Bradley Cooper in the intense ‘American Sniper’ trailer: Oscar baity?

Bradley Cooper

The first trailer for American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper, has arrived. BCoop plays Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in US military history. The film is based upon Kyle’s autobiography and should be an awards contender, which is interesting because Bradley says he doesn’t want an Oscar. Yet he keeps signing up for Oscar baity films. Director Clint Eastwood must be hoping for a return to form after Jersey Boys (plus J. Edgar and Invictus), so this new film will receive a big studio push. Coop is already promoting. He must know the drill.

Bradley underwent a physical transformation for this role by gaining 40 pounds. BCoop picked up a Texas accent and calmed his usual “yelling” routine for a measured turn as a military man. Let’s see how he does:

That was intense, right? Kyle was deadly accurate and could shoot a target from 2100 yards away. BCoop visibly struggles as he tries to decide whether or not to shoot a child carrying an explosive. We see him balance this struggle against recollections of his family life (Kyle’s wife is played by Sienna Miller) and strife at home. Kyle served four tours in Iraq and died in 2013 at a Texas shooting range. The man accused of killing Kyle still awaits trial. Bradley says this movie is a character study of Kyle. He’s grateful to have spoken with Kyle before his death:

“Thank God I got to talk to him once on the phone. It was a very quick conversation. But I did tell him how serious I was about making this movie. And he should just know that whatever fears he had about Hollywood, to just put them aside and trust me. That I was going to do everything I could to tell this story.

“I had to do right by him and his family, there was really no choice. You’re sitting across the dining-room table talking to this person’s father and mother. And his children and wife are there. And he’s passed away. Knowing that they are putting all of their stories in your hands and the responsibly of that, it’s actually unique.

“Even though it was actors through the scope, they were human beings. It was a whole other deal. I remember getting a chill through my body realizing what he had to do.”

[From USA Today]

If you’re curious about how well BCoop nails Kyle’s general demeanor, here’s a 2012 clip in which Kyle visited Conan O’Brien.

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper

Movie stills & poster courtesy of Warner Bros; photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News, Fame/Flynet & WENN

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48 Responses to “Bradley Cooper in the intense ‘American Sniper’ trailer: Oscar baity?”

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  1. Jules says:

    I will not see this in the theater. I refuse to give my money to actors that date children. Cooper creeps me out…………and those shorts……….

    • michelle says:

      Those shorts creep me out too. Do Navy Seals actually have to wear them in training? If so, I think that might be one of the few times that I don’t find a man in uniform attractive.

      • Abbott says:

        Yep, Navy SEALS train in those. Taylor Swift’s VMA onesie had more breathing room than those shorts.

      • Tristan says:

        This is by far the hottest that Bradley Cooper has ever looked! And those shorts are a wet dream. Gay men’s taste in men & that of women has never been further apart it seems

    • Migdalia says:

      Riiiiiighhhht cause Suki was a minor when they started dating and no one else in Hollywood has a double digit age gap with their significant other.

      • Virgilia Coriolanus says:

        I thought she was 19 when they started dating……what makes it uber creepy is that he denied the dating rumors between him and JLaw because he was old enough to be her dad…..and then started dating someone younger than her. If anything, he should’ve dated JLaw (if they’d both been up to it), because you can actually see a genuine love and affection between them–they like each other. They enjoy being with each other, imo. Him and Suki? I have no clue how or why they’re together.

        And Suki’s odd to me–sometimes she looks really young…..other times she looks like someone who’s trying to cling to being 14, twenty years too late.

      • Alexandra says:

        @Virgilia He could LITERALLY be JLaw’s dad, to be more precise 😀 .

      • Nick says:

        She 22 and they’ve been dating about a year.. So she wasn’t 19 .

    • Rachel says:

      Suki was 21 when they started dating. 17 years really isn’t that large of an age gap these days.

      • Alexandra says:

        I think more than the age gap, the problem is that she is in her early 20s. It would be different if she would be in her late 20s or in her 30s, because, for instance, even though it’s the same gap, 33 – 50 doesn’t feel like 22-39. It’s a matter of perception.

      • Alexandra says:

        It’s all about timing timing, really. Even a 7-year gap can feel “off” if she is 13 and he is 20.

      • Nicey says:

        I never understand why people. especially women, get offended by older men dating early to mid 20-something women, but think late 20’s and older women are fair game. I get that women have “lived” a bit more between their early twenties to late twenties, but I think the dynamic of the older man wanting to be in charge and controlling is still present, regardless of the women is 20 or 40. In my experience –and I use to work investment banking– as long as the man is old enough to be her father, the relationship imbalance was present. I am talking even 40-year-old women with 65-70 year old husbands.

    • MollyB says:

      She’s an adult and she was an adult when they started dating. Big age gaps are not my thing but there’s nothing criminal about their relationship.

  2. NewWester says:

    Those shorts could star in its own movie

  3. Greata says:

    I know that I am in the majority , but I really do think that Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence are the two most overrated actors in Hollywood.

    • Cari says:

      They are so much overrated that it is kind of unbelievable. Lawrence is one of the most undeserved Oscar winners (if these awards still have some significance other than for PR) and all these praise she got seems to be too much, too soon.

      • Jules says:

        No, not overrated at all…particularly Jennifer Lawrence. Look, critics have been praising her work since The Poker House, long before she became a household name. It is pretty much the consensus amongst established critics that Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most talented young actresses working today.

        Cooper is a very good actor as well…again, the critics seem to agree…I think they like the fact that he has eschewed romcoms, films that play on his looks for grittier roles.

      • Jules says:

        No, not overrated at all…particularly Jennifer Lawrence. Look, critics have been praising her work since The Poker House, long before she became a household name. It is pretty much the consensus amongst established critics that Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most talented young actresses working today.

        Cooper is a very good actor as well…again, the critics seem to agree…I think they like the fact that he has eschewed romcoms films that play on his looks for grittier roles.

    • JWQ says:

      I agree completely! Lawrence’ s acting is amateurish at best, and Cooper is just a pretty boy who got lucky and now thinks he is an acting god! The fact that he got two Oscar nominations is ridicolous. same goes for Lawrence! That said, I stopped believing the Oscars are given to people who deserve it 15 years ago!

  4. Tapioca says:

    BC may look like an emu, but he can actually act and, since playing opposite Sienna Miller makes anyone look Oscar-worthy in comparison, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pick up another nom for this.

    Interesting “live by the sword, die by the sword” element to the story too.

    • Migdalia says:

      +100000 except for Limitless which I could never get into I’ve enjoyed all of Bradley Cooper’s performances thus far. SLP and TPBTP really sold me.

      • StormsMama says:

        I finally saw American Hustle and I now understand why he was nominated (he was amazing) and why JLaw won (her performance had resonance- I can’t stop think about it- she is mesmerizing- it was fantastic).

      • Shantal says:

        JLaw didn’t win for American Hustle. She was nominated for best supporting actress, but Lupita Nyong’o won for 12 Years a Slave. JLaw won best actress the previous year for Silver Linings Playbook (BCoop was also nominated for that movie).

    • Anne tommy says:

      Tapioca, an emu! Excellent! And I thought you had changed Benedict cumberbatch from an otter to an emu til I realised BC was the actor known as BCoop. I think he’s a pretty good actor in the right part. Not overly keen on the big age gap between him and his gal pal but it doesn’t make me queasy. Unlike those shorts….

  5. AG-UK says:

    I almost choked on my dry tuna… yuck. Won’t see this doesn’t appeal to me.

  6. Virgilia Coriolanus says:

    This is the first movie trailer I’ve seen of the Coop’s where it looks like he’s not acting as himself. Wow. Didn’t know he had it in him.

  7. Green Is Good says:

    The Shorts of the Suffocating Dong! Nope, nope, nope.

    • mia girl says:

      Terrible.

      It’s like he’s pulling a Bethany and wearing his 10 year old nieces’ shorts.

  8. MrsBPitt says:

    I know Clint Eastwood directed a few good movies in the beginning of his directing career, but can he please retire. He has only directed a few good movies, and the last few have been HORRIBLE! I almost fell asleep at Hereafter, J Edgar sucked, and I did not see Jersey Boys, because, why would I? Did anyone? Mystic River was good, and Unforgiven.. and I thought Million Dollar Baby was WAY overrated!

    • Marianne says:

      I saw Jersey Boys!!!!! I was the only young person in my theater. Vincent Piazza was amazing in it and would be deserving of a supporting actor nom but I know that wont happen. Clint made some very questionable direction choices though. John Lloyd Young got better as the movie went on (but I really hated his acting in the first 15 minutes). So yeah, it was a bit of a mess of a movie but I still really enjoyed it.

      • Hissyfit says:

        I saw Jersey boys too with my parents who are over 60 and I think I’m the youngest audience! Lol. It was an okay movie for me but my parents loved it!

        I saw the trailer for this the first time while waiting for Gone girl to start and I wasn’t impressed. A lot of people in the theater laughed after the trailer played and i heard someone said, wtf was that? Lol. This movie doesn’t interest me at all but I’m sure it’ll get tons of nomination.

  9. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    You just HAD to show those beige booty shorts again, didn’t you? Hi, Kiddo.

  10. M says:

    Reminds The Hurt Locker

  11. AG-UK says:

    Just saw the preview for the period drama he is in with JLaw… passing on that too

  12. Jaderu says:

    Dear Oscar voters.
    More Tater. Less Emu.

  13. Mesia says:

    This will definitely be an awards contender. I think Bradley is a great actor and it looks like Clint has returned to form here.

  14. almondey says:

    i’m so intrigued by this. i remember when this was in the news but i didn’t read up on Kyle back then…and just found this new yorker write-up in case anyone else is interested too:

    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/06/03/in-the-crosshairs

  15. FingerBinger says:

    Sienna Miller is the kiss of death for any movie.

  16. MarcelDeux says:

    I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch this movie..

  17. stellalovejoydiver says:

    here for Kyle Gallner

  18. Dorky says:

    I think Bradley Cooper is an EXCELLENT actor, great in every movie – comedy or drama – that I’ve seen him in. Seriously. I look forward to this.

    I also think Sienna Miler is an excellent actress – drama or comedy (have any of you seen the hilarious old series “Fast Eddie”? OMG). So: with these two AND Clint Eastwood directing? MAJOR win. I can’t wait.

  19. Tig says:

    Saw the preview tonight bef Gone Girl- looks very intense, tho in the trailer, all
    Cooper is doing is squinting into the scope of his weapon, so hard to gauge how he’ll be in the movie. It was an odd mix of previews- the Stephen Hawking movie and FSOG!!