Watch out Cillian Murphy, Bradley Cooper is coming for that Oscar

There is a video of a young Bradley Cooper asking a deeply thoughtful  question to Robert De Niro about his process for the film “Awakenings.” He was among those studying at The Actors Studio Drama School who were the audience for “Inside The Actors Studio” hosted by the late James Lipton. Bradley would guest on the show in 2011.

Through the 2000s, Cooper had great stints in television with a lead role on the Fox sitcom “Kitchen Confidential” which was cancelled after one season and a regular role in J.J. Abram’s “Alias.” It wasn’t until 2009’s “The Hangover” that he got his big break. Todd Philip’s chaotic buddy comedy was a box office smash, making just shy of $500 million worldwide on a $35 million budget. It even won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy in 2011. This spawned two successful sequels that took the box office total for the trilogy to nearly 1.5 billion dollars.

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This led to a pivot into more serious fare. Derek Cianfrance’s f “The Place Beyond the Pines” marked the beginning of this switch followed by David O. Russell’s comedy-drama “Silver Linings Playbook.” That film made over $200 million and Cooper earned his first Oscar nomination. Cooper reunited with larger-than-life auteur for “American Hustle,” which made $250 million and reaped 10 Oscar nominations, including a bid for Cooper as Best Supporting Actor.

The following year, Cooper starred in Clint Eastwood’s war drama “American Sniper.” Despite a January release date, it raked in a whopping $350 million and, for a time, was the highest grossing war film ever, eclipsing Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan.”

“Sniper” was one of the first films Bradley produced through his company 22nd & Indiana Pictures and it earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Three more of his productions — “A Star is Born,” “Joker,” and “Nightmare Alley” have contended for the top prize.

“A Star is Born” marked Bradley’s transition to writing and directing his own films. “A Star Is Born” became much more than just the name of the film. Stefani Germanotta, who herself studied at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute, starred alongside Cooper in the film. Known to many as Lady Gaga and considered just a musical artist, her performance received rave reviews. Gaga went on to deliver another acclaimed performance in Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” and is set to appear opposite Arthur Fleck himself, Joaquin Phoenix, in the highly anticipated sequel to Philip’s R-Rated sensation, “Joker.”

Cooper and Gaga earned Oscar nominations for their performances. She shared in a Best Original Song win for “Shallow” and he was nominated alongside Eric Roth and Will Fetters for their adapted screenplay. However, despite reaping DGA and BAFTA bids, Cooper was snubbed by the directors branch of the academy.  It was reminiscent of Ben Affleck’s snub for “Argo.” On Mark Maron’s popular WTF Podcast both Sean Penn and Jennifer Lawrence, each Oscar-winning actors from different generations, raved about Cooper’s directorial debut.

Despite nine nominations, he has yet to win an Oscar. This could very well change this year, with his sophomore directorial effort, “Maestro”. The film follows all-time great American composer, Leonard Bernstein over the course of his life, framed through his relationship and marriage with the love of his life, Felicia Montealegre. The film also premiered at Venice to immense critical acclaim and a 7-minute standing ovation which brought Bernstein’s children to tears. vi.”

Cooper has received nominations for writing, directing, producing, and acting in the film from the first two industry precursors of this awards season, the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards. Cooper is in a pitched battle with Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) for Best Actor at both these awards. Likewise at both the SAG and Academy Awards. Who will win? Stay tuned.

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