Outstanding Performer of the Year Award - 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Brad Pitt Presents 'the One and Only' Bradley Cooper with Award at 2024 Santa Barbara Film Festival https://t.co/jZVhDu7K08
— People (@people) February 9, 2024
As Pitt appeared at Santa Barbara's Arlington Theatre to present the Oscar nominee with the prize, he joked that the duo have a "couple of things in common," including "being a movie superstar and also a name."
He went on to note that he knew there was something special about Cooper after watching his work in The Hangover.
Pitt then spoke about Cooper's 2018 directorial debut, A Star Is Born, which the actor also starred in and wrote the screenplay for.
"[It's] a film that's been made a few times, it's been made really well, so the bar is so high, and yet he's able to bring in his performance where he's able to play drunk when he breaks down and still keep an eye on the crew to see the time when to know that he's got the tape and you can move on."
"To do that really, really well is nothing short of perfect," added Pitt.
Commenting on Cooper's most recent work, Pitt called Maestro "a masterwork" and described one scene in particular between Cooper and his costar Carey Mulligan, who plays the late composer-conductor's wife Felicia Montealegre, as "alive, kinetic and so natural."
"This is really really, really difficult to achieve," said Pitt. "And yes, it takes great actors but it also takes great construction."
"Now I'm not gonna say I know for certain what's at the heart of Bradley's brilliance, but I am going to take a stab at it," continued Pitt. "What I think it is is his voracious love for this little thing we call the human experience and all its struggles and joys and messiness. My man's in it, he doesn't run from any evidence and I think it's that that he infused into each frame that he puts up on the screen."
Pitt rounded out his speech by sharing his hopes for Cooper's success at the upcoming Oscars, where Maestro is up for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Mulligan for Best Actress, and Cooper for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay (shared with co-writer Josh Singer).
"He's been nominated 12 times and I really, really hope that this is his year, because he's willing, but if it's not, it's okay, everyone knows it's just a matter of time," said Pitt, calling Cooper "the one and only Bradley," before going on to joke, "And truly Brad is okay, he's fine. He's used to it. He's a Philadelphia Eagles fan."
"I didn't like what you said there," joked Cooper as he accepted the award from Pitt.
Going on to share how movies have "changed his life" and "kept me alive," Cooper said of his career, "It's just such a privilege. I can't believe I get to do it and and I'm so privileged and I've been so blessed."
bee ring and an emerald
(WATCH) Brad Pitt honors Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Outstanding Performer of the Year Bradley Cooper, calling ‘Maestro’ a “masterwork” : “Not since [Robert] Redford have I seen anyone do it so well” #SBIFF2024 pic.twitter.com/8465nP2IFu
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 9, 2024
Go #CHIEFS ! 😂😂#bradpitt #bradleycooper @SBIFF pic.twitter.com/RU3xGwnVIu
— Brad Pitt Updates (@pittstoppp) February 9, 2024
@beverlyabcd
A different angle from what hello has. Apparently from the same row.
hello
Brad Pitt, 60, sits hand in hand with girlfriend Ines de Ramon, 33, for rare date night
Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon were the epitome of elegance and affection as they attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California on Thursday night, where they were caught sitting hand in hand as they watched Bradley Cooper accept his honor at the 2024 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon sit behind Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan. © HELLO
Brad and Ines sat with their hands together
(This photo seems odd. His wrist would be resting on her fingers. You don't see her forearm. Almost like the fingers were photshopped in.)
Brad whispers in girlfriend Ines' ear.
(He is undoubtedly saying something to her but the more natural way would have been to simply lean in without arching his head. This way, there is no angle where he appears to be kissing her.)
HELLO! saw the pair enter the Arlington Theater as the lights went down ahead of the retrospective, where they sat in the third row behind Carey Mulligan, and where Ines kept her hand on Brad's thigh. The two looked comfortable with each other, and as they left before the end of the event, Brad guided her out with his hand tightly clasped with Ines.
@carlahughesmoritz
Ines is not visible so she must be several feet ahead of Brad.
hello (cont'd)
The couple, having recently celebrated their first anniversary of togetherness, has become an inseparable pair, with Ines reportedly forming strong bonds with Brad's close-knit circle of friends.
Their appearance at LACMA's 12th annual Art+Film Gala in Los Angeles was a highlight, where, despite not posing for photographs together, their affection and joy were evident to all around them.
Brad and Ines's relationship blossoms in the aftermath of his separation from Angelina Jolie, marking a new chapter in Brad's personal life amid the backdrop of a highly publicized custody dispute over their six children.
people
In photos published by HELLO!, Pitt and de Ramon, 34, can be seen sitting next to one another in the audience, directly behind Cooper, 49, and his Maestro costar Carey Mulligan.
Pitt donned a dark-brown suit for the evening at the Arlington Theater, while his girlfriend looked glam as she rocked a high-neck teal halter dress. One photo showed the Bullet Train actor leaning in to a smiling de Ramon, appearing to whisper something in her ear.
A source who attended the event tells PEOPLE that Pitt "was very low-key last night and skipped the red carpet during arrivals," and when he showed up to honor Cooper, "the crowd went crazy with excitement."
"He seemed to be in very good spirits onstage when he presented the award to Bradley and poked fun at his friend, joking that he was just here for the free trip to Santa Barbara," the source adds.
People left out hello's numerous claims about hands: "hand in hand", "hands together", "hand on Brad's thigh", and "hand tightly clasped with Ines". The supposed photo of the hands looks odd, while there is no photo of the latter and they remained several feet apart as they exited.
