mike interviewed bradley cooper about the role. take a look. >> did you have a chance to get to know him before? >> no, i talked to him once on the phone. he was who bhi murdered two days after we turned in the script. i thought i would basically move in with them so everything changed. it was an incredible amount of source material. i feel like i know him and people ask that question and have to stop myself and say no but i feel like i know him so well which was interesting. it's pretty simple. there was always one clear idea we always had which is its a character study and chris is a charismatic guy and his story serves for everybody's story and the struggles that military men and women have to do and the toll it takes on families. if anybody watching the movie f they don't know anybody in the military maybe they'll think twice when they pass somebody in the airport and they can just say people are coming back and we have to take care of them. >> we were lucky that taya kyle opened up their lives to us. all of their e-mail exchan

his father, both like what bradley cooper did. they felt it honored their husband and son. >> bradley has given numerous interviews where he has said he watched countless interviews on chris he actually read all of the e mails and he felt like he was becoming him. watching this movie it's so believable. they did such a great job. everything from editing, sound mixing. just adaptation. clint eastwood just did another amazing job. >> he had an easier job in "dallas buyer's club" to lose every pound but he bulked up and gained 40 pounds. >> he said he spoke to clint eastwood and said i'm going to gain weight, clint is like it's up to you. he's like i think i should, clint is like do whatever he want. he said clint has an interesting way he districts. just turn the camera on and start rolling and doesn't say go. so it just catches you in natural moments you see in this movie. >> that to me is what kind of struck me in the whole thing. the hard part is imagine the life of a sniper. i'm not and bradley kwooper playing chris conner. does

and bradley cooper? i thought he's amazing. >> importantly his wife, and his father, both like what bradley cooper did and felt it honored their husband and son. >> bradley has given numerous interviews he's said he watched countless interviews on chris. he actually read all of the e mails between them while he was overseas. he felt like he was actually the mouthpiece for him. he felt like he was becoming him. and watching the movie is so believable. such a great job. everybody from editing sound mixing just adap tags of the film. clint eastwood has a director did another amazing job. >> he had an easier job in "dallas buyers club". he gained 40 pounds. >> he said he spoke to clint eastwood and said i'm going to gain weight don't you think i should clint was like, it's up to you. do whatever you want. he said clint has a really interesting way he districts. he's just turn the camera on and he doesn't say go. so it's just catching you in natural moments. you see that in this movie. >> yeah. that is what k

and bradley cooper up for best actor. >> i thought he was amazing. more importantly,tia, his wife, his father, both liked what bradley cooper did. >> he has given numerous interviews where he watched countless interviews on chris. he actually read all of the e-mails and correspondence between them while he was overseas for all four of his tours. he felt like he was actually the mouthpiece for him. he felt like he actually was becoming him. and is watching this movie so believable. they did a great job. everything from the editing to the sound-mixing. clint eastwood as a director he just did another amazing job. >> i think he had an easier job in "dallas buyers club" matthew mcconaughey, to lose every pound he had. but he bulked up and gained 40 pounds. >> he spoke to clint eastwood, don't you think i should gain weight. and he said yeah, i don't know it's up to you. and he said no i think i should bulk up for this film and clint was like, do whatever you want. and he actually said clint has an interesting way he directs. he'll just turn the camera on

bradley cooper is no stranger to transformation. >> yeah, yeah. >> tonight, he talks working on his body working on his accent. >> that's not me no. >> and working with hollywood's finest. >>> how much is an iphone worth to you? >> $7,000. >> tonight even if the price isn't right, it can bring the laughs. >> there you go! >> our famous game show gachs. >> $7,501. >> but first, the "nightline" five. >> you get sick you can't breathe through your nose. suddenly, you're a mouth breather. a mouth breather. well, put on a breathe right strip and shut your mouth. cold medicines open your nose over time. but add a breathe right strip, and pow. it opens your nose up to 38% more so you can breathe and do the one thing you want to do. sleep. add breathe right to your cold medicine. shut your mouth and breathe right. and look for the calling accident of new breathe >>> good evening. thanks for joining us. tragic news tonight, as two elite skiers training for a spot on the u.s. olympic team are killed in an avalanche. they're not the first this winter to face disaster in a pounding rush of snow. of

stay tuned on that. >>> when we come back bradley cooper one-on-one. playing a hero, and how his life has changed after. "sheesh, i wish i'd looked some more." that's why walgreens makes it easy to switch your prescriptions and save money. just stop by. and leave all the legwork to us. switch your prescriptions to walgreens where you could save even more on medicare part d with copays as low as zero dollars. at the corner of happy and healthy. [ fishing rod casting line, marching band playing ] [ male announcer ] the rhythm of life. [ whistle blowing ] where do you hear that beat? campbell's healthy request soup lets you hear it in your heart. [ basketball bouncing ] heart healthy. great taste. [ m'm... ] [ tapping ] sounds good. campbell's healthy request. m'm! m'm! good.® you know.... there's a more enjoyable way to get your fiber. try phillips fiber good gummies. they're delicious and an excellent source of fiber to help support regularity. mmmm. these are good! the tasty side of fiber. from phillips when the flu hits, it's a really big deal. the a

bradley cooper, right there. he's a good man. [ cheers and applause ] new movie "american sniper" is currently in limited release. that -- box offices are good too. >> yeah. >> jimmy: "american sniper" -- >> for four theaters it was like yeah, it was amazing. >> jimmy: yeah, limited release, congratulations on that. >> yeah, wide release is january 16th. for that film. [ laughter ] yep. >> jimmy: you know, because, i know you as the movie actor. producer. just got nominated for a a producers guild award. congratulations. >> thank you. [ applause ] >> jimmy: we already clapped for that. we already clapped for that earlier. >> we can do it again. >> jimmy: we can do it again. and you're currently on broadway. >> right. >> jimmy: you have a little musical talent. >> i'm glad you said that, because it's very little. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: yeah. you're talking about your musical talent? >> yeah. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: it is very little. >> your eyes just slowly went -- you mean your musical talent? >> jimmy: yeah, it'

here is bradley cooper. ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> jimmy: bradley cooper! that's what i'm talking about. that's what i'm talking about right there. >> i feel like we never left. >> jimmy: dude, i got to say -- really, it feels like you were just here. >> that was so crazy. >> happy birthday! >> thank you! >> jimmy: oh, that's right. it's bradley's birthday! happy birthday, buddy. ♪ happy, happy birthday, my man. i got to say last time you were on the show, we completely lost it. >> it was insane. >> jimmy: we couldn't -- >> i feel almost can never even smile any of the time -- like it had to be -- >> jimmy: well, when i saw you, because -- i started laughing immediately. we had these visors on. because someone took a photo of you coming out of the airport and you had a visor on. >> right, right. >> jimmy: and so we got these comedy hats that had like wigs. it was like funny wigs. and then we put them on. then after we put them on, we forgot to take them off and we started talking about very serious subject matter. >> yeah, "the elephant man." >> jimmy: jo

>> jon: how well do you know bradley cooper? >> really, really well. >> jon: you've known him a long time? >> i was with him a long time and did another movie set after. i've worked with bradley for a long time. >> jon: so if bradley cooper was here, would you spot him? >> yeah, in a heart beat. >> jon: how about a guy who doesn't really look lining like him? where are you, dude? can we get his face on there? >> yeah. (laughter) >> jon: all right, sit down. it's like a sean penn. >> jon: yes! bradley cooper and sean penn (bleep). >> sean cooper. >> jon: i thought more of a sean cooper. >> you're right. >> jon: you don't need this anymore. >> okay. >> jon: the audience is fired bradley cooper is here to watch! i don't think he's sitting in the third row. >> he's on broadway. >> jon: he is going to broadway. >> he's on it now. >> jon: you're going to broadway. >> i'm going to broadway on february 17th. >> jon: you're working so hard but here's what's particularly difficult about this movie. so the gentleman in the film it's about

bradley cooper is the new r-rated jesus. (cheers and applause) (hallelujah chorus music) ♪ hallelujah! ♪ ♪ hallelujah! ♪ >> larry: so why is this movie striking such a chord with people? maybe people just love a good war hero. >> most of the conversation about iraq is negative, and most of the conversation about what happened with our country in iraq is negative. this is a positive portrayal. this is a film with an american hero. >> larry: and hollywood is taking notice. columbia pictures is rebooting "black hawk down" as a musical called "black hawk up"! (laughter) (applause) i've heard neil patrick harris crushes it. whatever it is, "american sniper" has been a virtual i.e.d of emotions since its release. this film has become a political football faster than you could say "michael moore." michael moore who reports his uncles were killed by snipers in world war ii said we were taught snipers were cowards. will shoot you in the back. snipers aren't heros. >> larry: a lot of people are upset at michael moore for throw

everyone agrees bradley cooper is incredible. as you mentioned he's worked closely with chris's family and his friends. and he obviously wanted to get this right. it was so important for him to get this right. >> all right kim, why do i believe hollywood will try and snub in the end? >> well, to say it that hollywood would snub this that would have to imply it's superior to the other nominees and i don't think that's true. >> what bird -- >> yeah. "birdman" is a superior film, "selma" is a superior film. >> i think it's a matter of taste. whatever the content doesn't fit the hollywood agenda that's wa we get. i think michael moore is a hero among the left for attacking brave americans like this. >> sean, you may be right there. but i think looking at this from a mission success standpoint which we like to do in the s.e.a.l. teams i think the movie has touched people. and i think the fact whoopi goldberg came out and defended i salute her. >> totally agree. >> coming up next tonight right here on "hannity". >> do you ever now look

i thought bradley cooper was amazing? >> you didn't like sienna? >> i thought some of her scenes were not believable. >> the bigger picture if you can hold my attention and portray a hero this way the american people respond this way i think they are scored. >> the numbers you mentioned the box office numbers just all of these sorts of records breaking january records, weekend records. president it becomes the second highest grossing rate ever. >> that's number one? >> i don't know what number one is. i don't know. who knows at the end of this maybe it will be the first time. >> super life heros. people relate to it in many ways. they are oscar naomi nations and big noms we are seeing helps chances of it winning an oscar and helps bradley cooper's chances. this is his third oscar nomination in a row. he worked closely with chris's family and his friends. >> all right, kim, why do i believe hollywood will try to snub in the end. >> to say hollywood would snub this that would have to apply together that it is superior to the other nominees. >> i thin

. >>> american sniper as portrayed by bradley cooper. lester holt looks back at his conversation with the real-life inspiration, for the story of heroism that has come to the big screen. >>> and the brotherhood. good news for a pair of siblings we've come to know after their incredible story of endurance that touched so many. "nightly news" begins now. >> announcer: from nbc news world headquarters from new york. >>> good evening. as the victims were laid to rest today, what happened in france has clearly become the terrorist attack that has reverberated around the world. new video just out today shows the suspects as they went about their awful task, including a shootout with police. and french authorities still say this group had help. and there are more people out there. it's where we begin tonight with richard engel in paris. >> reporter: from this angle, it's even more terrifying. new video showing the kouachi brothers just moments after the charlie massacre. we have avenged the prophet muhammad they shout, and calmly reload. police

. >>> ahead actor bradley cooper walks the red carpet here in washington. we'll take you to the d.c. premier of his new film american sniper. >>> a . >>> it looks as though former governor mcdonald will be heading behind bars sooner rather than later. a judge has said no to mcdonald's request to stay out of prison while his appeal is pending. he was sentenced to two years behind bars for illegally accepting loans and gifts to promote a virginia man's business. there is no word yet on which prison he will serve his time in. >>> another virginia politician serving time is joe moresey. but he's celebrating his reelection to the virginia house of delegates. he won his election, winning back the seat he gave up after he pled guilty last night to contributing to the delinquency of a minor. prosecutors say he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old at his law office. he got six months in jail. but he's out 12 hours a day under a work release program. he's scheduled to be sworn in tomorrow. however he may not be back in office all that long. he may be expelled

but bradley cooper plays that character and he talked to the u.s. navy magazine at the premiere. >> hello. number one, happy new year. get back safe. and the reason you all are doing what you're doing is allowing us to live the way we live so we wouldn't be able to do without your service, so thank you. i hope if you do get a chance to see this movie that you'll relate to it you'll think there's some truth and hopefully that others you know we do live in an age where movies for better or worse, can have a huge impact. if some people can understand the sacrifice of a warrior of someone who decides to give up their life for their country, what that means on a day-to-day level, not only for them but their families. >> cooper hopes people who come back from our wars see the film and so somebody relates to them people care. >> what you d don't think people can fathom and we owe our freedom and our liberty to you. so thank you. >> we'll play a little game guys. what could possibly be on this roadway? >> chickens. >> it's a cow, a bull a cow, a bull cow. >

played by bradley cooper. aiden and madeleine play his kids. >> i got to meet bradley cooper. >> and i also got to meet clint eastwood, yeah. >> they were proud the kids were part of this movie, not just because of the superstar' line-up, but because colin and some of his family members are veterans. >> a lot of people know the story and aboutwhat the book was about, taking care of veterans. it's just really special. >> even though the twins are 6, they know about the oscars and are excited to hear the film is up for best picture. >> i'll love the trophy. >> they won't make it to the oscars but hope the film does well. the parents say the twins' acting career will pay future college expenses and right now that career is off to a good start. >> it's been pretty amazing, the whole ride has been incredible. i mean, what a blessing. >> reporter: in san jose ian cole, nbc bay area news. >> looks like a great film. >>> hot spots for childhood diseases a new study by kaiser permanente has shown a high concentration o

chris kyle played by actor bradley cooper. the film is breaking box office records this debut weekend earning 105 million in weekend ticket sales and six academy award nominations. >> i loved it. i loved it. >> it was a very emotionally stressful movie, i thought. >> pretty good. very compelling. >> very good. excellent. >> reporter: not so excellent, however, in the minds of some in hollywood. actor seth rogin, "american sniper" reminds me of "inglorious bastards." my uncle killed by sniper in world war ii. we're told snipers are cowards. will shoot you in the back. snipers aren't heroes and invaders are worse. five hours later quoted, but if you're on your roof defending it from invaders who have come you're not a sniper you are brave, you are a neighbor. moore's comment about cowards getting a push back. >> for somebody who has spent their entire career on freedom of speech and freedom of expression to be criticizing an individual like chris kyle who exemplifies the very best, that's biting the hand that feeds you. >> repor

it stars bradley cooper as a navy seal who was the deadliest gunman in u.s. history. we spoke to eastwood about the film. >> bradley cooper in american sniper. >> watching the convoy. >> i'm not a guy who is fond of the war in iraq. i'm always sympathetic to veterans and people who are forced to go do the job whatever them are around the aspects of it are. >> he is one who trouble always on to down. >> do you have a savior complex qu? >> i did not try to make it the greatest deed in the world any more than i did a movie unforgiven, based upon someone who was haunted by the deeds that were despicable. >> it is a hell of a thing killing a man. you take away all he has. all he will ever have. >> there is a constant theme of exploring violence and the place it has. do you have a target? >> no. it is important and what it does to people and what it constantly does now -- >> you have any concerns that it will become more difficult to do in the future? >> i doubt it. it is sad. people are out there trying to make a life. satire has always been with us. it is a sad situation

history, he's played bine bradley cooper. aidan and madeleine play his kids. >> i got to meet bradley cooper and i also got to meet -- >> colin and jackie were proud the kids were part of this movie, not just because of the superstar lineup but because colin and several of his family members are veterans. >> a lot of people know the story and how important the story is and kind of what his book was about and taking care of veterans. so it was just a really special thing. >> even though the twins are just 6, they know all about the oscars and were excited to hear the film is up for best picture. >> i love that trophy. >> they won't make it to the uskers, but they help the film does well. their parents say the acting career is going to pay future college expenses and right now that career is off to a good start. >> it's been pretty amazing, the whole ride has been incredible. i mean what a blessing. >> in san jose, ian cole nbc bay area news. >> pretty cute. >> yes, they are. >> if you're sitting down while you're watching us y

i think bradley cooper's performance captured that moment. but there are others who want that moment highlighted. they want to hear something directly from the character's mouth about doubt, about pain, about i'm not so sure about these 160 kills. >> it's post traumatic stress comes in a lot of different forms. there's a lot of symptoms and only one diagnosis. so you come back with survivor guilt, with the feeling that you let some people down, that you didn't do the job that you wanted to do. you know, there's a lot of other issues upon just seeing individuals and being the perpetrator and the victim of those instances can compound into that stress. no doubt after four tours in a combat zone, chris kyle got to see a fair amount of those. we try to block those out and i'm sure the character in that scene, he did it very well, portraying that there's obviously a bit more at work. but service members are coming home with a plethora of issues that aren't being fully addressed by the v.a. and our society. it's one of the reasons we have a huge po

also, nominated this morning in hollywood montgomery county native bradley cooper. abc news reporter todd role minutes los angeles with the run down of all of the nominees. >> we are pleased to announce the films selected, as the the best picture nomineeses. >> reporter: two films tied for most oscar nomination was nine west anderson grand budapest hotel and bird man starring michael keaton was also nominated for best actor. >> let's make a come back. >> ♪♪ >> reporter: joining keaton eddie red mayne steve carol and bradley cooper who earned a third straight oscar nomination for his role, in american snipper. best account rest felicity jones, maryann, and reese wheater spoon joined julianne more than nominated for her role as a doctor struggling with alzheimer's in still alice. >> well, my good days i can you know, almost pass for a normal person. >> reporter: robert duval is up for best supporting actor for his role in the judge, joining duval jk simmons, edward norton eat on hawk and mark rufallo. >> ♪♪ >> reporter: merrill streep picks up her 19th oscar n

. >> bradley cooper. >> no. >> bradley cooper. >> and why do we do it? why do we spend every waking moment, thinking about people? why are we so committed to keeping you connected? why combine performance with efficiency? why innovate for a future without accidents? why do any of it? why do all of it? because if it matters to you, it's everything to us. the xc60 crossover. from volvo. lease the well-equipped volvo xc60 today. visit your local volvo showroom for details. visit your local volvo >> there was a woman who faked her own deej get out of dating someone on explain creative but hard to pull off. >> what do you mean. >> i would think so. >> you build a story that eventually you know if you're discovered it really -- if you walk around it undermines that i died story. it's hard. i think there's more definitive ways to get out of a date that you can just anything gastrointestinal don't ask questions. >> if you have to sell it you can say i had diarrhea because i was nechb uing about telling my wife i'm gay. >> oh, >> oh, >> then you're good. >> then

i think bradley cooper just summed it up beautifully. if you look at it early films about iraq and afghanistan like "rendition" and even "the hurricane lockhurt locker" did not do very well at the box office. i think a lot of that is they were in some ways more polemical and films like "american sniper" and "lone survivor" are more personal. i think that allows them to have a much more universal appeal. warner brothers saying this is a film that is playing like gangbusters in blue states and red states. it's playing well in all 50 states. that's the kind of success you saw last weekend. >> the film which is a really powerful movie also it stayed above the political fray in a lot of ways. it didn't take a position. it wasn't about whether or not we should have been there. chris kyle was there and he was doing what he feels he was sent to do. but the movie has had its own fair share of controversy. over the weekend, actor seth rogen compared "american sniper" to the fictitious nazi propaganda movie. seth rogen has been criticized for his s

who by the way, this movie is absolutely worth seeing just for bradley cooper's performance. it is absolutely brilliant work for him. he deserves all of the praise he's getting for that. it is a good movie. that's the view of it. it's a good movie with for me flaws, that if i were writing that movie, there were different directions i would have taken at certain points in the script. not necessarily big ones. i mean things like three or four more lines in some of the arguments that occur in the movie. in every argument that occurs in the movie, basically it's an argument with the protagonist where he is pro war and he wins every one of those arguments. no one has a comeback to him saying, if we don't fight these savages here in iraq they will be -- we will have to fight them in san diego in new york. now, that is an utterly preposterous statement to make but i get it and get why a soldier would make it and think it. it's the film maker's decision to end that dialogue on that line with him winning that argument and that is both a dramatic choice and inhe have itably -- the coll

in the true story, bradley cooper plays a navy s.e.a.l. known as the deadliest sniper in american history who with 160 confirmed kills. josh $90 million. i mean what do you think the huge draw is with this movie? >> well we didn't know until this weekend that it was going to be such a huge deal. this was quite a surprise but when you think about it okay oscar nods doesn't hurt. clint eastwood doesn't hurt. bradley cooper doesn't hurt. it's a war movie. war movies tend to do well. >> $90 million, tara? >> that's wild. >> bradley cooper east -- i mean, i guess some of that would eastwood would attract. but $90 million, is there something deeper in here telling us something about the american appetite? >> well, i think the country does want to sort of celebrate people that are viewed as heroes. i do think that also you know, bradley cooper is a huge star. >> right. >> and he's a tremendous actor. and also, to your point, the oscars, the oscars always give these movies a bump. i come from a military family and i think there is an appetite in t

i mean i know you had bradley talking about it too. >> jimmy: yeah we talked -- we had bradley cooper on the show, and he's amazing -- >> several times -- >> jimmy: he's a buddy of the show. >> trying to keep him away, yeah. "hey, jimmy, can i come in again?" [ laughter ] >> jimmy: no, we love him. man, we invite him all the time, but yeah, we always get giggling because he comes on, we have these serious movies. we like to joke around. >> yeah. >> jimmy: cause you know, "hangover" we joked around when you have that. but then we were just serious when we got to be serious and i start the giggles. and we started laughing, man, he just -- it's just an intense film, and this guy, the snipers out there, this character played chris, shot it was between 140 and 150 -- >> i think 160 confirmed kills or something. it's an insane amount and you know, it's a really, it's something that he really struggled with, i think he would be happier with the number of lives he saved, versus people talking about the amount he killed but he was a a really prolific sniper and you know, struggled of being a a