that I was just way too cynical here…BUT if these ‘SLP people really care, you guys’ articles that have been everywhere lately, stop post-Oscar, they will prove once and for all, that yes, they WERE shameless enough to use a good cause for an Oscar campaign. Until then, they do have the benefit of the doubt.
P.S. People, stop comparing Silver Linings Playbook to Argo, Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty, it’s embarassing. Those three films are about real events concerning the US goverment, of course politicians are interested, question is, why do they care about a FICTIONALIZED COMEDY when it comes to the very REAL and very SERIOUS issue of mental illness ? Read the damn article : the lead and director of a fictionalized comedy about a guy with bipolar disorder were invited to Washington to help announce introduction of the Excellence in Mental Health Act to Congress, the bi-partisan bill that was drafted in response to the shootings last year in Newtown, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado. Don’t you see how offensive that is ? They are introducing a bill because of two recent mass shootings, and they think for even a second, that the Cooper-Russell duo who made a lightweight comedy vaguely dealing with bipolar disorder, are now suddenly qualified to be there ? Not the survivors, not the policemen, not the ER doctors…no, the movie star and the director of a romantic comedy who happen to be up for Oscars this month…
Seriously? This is what we’re getting mad about? Joe Biden meets with Hollywood and shines a spotlight on a good cause. If it’s not you’re thing, move on. Seems like unnecessary outrage to me.
I loved Silver Linings Playbook and I think it’s amazing that David O. Russell and Bradley Cooper are fighting the good fight for the mental illness campaign. It’s about time that this country paid serious attention to understanding and treating mental illness and I support VP Bidens and Silver Linings Playbook’s efforts.
Silver Linings Playbook was a wonderful movie that shed light on a very serious problem in this country. I commend David O. Russell and Bradley Cooper for their dedication to the mental illness cause. We should show our support for treating mental illness and all of those who publicly speak about the issue. Thank you Vice President Biden, David O. Russell, Bradley Cooper, the story of Silver Linings Playbook, and countless others for starting a national conversation about mental health- it’s been long overdue.
You know, it’s a good cause. Even if it is campaigning, I’d rather see them doing this than giving another magazine interview or doing a photo shoot or something. Hope they continue this after awards season.
I think what David O Russell and Bradley cooper are doing is very brave. They are trying to raise awareness for the mental health problem in this country that is very clearly not taken care of the way it should be. People suffer from these serious problems and cannot get the care they need. The character Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook has support system behind him who wants him to get the best help he can. Some people are not as lucky to be able to have that support system and constantly work on their issues with the love and support they need. I think its really amazing that these celebrities care so much about mental health issues in this country to take their cause to DC
There has and always will be shameless award season campaigning… (don’t get me start on the Golden Globes). Why are people acting like this is something new? Bottom line: There is still a HUGE stigma with regards to mental illness in this country,so if this movie or a couple of it’s stars meeting with the VP kicks starts a public discussion about it, then I am more than OK with that.
Point taken, Bose1. Shining a light on a good cause is a good thing. But it sticks in the throat going down when you know that the two Hollywood types are there for their OWN good cause: Oscar.
Seth, Ronald Reagan was a celebrity. And they hung out with him.
Obviously u wouldn’t know the real deal if it hit u where the sun don’t shine. Ur so used to hype & conspiracy that u see that in everything. Open ur eyes to reality
Sadly, I think the people with their eyes open to reality are the ones who know a thing or two about awards campaigning, and specifically, the Harvey Weinstein approach. Sorry but this stinks to high heaven.
Joe is trying – however, if he called me, I could have given him a plethora of people who are more equipped to discuss this matter than Russell & Cooper. Albeit, they are the movie – however, neither one of them have “lived” mental illness. I suspect nobody in their immediate family has either. Just a waste of time bs photo op for plugs himself. He should know better.
I thought Silver Lining Playbook was a very good movie. I don’t know any one that is bi-polar. But it gave me a little insite as to what they must go through. Also I believe Mr. Russell on the Katie Couric show said,” his son is bi-polar.” His son was the young boy in the movie. As far as the two men talking to VP. Biden, I don’t think it was about the Oscars, it was about the issues of mental health.
Just imagine those moron minds in Biden’s office thinking that publicly sending that photo out would be a positive. It’s nothing more than a sell job off the back of a “real” cause.
I get the Weinstein criticisms – like Obama crises are promotional opportunities – and I haven’t seen any of the television promotion – but I don’t see anything wrong with this. It’s just a picture. Plus the movie takes place in Philadelphia; Bradley Cooper’s from Philly; and in Philly much of Delaware is like a suburb of Philly and Biden is virtually a local politician and has been for decades as he has been in South Jersey. I don’t really care about “best;” they’re all “best” after a certain point but my favorite performance this year was Cooper’s. Real growth. Took him to a whole new level. Favorite scene, perfectly pitched (remembered:) DeNiro (flawless in the movie) to Cooper : “Why are you wearing a garbage bag?” Hilarious. Weinstein : nobody stitches Oscar momentum better. But he picks his horse (this year it’s “Silver Linings Playbook;” Quentin got second position) and he threw “The Master” under the bus.