Bradley Cooper – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

IS THIS THING ON? – Review by Diane Carson

January 21, 2026January 20, 2026 Diane Carson Bradley Cooper, Is This Thing On?, John Bishop, Laura Dern, Mark Chappell, Will Arnett

Is This Thing On? explores a marriage in crisis. Good relationships, both short and long ones, dissolve in numerous unique ways. Individuals drift apart immersed in disparate interests, maturing at different rates, or just growing distracted from each other by the overwhelming demands of their worlds—jobs, children, parents, colleagues. For Alex and Tess Novak the increasing emotional distance from each other is as perplexing as it is complex, and so, after twenty years of marriage, they separate. The way Alex deals with his confusion over his and Tess’ separation makes Is This Thing On? worth a look. For Alex ends up baring his confusion and distress through standup comedy gigs, a unique way of coping

Reviews

IS THIS THING ON? – Review by T.J. Callahan

December 18, 2025December 21, 2025 T. J. Callahan Bradley Cooper, Is This Thing On?, Laura Dern, Will Arnett

Mic check. Testing, testing. Will Arnett is venturing into leading man territory with Is This Thing On? Arnett has shed his LEGO Batman mask and opened up on screen like we’ve never seen before as a happily married man who’s not happy in his marriage. Is This Thing On? is inspired by the story of UK comic John Bishop, but the names and location have been changed. It’s American Alex Novak who turned to the New York stand up comedy scene after his twenty year marriage started unraveling.

Reviews

IF – Review by T.J. Callahan

May 16, 2024May 16, 2024 T. J. Callahan Bradley Cooper, Cailey Fleming, emily blunt, IF, invisible friends, john krasinski, matt damon, paramount pictures, Ryan Reynolds, sam rockwell, vince vaughn

IF was conceived by John Krasinski (of The Office fame) as a lasting reminder to his daughters that life doesn’t always have to be fun, but it shouldn’t stop us from trying. He also took on the roles of director and co-star as well as the task of amassing a who’s who of live and voiceover cast and crew including fellow Office mate Steve Carell as Blue, the big purple IF.

Reviews

MAESTRO – Review by MaryAnn Johanson

November 27, 2023December 2, 2023 MaryAnn Johanson a star is born, Bradley Cooper, Maestro, netflix

Oh, frabjous film! What a movie. What an experience. Bradley Cooper’s second feature as cowriter and director, though radically different from his first, made me feel the same way. This is a marvel: passionate, intoxicating, enrapturing. Sitting in the dark, in a big cinema — phone off and put away! — and letting this movie bowl me over? Sheer bliss.

Reviews

MAESTRO – Review by Diane Carson

November 20, 2023November 21, 2023 Diane Carson Bradley Cooper, Cary Mulligan, Felicia Montealegre Cohn, leonard bernstein, Maestro, netflix, Steven Spielberg

In Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein comes most vividly and euphorically to life when he’s conducting. The same may well apply co-writer/director Cooper who so comprehensively embodies Bernstein that he all but jumps off the screen during performances. It is thrilling to experience Cooper channeling such rapture throughout his and wife Felicia Montealegre’s tangled theatrical lives.

Reviews

MAESTRO – Review by T. J. Callahan

November 13, 2023November 20, 2023 T. J. Callahan Bradley Cooper, Cary Mulligan, Felicia Montealegre Cohn, leonard bernstein, Maestro, netflix, Steven Spielberg

There is creative directing and editing, phenomenal makeup, a soaring score and flawless acting from the entire cast, but Bradley Cooper as famed maestro Leonard Bernstein and Cary Mulligan as his supportive yet suffering actress wife Felicia Montealegre Cohn, are pitch perfect. Cooper gave his all to the roles he played in front and behind the camera being personally given the director’s wand from co-producer Steven Spielberg and spending six years learning to use the conductor’s baton in order to film a six minute London Symphony scene live.

Reviews

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY – VOL. 3 – Review by Susan Granger

May 11, 2023May 11, 2023 Susan Granger Beth Mickle, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn, Judianna Makovsky, Karen Gillan, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Will Poulter, zoe saldana

If you’ve been an avid follower of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and writer/director James Gunn’s fun-loving band of intergalactic outcasts, you may be intrigued by Rocket Raccoon’s origin story. In previous installments of the Guardians sci-fi action-comedy concept, there’s been good-natured, space-pirate humor but, here, they’re just babbling nonsense for a bloated two hours, 30 minutes. The best sequences are poignant flashbacks showing how young Rocket gains sentience and bonds with other genetically-altered species, like an otter, rabbit and walrus. The worst sequences involve gross ‘n’ gruesome, heavy-handed destruction. And it’s curious that James Gunn seems to be connecting with the currently controversial ‘trans’ experience.

Reviews

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 3 – Review by Susan Kamyab

May 3, 2023May 4, 2023 Susan Kamyab Beth Mickle, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn, Judianna Makovsky, Karen Gillan, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Will Poulter, zoe saldana

I know I have been saying that since Endgame and Spiderman: No Way Home, Marvel has cranked out some underwhelming sequels. So, that put a lot of pressure on the third installment of the beloved Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Well, I am so happy to say that Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 is a hit and a solid ending to a fantastic trilogy.

Reviews

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

May 1, 2023May 7, 2023 Valerie Kalfrin Beth Mickle, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn, Judianna Makovsky, Karen Gillan, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Will Poulter, zoe saldana

Nine years after entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the lovably flawed Guardians of the Galaxy say goodbye with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, an eclectic and affectionate mixtape that’s funny, thrilling, shattering, and bittersweet. The satisfying ending is a sendoff that lands just right, emphasizing how the unlikely heroes have been saving each other all along.

Reviews

NIGHTMARE ALLEY – Reviewed by T. J. Callahan

December 16, 2021December 17, 2021 T. J. Callahan Bradley Cooper, cate blanchett, David Strathairn, guillermo del toro, Kim Morgan, mara, Nightmare Alley, richard jenkins, Ron Perlman, Roony, willem dafoe

Nightmare Alley is the remake of a 1947 noir thriller that starred that swashbuckling heartthrob, Tyrone Power. Bradley Cooper steps into the role trying his best to be wickedly suave as a carny with a murderous past who learns the tricks of the traveling sideshow trade to swindle the rich as a manipulating mind reader. He’s a high plains drifter grifter.

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