Doing the Worcester 'Hustle'

Telegram reports about the Worcester Art Museum scene in the American Hustle trailer:

All right, David O. Russell, Worcester is ready for its close-up.

One of the most anticipated movies of the year, "American Hustle," which deals with the FBI's Abscam sting operation in the late '70s and early '80s, is already garnishing serious Oscar buzz, mainly because of its director, David O. Russell, whose last two movies ("Silver Linings Playbook" and "The Fighter") earned three Academy Awards for actors (Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence and Melissa Leo).

Although the film will not be released until Dec. 13 in select cities (with a general release on Christmas day), the "American Hustle" trailer made a big splash on the Internet last week and, in addition to Academy Award winners Bale and Lawrence and Academy Award-nominated actors Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, there is one presence that is as prominent as the aforementioned A-listers, and that's the City of Worcester.

The minute-and-50-second-long trailer opens with an ascot-wearing Bale and Cooper (with a comb-over and a perm, respectively, and both sporting beards) admiring a Rembrandt on an art gallery's wall. And this all unfolds in the Renaissance Wing of the Worcester Art Museum.

"How cool is that that the trailer starts and there you are in the Worcester Art Museum?" Allison Berkeley, manager of marketing and public relations at the Worcester Art Museum, asked. "From what I understand from the director, this is a pivotal scene in the movie."

The Worcester Art Museum scene continues with Bale telling Cooper that the Rembrandt is a fake and then asking the rhetorical question, "So who's the master? The painter or the forger?"

Despite Bale's art critique in the trailer, Ms. Berkeley insists the Rembrandt is indeed real. However, it is in storage until the newly renovated galleries are reopened on Sept. 23, she said.

"It's actually Saint Bartholomew that is depicted in that Rembrandt, and Saint Bartholomew is considered to be the seer. He could see the truth in anyone who he looked at," Ms. Berkeley explained. "I think once people see the movie and where the plot unfolds, you'll see why it was kind of serendipitous, not only that they were at the Worcester Art Museum but Mr. Russell chose our Rembrandt."

Shopping at Soul Cycle

Bradley rides off on his motorcycle after shopping at Soul Cycle on August 7, 2013 in Brentwood, California.

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Steven Spielberg wont direct American Sniper

Deadline reports that Steven Spielberg wont direct Bradley's movie American Sniper.

Steven Spielberg has taken American Sniper out of his crosshairs, after declaring in May that he would next helm the film about decorated Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, with Bradley Cooper playing the marksman. DreamWorks joined Warner Bros in a co-production when Spielberg said he would direct the script by Jason Hall. Spielberg has been looking for his followup to Lincoln, and this becomes the second time he changed plans. He was looking to move fast on Robopocalypse, the Daniel H Wilson science fiction novel that was adapted by Drew Goddard. Spielberg still intends to direct that film, but he wanted to re-develop it. It is probably not his next film and will instead come further down the line.

Spielberg and DreamWorks are pulling out completely, which is actually gracious. Some director-driven companies get involved with a director attachment, and when the director steps out, the company remains on, and it is an extra expense. Warner Bros is free to secure another filmmaker to keep this project together. Spielberg couldn’t square his vision of this movie with the budget. He’s always got a lot of projects percolating, but hasn’t decided what he’ll direct next.
Spielberg, who took 11 years to get Lincoln the way he wanted it before he committed, has been known to get close to projects only to step out for one reason or another. That included Harvey, the adaptation of the Mary Chase Pulitzer Prize-winning play that was to be a co-production with Fox. That one proved difficult to cast, after Tom Hanks said he didn’t want to play a role originated by James Stewart, the actor he’s so often compared to. That isn’t the case with American Sniper, which has Cooper not only starring but producing with Andrew Lazar and Peter Morgan. He’s arguably the hottest young actor in town, coming off an Oscar nom for Silver Linings Playbook and next starring in David O Russell’s American Hustle.

Important Role for Bradley

Bradley talked with EW what he thinks about playing Chris Kyle in his new movie "American Sniper".

“It’s a unique situation because it’s playing an actual man,” he says. “I mean, Jesus. I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility to do him justice and to do it right. I think it’s an important story to be told right now. It’s been quite a road. We bought the rights to the book and I was talking to Chris and we had every intention of making the movie already and then he was murdered. I know it’s going to be a tough role for me.”

The Hangover Part III Home Entertainment Release

Bradley's comedy "The Hangover Part III" will be released on Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet combo-pack on October 8th, 2013 Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has announced.

Bonus material on the Blu-ray edition include:

• Replacing Zach: The Secret Auditions
• Outtakes
• The Wolfpack's Wildest Stunts
• Zach Galifianakis in His Own Words
• Pushing the Limits
• Action Mash-Up
• Inside Focus: The Real Chow
• Extended Scenes 

Bradley spotted in Atlanta

Access Atlanta reports that Bradley is in Atlanta:

Bradley Cooper is in metro Atlanta and was spotted at Sapori Di Napoli in Decatur on Sunday. He posed for this nice photo with Stephanie Leigh Anderson.

Bradley talks about working with Ryan Gosling and David O. Russell

Bradley did an interview with Huffington Post about working with Ryan Gosling and David O. Russell in The Place Beyond The Pines.

Derek has this way of shooting Avery in tight frames, so he's basically trapped in the picture -- it's an excellent shorthand to give the audience a lot of information about the character in a subtle way. You've worked with some of the best directors around, what stood out about Derek?
I think he's a fucking great director. He did this thing that mirrors Avery and Luke. It's almost a hand-off aesthetically. There's some weird thing where we inhabit the same space in some odd way.

This movie is ambitious in its structure: the opening hour with Ryan could practically be its own film. Knowing you're picking up the baton, did you feel pressure as an actor to keep the film up to that level?
Oh, 100 percent. Are you kidding me? That was a major fear. Especially because the guy that gets the hand-off is the opposite of Luke. He's not a muscle-bound, motorcycle-riding bank robber. He's an internalized rat. A guy who's soul searching. You're like, "Jesus, man." Talk about recipe for disaster!

How did you overcome that fear?
I just dove in. I trusted Derek and worked on the story to find a way to make Avery interesting and complicated. I also really trusted that the audience would hopefully be intrigued with his emotional state; his internal dilemma. Because he really doesn't do anything. He's a very internalized character. The hope is that you're invested enough in the story at that point. Then, with him, that it's interesting.

Was this a situation where you read the script and knew immediately that you wanted to sign on?
No, not at all. It was about the project. It was about working with Ryan Gosling, who I'm a huge fan of, and Derek. That was the whole reason I did it. I had heard how Derek works -- this idea of making it as real as possible and doing extreme things in preparation. SPOILER ALERT I thought this would be a great learning experience, even though I was not crazy about playing this guy that kills Ryan. I'm so glad I did it though, because it wound up being an experience where I fell in love with playing this role -- which was not why I got into it in the first place. This is the most complicated guy I've played for sure.

You've managed to cultivate a really strong brand, where you're making hit movies but they aren't superhero franchises or effects-driven things. With your reputation where it is now, do you think people would be upset if you suddenly decided to star in comic book blockbuster?
That's nice of you to say, that I would even have a brand. But I don't think about that at all. It's really simple: I just want to get better and work with great directors. That's it. That's the formula for me. I'm like a sponge. I just take in as much information as possible. Todd Phillips, Joe Carnahan, Derek Cianfrance, David O. Russell: these are great directors that I've had a chance to sit side-by-side with and learn.

Did you notice your relationship with David changed from "Silver Linings Playbook" to "American Hustle"?
Yeah, because it was another partnering, with producing that as well. I loved it. To have a supporting role in that film is different. It's been wonderful. I loved that experience. I hope we just do another one together. It's not lost on me how lucky I am that such a great director has allowed me to work with him in such an intimate way.

Speaking of collaborations, you only have one scene with Ryan in "The Place Beyond The Pines." What was that experience like?
He far surpassed what I had hoped for. It felt like I was getting in the ring with a real motherfucker. He's generous and sweet and no-bullshit and he had no weird antics -- he just works the way I like to work, too. I thought, "This just feels like home."

American Hustle Trailer

The theatrical trailer for Bradley's new movie "American Hustle" has been released and hits theatres on December 25th, 2013.