Bradley Cooper for the holidays

Bradley Cooper’s new film, Is This Thing On?, starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern, premiered at the New York Film Festival the other day. The reviews I’ve seen have been largely positive which supports its December release. Is This Thing On? is coming out December 19, a time usually reserved for blockbusters and awards contenders. 

Considering that A Star is Born and Maestro were both in the awards race, Bradley Cooper, with just three films as a director, is building that kind of reputation in that whenever he steps behind the camera, people are going to start talking about Oscar potential. (It could also be that, um, “no one wants as Oscar as badly as [he does]”. 

Not sure yet if Is This Thing On? actually has a shot. But the December release date might not just be about campaigning. When the theatrical business was at its healthiest, going to the cineplex in December meant we could choose between loud and big ass movies but also adult mid-budget counterprogramming for people who maintain the tradition of going to the movies at the holidays but don’t want to Avatar.

Is This Thing On? has been described as “heartwarming” and a “crowd-pleaser”. This is exactly the kind of energy that meets the season. And it’ll be interesting to see how it stands up against, for example, Marty Supreme, also a Christmas release and most certainly an Oscar contender at this point. 

Here are some shots of BCoop out in New York promoting his new work. And while I haven’t seen it, it’s a good choice for him after the super-seriousness of Maestro. Not that Is This Thing On? is an unserious movie, it definitely isn’t. But we’re not getting slapped in the face with gravitas on this effort, and the vibes around it right now are a lot less… thirsty. 

Also attached - Bradley Cooper, Laura Dern, Andra Day, and Will Arnett at the Is This Thing On? premiere in London today.