Bradley Cooper – The Place Beyond the Pines
One of the greatest injustices of awards seasons in general is that the excellent films which come out earlier in the year between February and May tend to be forgotten by the time the Oscars comes around. As a result, one of the best films of this year, The Place Beyond the Pines, is likely to go unnoticed by the Academy. This mythic tale of fathers and sons features some spectacular performances from both seasoned thesps in small roles (Ray Liotta, Bruce Greenwood) and up and comers in larger roles (Dane DeHaan, Emory Cohen).
The stand out here is Bradley Cooper though, as good cop turned politician Avery Cross, who finally manages to deliver on the promise he has been showing for the past two years. Under the eye of Derek Cianfrance, Cooper irons out the mannerisms that usually defect a lot of his work and brings forth a performance of great naturalism which perfectly fits the piece. The first time we see Cooper on screen, as he chases down Ryan Gosling’s outlaw, he looks at ease behind the wheel and from there, he continues to excel in a perfect embodiment of his character.
In the final act of the film he shares two great scenes with Dane DeHaan that are grounded and tense. These scenes are played beautifully by both actors, who are able to relay the bad blood they have between them in glances, rather than dialogue. Cooper’s performance is perfectly judged and this is the best he has ever been.