We're currently smack dab in the midst of Awards Season, as the Academy Awards grow closer with every passing day. There are a ton of exciting movies attempting to snatch some trophies on the big day, with Bradley Cooper's directorial debut A Star Is Born nabbing an impressive eight Oscar nominations. But there was one major snub: Cooper didn't get a Best Director nom.
This was a series of events that surprised moviegoers, after Bradley Cooper gained universal praise for his work on A Star Is Born. Considering how involved he was in the music, script, and cinematography, he seemed like a shoe-in for the Best Director category. Cooper just revealed how he felt about the snub, saying:
They said congratulations on these other things, but they didn't tell me the bad news. I felt embarrassed that I didn’t do my part. I went, ‘Oh gosh, I didn’t do my job,’
While Bradley Cooper obviously had a ton to be proud of, considering his very first directorial project made so much money and scored a ton of Oscar nominations. But since he wasn't personally recognized as a director, he felt he let the rest of the cast and crew down.
Bradley Cooper's comments come from his recent conversation with Oprah Winfrey during a taping of her SuperSoul Conversations TV special (via USA Today). Because the Academy Award nominations happen so early in the day for folks on PST, the actor/director/producer was told about A Star Is Born's performance by a third party. After hearing about the eight nominations the film accrued, Cooper eventually realized he's been snubbed for his directorial work by The Academy.
In his same conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Bradley Cooper also revealed how he ultimately made peace with his Oscar snub, revealing there are many ways to deem how successful A Star Is Born actually was. He went on,
But the truth is, even if I got the nomination, that should not give me any sense of whether I did my job or not. The trick is to make something that you believe in and you work hard and then you have the project and you say, 'OK.'
The man has a point. A Star Is Born is one of the biggest movies of last year, and is certainly a major contender for this year's Academy Awards. While Bradley Cooper won't have a chance at taking home a Best Director trophy, he's still up for Best Actor for his heartbreaking portrayal of Jackson Maine. And regardless, a directorial debut getting quite so many Oscar noms is a massive honor. Now we just have to see what he and Lady Gaga have up their sleeves for their upcoming performance of "Shallow" at the Ceremony.
You can see how A Star Is Born fares at the Oscars when they take place February 24th on ABC. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan you next trip to the movies.
