Bradley Cooper’s stand-up comedy drama ‘Is This Thing On?’ to close New York Film Festival

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This year’s closing night feature at the New York Film Festival is a world premiere titled “Is This Thing On?”, directed by Bradley Cooper. The movie will be distributed by Searchlight Pictures, although its release date has yet to be announced. Organized by Film at Lincoln Center, the 63rd edition of the New York Film Festival takes place from September 26th to October 13th.

As a devoted cinephile, I’d like to share my thoughts on a movie that tells the tale of a British comedian named John Bishop, whose life story has been brilliantly crafted by Cooper, Will Arnett, and Mark Chappell into a compelling script. This film stars the talented Will Arnett and Laura Dern as a pair navigating the complexities of a crumbling relationship. When Arnett’s character finds himself at a crossroads in his personal life, he dives headfirst into the vibrant world of New York City’s stand-up comedy scene, transforming both his character and the narrative.

Dennis Lim, the artistic director at NYFF, compared the film to a modern-day adaptation of the timeless comedy of remarriage. He described it as a significant shift or turning point from the opulence of the two previous films directed by Cooper, “A Star Is Born” and “Maestro”, both of which were screened at NYFF as well.

In a recent interview, Lim expressed that this film differs significantly from Cooper’s previous directorial efforts. He described it as being less grandiose and more focused, with a raw, intimate feel to it.

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As a cinephile attending the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, I’m thrilled to share that an array of world premiere films will feature some notable talents like Russell Crowe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Al Pacino, and many others.

Lim observed that the fresh movie showcases a distinct visual style that sets it apart from Bradley Cooper’s past directorial projects. Interestingly, Matthew Libatique, an Oscar nominee thrice over for his work on “A Star Is Born” and “Maestro,” serves as the cinematographer for this film, but Cooper frequently took control of the camera himself.

In his observation, there is a significant amount of close-up, personal footage that seems fitting for the movie’s mood – it carries a somewhat bittersweet feeling, as pointed out by Lim.

In the movie, Cooper, who has been nominated for the Oscar 12 times, assumes a supporting character. The ensemble cast features Andra Day, Sean Hayes, Ciarán Hinds, Amy Sedaris, as well as comedians Chloe Radcliffe, Jordan Jensen and Reggie Conquest.

Previously this year, we were privileged to capture this tale across the entire city, and it’s thrilling to premiere it on the final night of the festival,” Cooper expressed in a statement. “New York City infuses an electrifying energy into every facet of filmmaking that simply can’t be duplicated.

On the first night of the festival, we’ll be debuting “After the Hunt,” directed by Luca Guadagnino, as its opening film. This gripping drama revolves around campus politics and personal suspense, featuring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, and Andrew Garfield in key roles. Meanwhile, the heart of our festival will showcase “Father Mother Sister Brother,” a three-part family saga by Jim Jarmusch. This film stars Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Vicky Krieps, Cate Blanchett, Charlotte Rampling, and Tom Waits, with each part set in a different country.

Both of those films will have their world premieres at the Venice Film Festival.

The main slate and various other sections of the New York Film Festival (NYFF) are yet to be revealed. Besides “Is This Thing On?”, Lim mentioned that there will be additional world premieres in the festival lineup. The majority of the program typically includes films from throughout the year, which have previously been screened at festivals like Sundance, Berlin, Rotterdam, Cannes, Locarno, Telluride, Venice, and Toronto.

Lim posed a question about how we can demonstrate cinema’s ongoing significance and relevance. In essence, he suggested that arranging the New York Film Festival provides an answer to this question. If I were to compile a list of films that would argue for cinema as a vital art form in 2025, what movies would I select as evidence? The festival program itself would serve as our response to that question.

The group responsible for choosing the main lineup for the New York Film Festival is led by Lim and comprises film programmers Florence Almozini and Rachel Rosen, film critic K. Austin Collins, and ex-film critic from The Times, Justin Chang.

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2025-07-30 16:31