It’s an endearing story about the price of fame that has been told in Hollywood before. An aspiring singer meets a famous rockstar who fall in love and swap places. She becomes a successful popstar and he drowns his sorrows in a whiskey bottle. Since ‘A Star Is Born’ has been done before, why should audiences care about another remake? Quite simply, the new version directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Lady Gaga is terrific. In order for a story to work, you have to care about the main characters. You’ll care about these two and don’t forget to bring the Kleenex. Besides the genuine chemistry between Cooper and Gaga, the musical numbers are thrilling and the stripped-down version of Gaga reveals that she has acting chops. ‘A Star Is Born’ is one of the best films of 2018.
The first hour is mesmerizing. We see Jackson Maine (Cooper), an alcoholic country singer stumbling on stage to do a powerful guitar riff. He empties a bottle of booze, stumbles into his SUV limo and tells his driver to stop at a local dive bar. It happens to be drag night where Ally (Gaga), a waitress takes the stage and belts out a jaw-dropping cabaret rendition of “La Vie en Rose.” When Jackson hears her sing they lock eyes and it is love at first sight. It’s as if her talent is the energy he needs in his life. When he goes into her dressing room, he takes off her makeup so he can admire her real beauty. She tells him that it is her big nose that prevents her from reaching stardom. The audience gets to see Lady Gaga without all of the glam and it is absolutely breathtaking. Gaga shows her vulnerability on screen and it works. She can act!
The highlight of the film is the musical number when the duet takes the stage for the song, “Shallow.” You will be humming this song long after you exit the movie theater too. Jackson invites Ally to one of his concerts. He has his limo take her to an airport where she boards a private jet. She’s backstage taking it all in when Jackson begins to strum one of her songs she wrote. He introduces Ally to the world. It’s a powerful scene. The cinematography by Matthew Libatique is magnificent and adds to the magic of the stage performances. When Ally sings, the audience responds favorably and her song goes viral on social media. She is soon propositioned by a record label and the machine transforms her into a pop diva. It’s fascinating to watch because we are watching Ally become a version of Lady Gaga while Jackson is self-destructing.
Cooper does not shy away from the tough scenes. We see him get into a fight with his older brother Bobby (Sam Elliott) backstage. We also see Jackson at a rehab facility. It’s heartbreaking when Ally visits him and he breaks down in tears. He’s sober and she wonders if he still loves her. He apologizes for embarrassing her at the Grammys during her acceptance speech. They’re still in love with each other. The problem is whether Jackson can handle the fact that she is now the star and he is a has-been. The cautionary tale about fame is what makes ‘A Star Is Born’ so enduring over time. Audiences get a glimpse at the downside of fame. As one star rises another one falls. One thing is certain. You will feel deeply for these characters.
In the beginning of the film, Jackson tells Ally, “Talent comes everywhere but having something to say and a way to say it so that people listen to it, that’s a whole other bag.” It’s not exactly clear what causes Jackson’s eventual downfall. Is it that he cannot bear how far he has fallen or how high Ally’s stardom has reached? It’s hard to say but his downward spiral is tragic. More importantly, ‘A Star Is Born’ introduces us to a new movie star in Lady Gaga and a talented new director in Bradley Cooper. This film hits all the right notes and should not be missed this awards season.
