Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.Photo:Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images
Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images
Brad Pittis honoring the “brilliance” of his friendBradley Cooper.
On Thursday, Pitt, 60, paid tribute to Cooper, 49, as he presented theMaestrostar with one of theSanta Barbara Film Festival’s top honors, outstanding performer of the year, for his work starring asLeonard Bernsteinin the biopic he also directed and co-wrote.
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 inThe Hangover.
“You’ll see the more irreverent that Alan [Zach Galifianakis] gets, the more that Phil [Cooper] is enjoying that irreverence. It’s subtle. It’s often to the side of the frame, but it’s there and it’s interesting, and I know this sounds strange, but I was watching that and I know no one else would have brought that to the to the table. And it was something fresh. I knew this guy was going to be around,” said Pitt.
Pitt presented Cooper with the outstanding performer of the year award at the film festival.Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images
Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images
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 at the event, where guests sipped on DAOU Vineyards wine.
Pitt celebrated Cooper’s ‘brilliance’ as his honored his friend in his speech.Lisa O’Connor/Variety via Getty Images
Lisa O’Connor/Variety via Getty Images
Commenting on Cooper’s most recent work, Pitt calledMaestro"a masterwork" and described one scene in particular between Cooper and his costarCarey 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.”
Bradley Cooper at the outstanding performer of the year award ceremony during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.Tibrina Hobson/Getty
Tibrina Hobson/Getty
“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.”
Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan.Tibrina Hobson/Getty
“Living is hard and it feels like it gets harder. And I need people who love me and that I can love and without that I would just be walking on a wasteland,” he continued. “And sometimes it’s hard to keep going and you know when you feel love and authenticity, it gives us strength and it’s just community man. It’s all about community. And I know that without community I would never attempt to achieve the things that I’ve attempted without people that have believed in me in ways that I never believed in myself.”
Cooper added that it was “absolutely incredible” to look back at himself as a “terrified” fifth grader who was “so nervous” during a “presentation with a board that he was shaking.”
“It’s only the result of me being so blessed to meet people, and I can list 50 of them right now, who believed in me and gave me a chance,” he concluded.
Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper.Kevin Mazur/Getty
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Santa Barbara Film Festival executive director Roger Durling said, “Cooper has proven to be an actor of incredible range and versatility. What has impressed me the most is that he has grown to be one of the most indelible directing voices. He’s a renaissance man — an outstanding performer indeed!”Pitt presenting Cooper with his honor comes four years after Cooper presented Pitt with the award for best supporting actor forOnce Upon a Time … in Hollywoodat the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala in January 2020.
During his acceptance speech, Pittcredited Cooper with his sobrietyand said, “He’s a sweetheart. I got sober because of this guy and every day has been happier ever since.”
Bradley Cooper at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.Rebecca Sapp/Getty
Rebecca Sapp/Getty
Last year’s recipient of the top Santa Barbara Film Festival prize wasCate Blanchett, recognized for her work inTár. Past honorees also includeKate Winslet,Angelina Jolie,James Franco,Viola Davis,Ryan GoslingandEmma Stone.
The 39th edition of the festival runs from Feb. 7 to 17. Cooper’s honor marks the first of many ceremonies during the festival, followingBarbiestarGosling’sspecial Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film acceptance on Jan. 13.
Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan in ‘Maestro’.Jason McDonald/Netflix
Jason McDonald/Netflix
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Also receiving special awards throughout the seaside festival areMark Ruffalo,Martin Scorsese, Justine Triet,Paul Giamatti,Jeffrey WrightandAnnette Bening.
Among the festival’s screenings is its closing night filmChosen Family, starring its writer-directorHeather Graham.
Maestrois in theaters and streaming on Netflix now.
source: people.com
