The buzz is already out: Searchlight Pictures is really high on Bradley Cooper‘s “Is This Thing On?,” the New York Film Festival closing night title that seems likely to be a prime awards season contender. After just a few assorted first look images, the film‘s first full-length trailer gives a better look at the spirit and tone of the film, Cooper’s third directorial outing.
The movie stars Will Arnett, who also co-wrote the film, as a New York City stand-up comedian having a midlife crisis after a split from his wife, played by Laura Dern. The film is loosely based on the experience of British comedian John Bishop and is framed as a love letter to the Big Apple, and was shot all around the city by Cooper’s cinematographer on “A Star Is Born” and “Maestro,” Matthew Libatique, who’s returning as DP. As he said on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Cooper will also be making his debut as camera operator on the film, however.
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“I’ll operate the camera, which I’m very excited about because we did some stuff. We went down to Chinatown and it’s been amazing,” Cooper said. He also acknowledged he “joined the union” in order to be able to be camera operator, likely the International Cinematographer’s Guild IATSE Local 600 for camera operators.
According to the New York Film Festival’s official description: “In a pair of galvanizing, deeply honest performances, Will Arnett and Laura Dern play Alex and Tess Novak, whose marriage has reached an impasse. With amicable sorrow, the couple — parents of two young boys — mutually agree to split up. Yet in director Bradley Cooper’s keenly observed comic drama, their separation leads to unpredictable midlife self-reckonings, most dramatically in Alex’s wild career pivot to become a confessional stand-up comedian in New York City’s West Village, where he finds new direction and camaraderie.
“This seemingly outlandish scenario — in a script by Cooper, Arnett, and Mark Chappell inspired by the true story of British comedian John Bishop — is never played for easy laughs, while Cooper uses his penchant for naturalism to give the actors space to find their complicated centers. In his beautifully lived-in third feature following ‘A Star Is Born’ and ‘Maestro’ (NYFF61), Cooper confirms his dexterity for representing the complexities of human relationships, constructing a film that is both lacerating and sweet-souled, funny and tender.”
After its NYFF premiere, Searchlight will release the film in select theaters on Friday, December 19. Watch the trailer below.
