I usually don’t catch new movies until they show up for free on cable TV, which puts me a year behind a lot of conversations and controversies. But I finally saw that big Oscar-nominated Bradley Cooper flick — the one where he played a gun-crazed sociopath killer.
I read the book long before the movie came out last year, so I was still able to follow the argument everyone was having then about whether or not Hollywood should be celebrating figures like this character. What does it say about us, as a people and as a society, that we lift up a remorseless killer who lives for violence and honor him as a hero?
That’s an important question and an important conversation. But my main take-away from the film was the strength of Cooper’s performance as an actor. This wasn’t a mere portrayal, but a transformation. He disappeared into the role. Once the story began, I never looked at the screen and saw Bradley Cooper, Hollywood superstar.
All I saw was Rocket Raccoon.
Oh, and Vin Diesel was really good, too, as Groot.
Be sure to check back in here next year around this time when I share my thoughts on Age of Ultron.