Bradley Cooper’s Golden Globe winner American Hustle releases in India today. He talks about working with David O Russell and getting fascinated by the lives of con artists
How do you feel about the cast of American HustleIJ
Feels like I have won a life lottery. To be put in a cast like this and play the role of Richie DiMaso, its crazy.
When David O Russell called you for the role, did you immediately say yesIJ
We were editing Silver linings Playbook. So, I was watching him as he was cultivating this whole idea and the notion and the script, creating these characters, getting the cast. I was sort of ahead of the front row seat.
Tell us something about your character.
He’s a man who wants to be where he’s not supposed to be, which is a dangerous place for a strong, young male to be in mentally because he can cause a lot of damage. He doesn’t like that he lives at home or lives under a rock in this bureau of investigation. And then he suddenly sees all these shiny objects, these con artists who are so good in what they do. They dress better than him and their life is sexy. So he wants to become them.
What is the kind of chemistry that your character, Richie DiMaso shares with Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams)IJ
He is trying to show off in front of her. He’s always like, ‘look what I did. I set this thing up to torture you. It was my idea.’ He wants her to know that it’s like he is controlling the whole thing. That’s the thing. He wants her to know that ‘I did this.’ It is probably a very problematic place to be in if you constantly want affirmation from people to know that you are making these decisions. But his love for her is pure. That is not a manipulation. He says, ‘I like you’, so he is really like a kid.
How is David O Russell’s style of workingIJ
David wrote a very specific script, very strict guidelines and then, he re-writes the stuff on the day that is very relevant to the story he wants to tell. It’s just happening in the moment. He’s making the decision now, he wants you to respond now.
And did you enjoy working with David againIJ
I love that he’s there. Anytime I’m working on a movie, I ask the director to be as close as possible. I can’t stand when they are back there and you cannot hear them.
How was it working with Amy AdamsIJ
Amy is incredible. In terms of our experience, it was just so easy with her. There are very few scenes that Richie and Sydney have together to create the whole relationship in terms of how much space in the movie they have. We were able to pack in a lot of information for the audience in these short scenes and that’s because it was so easy for us to work together.
What will the audience take away from this movieIJ
They’ll enjoy the magical moments of the movie. That’s what I enjoy. The delight of the scene Delilah, you know, the nail polish scene, the studio 54, I love that whole section of the movie.
Do you feel you have evolved as an actorIJ
I’d say I’m more comfortable in the whole arena and each project you do, you learn more thing. Whatever fears you have, sort of go away. I’m bigger asset to the director to see their vision through.
Race for the Oscars
Best Picture: American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street.
Actor: Christian Bale, American Hustle; Bruce Dern, Nebraska; leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street; Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave; Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club.
Actress: Amy Adams, American Hustle; Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine; Sandra Bullock, Gravity; Judi Dench, Philomena; Meryl Streep, August: Osage County.
Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips; Bradley Cooper, American Hustle; Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave; Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street; Jared leto, Dallas Buyers Club.
Supporting Actress: Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine; Jennifer lawrence, American Hustle; lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave; Julia Roberts, August: Osage County; June Squibb, Nebraska.
Directing: David O Russell, American Hustle; Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity; Alexander Payne, Nebraska; Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave; Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street.
Animated Feature Film: The Croods; Despicable Me 2; Ernest & Celestine; Frozen; The Wind Rises.
Animated Short Film: Feral, Get a Horse!, Mr Hublot, Possessions, Room on the Broom.
live Action Short Film: Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me), Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before losing Everything), Helium, Pitaako Mun Kaikki HoitaaIJ (Do I Have to Take Care of EverythingIJ), The Voorman Problem.
Visual Effects: Gravity, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Iron Man 3, The lone Ranger, Star Trek Into Darkness.