Pro: David O. Russell finally gained admission to "the club" after "The Fighter" lit up the circuit a few years ago. And his latest is already delighting festival audiences over and over again, earning accolades and early awards on the way to what many see as a solid foothold in the Oscar race. Few other comedies seem to have the proper traction.

Con: But will "Silver Linings Playbook" be perceived as little more than a romantic comedy? It's possible. Will the early festival hype drown it in expectations? It's possible. We'll just have to see if the Academy takes to it the same way early lookers have.

- Kristopher Tapley