Bradley Cooper made his debut in a 2001 ensemble comedy called Wet Hot American Summer; however, it was only toward the end of the decade that he began his rise to fame. Since then Bradley Cooper has been one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Bradley Cooper is one of the rare few actors who have the dedication to play an alcoholic country singer and a talking racoon in the same year with the same level of commitment.
Bradley Cooper has also directed 2018’s acclaimed Oscar-nominated movie “A Star is Born”. Although not all his films are considered masterpieces, he has done a substantial amount of good work that will no doubt be recognised as part of Hollywood’s best in the future. Here is The Hollywood Tribune’s list of the top 5 Bradley Cooper movies.
The Hangover (2009)
We have to address the elephant in the room. When The Hangover released more than a decade ago, it quickly became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time until Deadpool came to screens.
That movie made Bradley Cooper a sensation and turned him into a recognisable star almost immediately. But what makes Todd Phillips movie stand out is the simple fact that it was funny, had a likeable cast and used it’s premise effectively.
A Star is Born (2018)
Bradley Cooper made his directorial debut with A Star Is Born which is one of Hollywood’s oldest love stories. In this movie he plays the male lead by the name of Jackson Maine, a country singer and Lady Gaga is the female lead named Ally, a bar singer that he discovers and falls in love with.
The on-screen chemistry between them was palpable and was one of the most significant contributors to the movie’s success. At the same time, the script and original songs set it apart from the previous version.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
The movie directed by David O. Russell stars Jennifer Lawrence alongside Bradley Cooper as a fellow depressive. Here, Cooper shows off his sensible, sensitive side as Pat Solitano, a depressed divorcee who is trying to fix his life. The intense performances through every scene earn Bradley Cooper his first Oscar nomination.
Jennifer Lawrence was the one who managed to pick up an Oscar for her role as Tiffany Maxwell, the fellow depressive who puts Pat on his feet.
American Hustle (2013)
Bradley Cooper earns his second Oscar nomination for his performance in David O. Russell’s thriller based on real events. Cooper plays an FBI agent Richie DiMasio who enlists a team of criminal con artists to mount a sting operation against a crooked mayor.
Cooper manages to do all this while attempting to maintain a straight face despite the pink rollers in his hair and Travolta-Esque disco moves.
American Sniper (2014)
This movie was always to be the first choice if you’re a Bradley Cooper fan like The Hollywood Tribune. In this Clint Eastwood movie based on a true story, Bradley plays the role of Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S Military History.
Now bearded and well built, Bradley Cooper earns a well deserved third Oscar nomination in three years. Although his character Chris Kyle is the most lethal sniper, his home life is not that successful, and he finds moving on from the war a far greater challenge. Clint Eastwood’s blockbuster biopic became the most successful war movie ever, with its box office grossing over half a billion dollars.
Alas, this concludes the list for the Top 5 Movies of Bradley Cooper, but when you have an actor as talented as he is, you can be sure that there will be more to come.
So stay tuned to The Hollywood Tribune for more updates on Bradley Cooper and more news from Hollywood and beyond.