Cooper's Versatility Aids Many Roles

"Silver Linings Playbook" walks a tricky thematic tightrope, but Russell's sensitive direction and some sharp work from a talented cast (headed by Cooper as a troubled man looking to get his mojo back) give it true balance. Ambitious to a fault, "The Place Beyond the Pines" finds writer/director Derek Cianfrance reaching for - and often grasping - thorny themes of family, fatherhood and fate; helping him to succeed is Cooper as a cop locked in a battle of wits with a desperate criminal. With a clever script and hilarious interplay among the cast (including Cooper as the smooth-talking Phil Wenneck), "The Hangover" nails just the right tone of raunchy humor, and the nonstop laughs overshadow any flaw. For better and for worse, Joe Carnahan's big-screen version of "The A-Team" captures the superficial, noisy spirit of the TV series, and Cooper is typically suave as Templeton "Face" Peck.