MovieChat Forums > August: Osage County (2014) Discussion > Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper

posted 9 years ago by Eyebrows
17 replies | jump to latest

I know everybody talks about Streep and Roberts in this film but I thought Chris Cooper was outstanding in a supporting role here. I've always thought Cooper was excellent in pretty much anything he does - I know he's acclaimed within the business and amongst hardcore movie-fans, but his name doesn't always jump to people's minds when they're talking about the greatest actors that have been.

The scene where he tears into his wife over her treatment of Little Charles is the obvious stand-out but it's the other moments too - his awkwardness saying grace at the dinner table and, my favourite part, in Little Charles' first scene where he tells him how proud of him he is.

I sound like a total Chris Cooper fan-boy, but I really thought he was exceptional in this.

[–] friendofthebard 9 years ago

Agree. Hard to believe this is the same guy who played the obsessive orchid hunter in "Adaptation."

Meryl Streep is a shape-shifter.

[–] merlinsbearddd 9 years ago

Or the same homophobic, abusive father in American Beauty.

[–] movieSNOB1 9 years ago

He was awesome. I thought Julia was awful, actually.

[–] tryingcake 9 years ago

Julia hasn't been good in anything in many, many years.

[–] misssun 9 years ago

I thought she was wonderful in this film. And as for not being good in anything in many, many years .... she has made few films in many many years! She has been busy raising her kids and having a life. I thought she was excellent in Eat, Pray, Love, by the way.

[–] Westwindnotnorth 9 years ago

The amazing thing to me was that Big Charles almost certainly knew that Lil Charles was Beverly's son and yet he told him how proud he was, talked about his love of Beverly, and called his wife on the carpet for her treatment of her son and the disrespect she showed. He drew the line in the sand to protect him. That's a man. What a wonderfully written character.

[–] Stirchley 9 years ago

The amazing thing to me was that Big Charles almost certainly knew that Lil Charles was Beverly's son and yet he told him how proud he was, talked about his love of Beverly, and called his wife on the carpet for her treatment of her son and the disrespect she showed.

There was nothing in the movie to suggest that. Violet told us more than once that Charles had always been a huge smoker of grass (which suggests that he was in a fog most of the time). I seriously doubt that a down-to-earth, no-nonsense type like Charles would accept that his wife slept with his BIL and that they had a kid together. Let alone that he would then raise that kid and pretend that he was his own.

[–] Manton29 7 years ago

While I see your point, logically, with regards to their being no evidence(?) that Big Charles knew, I'd say the 'real man' portrayed by Cooper, combined with this 'real man's fierce love for Little Charles - a vulnerable, fundamentally good soul placed by fate into his care - I think it's plausible that he could have suspected or even known he wasn't the blood father and still behaved the same.

I'll be considering this question when I re-watch the film and if I see things different or have any worthwhile reflections on this I'll be sure to comment on it here.

Cheers,

Manton

If to stand pat means to resist evil then, yes, neighbour, we wish to stand pat.

[–] liberius 9 years ago

It's called stealing the show.

Cooper is a damn fine actor and seems to bring an earthy honesty to his best roles. My favorite is him as the sheriff in Lone Star...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116905/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_41

...which contains a twist similar to A:OC.

He works with John Sayles a bit.

[–] shesamazingnyc 9 years ago

Agree. He's excellent in EVERYTHING. He's a stealthy one, and it always takes me a moment to realize it's him. He's one of the best in the business.

[–] IcySpoon 9 years ago

I've never seen him give a bad performance-he's a brilliant character actor with great range and I feel like his performances are often over-looked in favor of those with larger or flashier parts.

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." Norman Maclean

[–] India_Ana 9 years ago

People who are good at their craft make it look so easy anyone could do it, and thus get overlooked. It isn't until you try to do what they do that you realize just how hard it truly is.

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[–] Julia-Caesaris 8 years ago

I've always thought Cooper was excellent in pretty much anything he does

this

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These are for you McNulty

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[–] Maddyclassicfilms 8 years ago

Agreed he is very good in this. I have yet to see him give a bad performance, he's one of those actors who can steal a scene with just a look.

Go to bed Frank or this is going to get ugly .