Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
Spoilers follow for the M. Night Shyamalan filmTrap, which opened in theaters on August 2.
Josh Hartnetthas a great smirk.
His mind is elsewhere as he figures out how to outsmart the cops.
He does perfectly fine in those roles; hes a serviceable leading man.
(You will not regret consuming this gonzo series.)
Some of the most compelling performances of Hartnetts career, though, dip more fully into villainy.
ButTrapgives Hartnett his most comprehensive and multifaceted villain showcase yet, and he uses his whole body for it.
He looms, he slows his speech, he stares.
Cooper performs multiple versions of himself throughout the film, each suited to whatever situation hes in.
The methodical, dead-eyed problem solver striding through the arena, testing doors and scoping out cameras.
The affable, apologizing-for-himself arena employee, confidently making his way through a crowd of cops.
Here is a man thinking about the past and the future, all hes done and all hes lost.
But once Cooper is inside the locked box, a tire spoke emerges from Coopers sleeve.
He chuckles at how easy this was.
In trying to cage Cooper in,Trapfrees Hartnett to be the baddie hes always been.
