2023 puts Bradley Cooper’s versatility on center stage

From a revenge-fueled raccoon to a free spirit composer, Cooper made a real dent.

How many actors carried Marvel’s biggest success in years and shouldered the tall task of telling Leonard Bernstein’s story in an awards time Netflix feature all inside the same year? Add to that the latter being his second time behind the camera, directing and producing along with a starring role. That’s Bradley Cooper, the guy who burst onto the scene nearly two decades ago playing either the best friend of the romantic comedy lead, or the prick who was going to beat him up for most of the film.

But it’s no secret that Cooper can act his ass off-just look at Silver Linings Playbook and American Sniper. The devilish side of him in Guillermo Del Toro’s Nightmare Alley. Don’t forget American Hustle or A Star Is Born, his wonderful first directional effort. It’s the match-point in his career where he can handle three hats on a film. Sometimes, though, it’s just his voice.

That’s what powered Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. James Gunn placed most of his storytelling eggs for the finale’s emotional impact on the soulful if raging voice of Cooper as Rocket Raccoon, the fast-talking and faster-shooting weapons and tech expert on Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) team of avengers. A combination of comedic one liners and rally-cry phrases over the first two adventures turned into something more in Vol. 3. For once, Rocket was the center of attention, a character with a backstory that requires avenging.

Gunn placed the onus on what happened to the creature before he was a moody rebel willing to protect a tree more than any human. How did he get there? What was the force of evil that took a runaway animal and reengineered him into a killing machine. Cooper injected the role with a heartbreak that few saw coming. From the opening notes of walking around a village while listening to an acoustic Creep by Radiohead to going all in for one last battle, it was an actor and role merging completely. He made it real.

Cooper does that in so many facets and personalities. For Netflix’s Maestro, he had to dive headfirst into the brilliant but complicated mind of Bernstein, a music legend who wore many hats himself. A man so full of life he had to share it with everyone he met, almost like it was ready to burst out of him. His home base was Felicia, his adoring and resilient wife played exquisitely by Carey Mulligan.

Without spoiling my *entire* review, I can tell you Cooper succeeded and will be back contending for Oscars.

From the makeup to the voice, Cooper is transformed into Bernstein, whether it’s in his 20s getting his conducting gig or spanning late into his life as he delivers retrospectives of his career to the camera. The makeup team on Maestro do breathtaking work. Cooper also co-wrote the script and doesn’t shy away from encompassing all of Bernstein’s movements in stage. The climax contains a breathtaking performance that requires a lot of its lead.

Cooper nailed it, taking the film to a thrilling finish. He’s been on the front lines of great acting for a good while now, stepping into his first rhythm back in 2012 with Silver Linings. It’s lately that he’s taking an even higher step, directing and writing film. He’s crafting movies now along with performances.

Confession: I didn’t even know that was Cooper voicing Rocket in the first Guardians. When I saw the credits, I was shocked. It’s only when I was watching Maestro that I could hear Rocket a little in the older Leonard, as if a Marvel character and the first famous American conductor could share a sad tone.

Two completely different characters; one voice. Cooper was robbed of a directing nomination for his A Star Is Born adaptation. That shouldn’t be the case this year. He’s crafted another music-fueled love story with a stellar female performance. Pair that with the crowd pleasing closure in Gunn’s space hero tale, and 2023 has been the latest spotlight on a still burgeoning talent.

Now he’s getting ready to play Steve McQueen’s Frank Bullitt in a remake. I would usually rant about this being an unnecessary waste of money, but Cooper has me glued to its potential. That’s true star power mixed with a creator addiction.

He’s only 48 years old. Stay tuned for more of what he’s putting together. A long way from kicking Vince Vaughn’s ass on a football field, Bradley Cooper is now an Oscars fixture.