Laura Dern and Will Arnett play a divorced couple whose relationship gets further upended by a stand-up comedy routine. Director Bradley Cooper joined a cinematographers union to be able to do a lot of the filming himself. Jason McDonald/Searchlight Pictures One year ago, when Bradley Cooper turned 50, he gathered with Jeremy Strong and a few other close friends (who will remain anonymous) at his West Village home to do a table-read workshop of his new film.