Derek Cianfrance set the world on fire starting at last year's film festival with Blue Valentine, only the director's second film but one of the most incisive and heartbreaking looks at a failing relationship anyone could remember once they get their sobs in check. And even before Blue Valentine went on to score an Oscar nomination for star Michelle Williams, Cianfrance was setting up his next project with her Blue Valentine co-star Ryan Gosling. As Cianfrance put it, he wanted Blue Valentine to be a violent movie without any guns; his next project, The Place Beyond the Pines, "will have guns, so it will be easier."

Now Cianfrance has found another person to join Gosling in wielding those guns. According to Variety he's made an offer to Bradley Cooper to play a rookie cop who's on the trail of Gosling's character, a motorcycle riding pro who starts robbing banks to support his newborn son. It sounds like an indie-tinged Heat with deeper feelings-- Cianfrance previously described it as being about motorcycles, fathers and guns-- and Gosling and Cooper could make one hell of an interesting pair. Gosling is all about furrowed brows and mannerisms and deep commitment in his acting, while Cooper seems to cruise through films on charisma and confidence. That contrast could make for a great cop and robber stand-off-- or it could also mean they just drive each other crazy on the set. You never do know.

A year after Blue Valentine played there, Cianfrance will be back to Cannes to sell the project. Having Cooper on board would make it only an easier sell.