Image credit: Staccato Films, Entertainment One, Fox Searchlight, Revolution Films, Roadside Attractions, Sony Pictures Classics, Atomic Arts, Tribeca Film, IFC Films
Dominic Cooper is one of those actors you feel like you've seen in a bunch of blockbusters but just can't place.
Well, this actor has been in some amazing movies that sadly flew under the radar. Here are some of the most underrated Dominic Cooper films that deserve a second look – or maybe even a first.
1. "The Devil's Double" (2011) Dominic plays Latif Yahia, who's forcibly recruited to be the body double of Uday Hussein, Saddam's brutal son. How's that for a life twist? Latif goes through surgeries and training to mimic Uday and gets to live the high life — except, you know, he's the human shield for a sociopath.
As Latif navigates this perilous position, we witness some terrifying events, from excessive partying to violent outbursts, and even cold-blooded murder.
2. "Reasonable Doubt" (2014) Mitch, a district attorney, gets involved in a hit-and-run and covers it up. Soon after, a man named Clinton is arrested for the crime and put on trial. Here's the twist: Mitch is assigned to prosecute him. Just as Clinton is about to be found guilty, Mitch drops the charges, believing him to be innocent. However, Mitch then discovers that Clinton may actually be a serial killer.
3. "The History Boys" (2006) It's the 1980s, and a group of high school boys are prepping for their Oxford and Cambridge entrance exams.
They're a diverse bunch, ranging from the jock to the nerd, and they're guided by two very different teachers. One believes in conventional methods and rigid discipline, while the other opts for a more liberal, free-thinking approach. As they get closer to the exams, the boys grapple with issues of sexuality, the ethics of education, and what they want from life.
4. "An Education" (2009) The '60s in suburban London. Jenny is a 16-year-old schoolgirl with dreams of reading English at Oxford. Enter David, an older man who charms her and shows her the sophisticated life she longs for. As Jenny gets more entangled in David's world, she starts to drift from her original academic aspirations. Things seem all rosy until Jenny finds out David is married and makes his money through scams.
5. "Summer in February" (2013) Ever heard of the Lamorna Group? Nah? Well, they were a clique of Edwardian artists in Cornwall, England, and this film follows their complex relationships. We meet Florence, an aspiring artist who catches the eye of the esteemed but emotionally volatile painter Alfred. A love triangle forms when Florence starts falling for Gilbert, a cavalry officer.
Love, art, and war converge.
6. "The Escapist" (2008) In this prison break thriller we've got Frank, an inmate serving a life sentence who learns that his daughter is critically ill. Desperate to see her, he plans an escape. But there's a catch — this isn't your run-of-the-mill prison.
The facility is a labyrinthine nightmare, an underground maze that's nearly impossible to navigate. With the help of some other inmates, Frank tries to beat the odds and make his way to freedom.
7. "Stratton" (2017) John Stratton is a British Special Boat Service commando who's on a mission to stop a terrorist cell that's planning a biochemical attack. It's a high-stakes, time-sensitive operation with international repercussions. As Stratton races against the clock, traversing locations from London to Rome to Iran, he uncovers betrayals and secrets that shake the foundation of his mission.
8. "Miss You Already" (2015) Jess and Milly are lifelong friends who've seen each other through everything – marriages, births, and all sorts of life's ups and downs. But when Milly is diagnosed with breast cancer and Jess faces fertility issues, their friendship is put to the ultimate test.
We follow Jess and Milly each struggling in her own way yet finding strength in their friendship.
9. "Hello Carter" (2011) This is for everyone who's ever been dumped and then had to navigate the awkward "getting your stuff back" phase. Carter gets fired and dumped on the same day. He drives across London to retrieve a lost treasure, a letter he left at his ex-girlfriend's apartment.
Along the way, Carter finds himself in a series of bizarre and hilarious situations, meeting quirky characters who help (and hinder) his quest.
10. "The Lady in the Van" (2015) In this British comedy-drama based on real events Alan Bennett, a playwright, forms an unlikely friendship with Miss Shepherd, a homeless woman who lives in a van parked in his driveway – for 15 years! Over time, Bennett learns about her mysterious past as a former nun and gifted pianist. Though she may be a prickly character, she becomes a fixture in his life.
