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Max Braden: The Oscar voting deadline is still four weeks away so this news certainly has the opportunity to make an impact. I think this kind of record-breaking news has to have a mental impact on the voters even if they had a different front-runner in mind; people are susceptible to peer pressure and a desire to fit in with the crowd. I wonder, though, if the hype of this weekend will wane in the minds of late voters who will be looking at the accolades for Boyhood and The Imitation Game as indicators of the 'deserved' winner. I'd say American Sniper is now in play for the top three choices, but I don't currently expect it to win.

Kim Hollis: On Thursday, I would have thought it was ridiculous to even entertain the notion that it could be in contention, bigger box office or not. Now... this feels like a narrative that could lead to a Best Picture win. I still think it's unlikely to happen, but I feel that it's not nearly as cut and dried as it was. What I actually foresee happening, though, is backlash against American Sniper that keeps a lot of voters from choosing it. I also don't think there's a lot of overlap in likely Boyhood voters (or Birdman voters, or Grand Budapest Hotel voters) and American Sniper voters. I'll say this, though. I am going to be *pissed* if Bradley Cooper's terrible Texas accent wins out over Michael Keaton.

Kim Hollis: At this point, do you consider Bradley Cooper a critically lauded actor, a box office draw, or some combination of the two?

Edwin Davies: I put him into the same box as pre-Pirates Johnny Depp. He's a star whose name most people know and he picks smart, interesting projects that play to his strengths, but the project needs to be right to really break out. His name alone couldn't get people to see The Place Beyond the Pines in big numbers, for example. He seems to have found the perfect mix now (hint: it does not involve doing romantic comedies), which is that he works with quality directors on broadly appealing projects.

Felix Quinonez: I think that it's a combination of both. The fact that he has now been nominated for best actor three years in a row does not escape people. I think audiences realize that he's a talented actor who chooses quality projects. But as far as box office draw, I don't think he's yet reached the point where people will watch anything that he does. But his being involved in a project definitely doesn't hurt its box office prospects.

Michael Lynderey: Well, he's basically a really big movie star, is what he is. Traditionally, A-list actors have been box office draws at the same time as getting at least fairly strong notices from critics. I think of Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, and so on. The movie star tradition is to do a big popcorn movie for the summer and then a more critically-lauded - but still high-grossing - film for the awards season. Bradley Cooper has veered somewhere on that line with his Hangover movies and whatnot, but lately he's focused mostly on winter awards contenders, and that's paid off repeatedly - three nominations in a row. I think he'll make it four in a row if he stars in that next David O. Russell/Jennifer Lawrence movie, Joy. And while he probably won't win an Oscar this year, I'd guess the final vote tallies would have him ranking a lot higher than anyone could guess - and I'd expect a win by him by the end of the decade.

Bruce Hall: I'm not sure there are any truly transcendent actors any more. The days where audiences will consistently flock to see any title - so long as a certain name is on the marquee - are probably long gone. Even the great Johnny Depp and the seemingly immortal Tom Cruise can attest to this. Still, Cooper is a dashingly handsome and legitimately talented actor who, yes, has been distinctly recognized by the Academy for several years in a row. I would venture to say that he's here to stay as a creative force, but it's still relatively early in his career to make any sweeping judgments.

Max Braden: Despite his three consecutive Best Actor Oscar nominations, I still see Bradley Cooper primarily as someone who works in comedies or dramedies. Like Hugh Jackman, he's a good looking guy who has been able to venture into other areas but he still has his primary wheelhouse for box office purposes. He clearly was a factor for audiences flocking to see American Sniper, but I'm not sure I'd bet on him being able to repeat that feat with drama after drama.

Kim Hollis: I think he's a combination of both. He's transitioned from being a guy who's in comedies and mid-budget action films to someone that director's are excited to work with. Over the past few years he's been in films by David O. Russell (who I'd argue is responsible for helping build Cooper to this point in his career), Clint Eastwood and soon Cameron Crowe and John Wells. It looks likely that he'll reteam with Jennifer Lawrence and David O. Russell again this year (plus he has another film with Lawrence hitting theaters soon). Cooper has done a masterful job of choosing projects that take advantage of his talent in a positive way.

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