‘Silver Linings Playbook’ author thrilled over Oscar nominations

Silver Linings Playbook, which is set in the Philadelphia area, has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film was shot around Philadelphia including in Upper Darby and Norristown. The novel it is based on was written by Collingswood, N.J., native Matthew Quick.

Silver Linings Playbook nominations:

Best Picture — Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon, Producers
Best Director — David O. Russell
Best Film Editing — Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers
Best Adapted Screenplay — David O. Russell
Best Actor — Bradley Cooper
Best Supporting Actor — Robert De Niro
Best Actress — Jennifer Lawrence
Best Supporting Actress — Jacki Weaver

When NewsWorks caught up with Quick in November, he said the film is “very true to the spirit of the book.” This morning, speaking from his home in Massachusetts, Quick said he learned about the film’s multiple nominations live from the Academy’s website. “I watched it live online.”

He said he’s thrilled to see the film get the attention it deserves. In particular he said he believes the discussion of mental illness in the story is helping spark a more national discussion about this.

“That was important to me, and I know that was important to David O. Russell,” Quick said. The novel The Silver Linings Playbook chronicles the tale of Pat, who returns home to Collingswood to reclaim his life and identity after spending four years in a mental institution following an incident he cannot remember.

Quick was not involved in the production of the film. Still, he believes, film director David O. Russell, who also wrote the screenplay from Quick’s book, understood the characters as well as the importance of keeping the story around Philadelphia. 

The film has another local connection. Actor Bradley Cooper who is nominated for Best Actor, portraying Pat Solatano, grew up in Rydal in Montgomery County.

If you want to learn more about the novel, don’t miss Marty Moss-Coane’s October interview with Quick on “Radio Times.”