Bradley Cooper entering PT Anderson's world
Monday, August 3, 2020 at 7:04PM by Nathaniel R
We were wondering when we'd get casting news for Paul Thomas Anderson's next film and it's finally starting to trickle in. Though the untitled movie revoles around a famous teenage actor attending high school in the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s (yes, we're thrilled that PTA is returning to Boogie Nights time and locale) the buzz is that it's actually an ensemble piece. And there are supposedly at least three prominent adult roles. Bradley Cooper is in talks for one of them but we don't know which. The juiciest adult roles are rumored to be a film director, an agressive agent, and a closeted politician.
Cooper is one of the best actors of his generation so we can't wait to see what Anderson can pull from him since the auteur is just amazing with actors...
Will PTA go with any of his favourites to pad out the rest of the cast or will it mostly be newbies like Cooper? We're just THRILLED (all caps intended) that we're going to get more of an ensemble picture this time because it's why we fell in love with PTA in the first place and the scope of his movies in terms of character interest has been shrinking shrinking shrinking until they're about 1-3 characters. We'd love another Magnolia or Boogie Nights that's just bursting with fascinating characters is what we're saying so perhaps we'll finally get it?
This pairing will inevitably lead to "will he finally win an Oscar?" online discussion, for both PTA and Cooper, since they've both been nominated EIGHT times without a win. But the sad truth is that Oscar voters respect PTA movies more than they love them. Only one actor has ever won an Oscar from Anderson's filmography (Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood) despite multiple iconic turns in the 8 films he's made to date.
Reader Comments (18)
Inherent Vice was also an ensemble piece, but that seemed more like a vanity project more than anything. It didn't feel as though PTA had anything to say with that one. At least it didn't come across to me.
I disagree with the "Cooper is one of the best actors of his generation" statement. Best like in the 50 best or 10 best? Or maybe he's one the most ubiquitous and successful American movie stars of the last 15 years or so?
He is extremely ambitious, lucky (his looks have opened many doors) and hard-working, but every role I have seen him in (including some of his nominated roles) just seemed to be a rehearsal for a more complete performance. Granted, I had no interest in seeing A Star is Born and I assume he went beyond what his previous performances delivered, but still, "one of the best of his generation" sounds a bit far fetched. Still, excited for another PTA movie, even though I'm tired of prestige directors always casting prestige actors (Tarantino, Pitt and Di Caprio was overkill to me).
Please DDL come out of retirement and play one of the 3 adult roles hopefully the politician who is closeted but that could go to any LGBT person i suppose..
Bradley Cooper in a P.T. Anderson film... OH HELL YEAH!!!!
Hope PTA goes for some "newbies". There are a lot of names I would love to see working with him like Vincent Cassel, Corey Stoll, Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicole Kidman, Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Lucas Hedges or Lupita Nyong'o... Don't ask me why, but I just feel they would "fit" PTA's cinematic world. Fingers crossed...!
I'm excited for Bradley in 1970s clothes! He looked so great and silly in American Hustle, i want a return to that wardrobe
Is this a joke? One of the best actors of his generation? Compared to who? Which countries?
One of the busiest and most ubiquitous maybe. Best? Time will tell I guess.
Cooper has a good career trajectory. He started off in the Actors Studio, did some indie films and TV work, transferred to supporting roles, upgraded to leading man, challenging his just a pretty face image, got a dream project on Broadway, and eventually directed, produced, and wrote (script and songs) He has a good story and that is half the battle to win Oscars. Another item in his favor is that he seems to be a nice guy. I haven't heard people saying he is hard to work with or difficult to be around.
I swore they had already started filming this before the pandemic but I guess not. Another year to wait (hopefully not more) but sounds excellent.
"Inherent Vice" was an ensemble piece and was marvelous. Brolin was robbed of a nod!
Marcus -- it's not a joke. I think given A STAR IS BORN (which should have won him the Oscars -- totally the performance of its year, male or female), and his varied and fine performances in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, AMERICAN HUSTLE, AMERICAN SNIPER, and comic chops too (WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, THE HANGOVER) he's more than proven that he's an absolutely terrific actor.
@Jonathan-OH HELL YEAH!!!! I loved that film.
Very exciting news, and I agree that he is one of the best of his generation.
The role of the aggressive agent is intended for a woman. I hope he goes older for the part.
I only saw Inherent Vice once, I didn't love it (I have been meaning to give it another shot), but my memory of it is that it skirts the line between "Ensemble" and "Not Ensemble" -- there are a lot of characters but isn't the entire film about following Joaquin's interactions with them? Do people get scenes of their own without him around?
When I think of a PTA Ensemble Film i think of a million main characters all getting their own stories that sort of come together in some unexpected ways. And I feel like -- and again correct me if I'm remembering it wrong! -- everybody in Vice was a supporting player opposite Joaquin.
backing up nathaniel on cooper being one of the best screen actors of his generation. it'll be thrilling seeing him working with one of the best screen directors of any generation!
Nathaniel, at it's best Cooper's A Star Is Born performance is at least behind all the nominees from The Favourite and Can You Ever Forgive Me? for performance of the year. Your claim is plausible with that caveat.
I hope PTA cast Kate Winslet and Angela Bassett. Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hugh Grant, Gong Li, Regina King, Trevante Rhodes... So many people to work with!
PTA and Cooper...
Sincerely, I can't wait.