MPAA Rating: R/ Genre: Romantic Musical Drama/ Stars: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay, Anthony Ramos, Rafi Gavron, Greg Grunberg/ Runtime: 136 minutes
I feel it must be said that when looking at the latest retelling of A Star is Born from a concept perspective, it must’ve looked like quite a pretty cursed project to take on. Indeed this is because not only is this movie a remake of a movie that has had at least 2 other remakes before this one, but it’s also been struggling to get out of film limbo for a long time now to the point that at one time this was going to be directed by Clint Eastwood and have Beyoncé in one of the 2 leading roles, and it’s also gambling on whether or not Lady Gaga’s performing skills can result in delivering a quality acting performance. Yet when you look at how it ultimately turned out, it really does seem like Bradley Cooper is enamored with succeeding against all odds. I say that because with his take on this story which has been told time and time again, Cooper gives us a narrative which from the absolute beginning completely and totally soars. Indeed what truly could have existed as just yet another remake in the long history of Hollywood remakes instead has managed to become a winning film with a wonderful cast and managing in the process to become a modern adaptation on a timeless story that audiences never knew they needed, but that they will want to watch time and time again.
The plot is as follows: A Star is Born tells the tale of a man named Jackson Maine. Jackson happens to be a part of the legion of music talents whose very name on the marquee is the kind which not only causes venues to sell every ticket in the house, but also manages to draw notice from all over. Yet with all of that talent, every creative person has some kind of vice in their lives. For Jackson, his particular vice happens to be the fact that he enjoys more than his fair share of the bottle. This however begins to change when Jackson happens to come across a young woman named Ally who happens to be a natural singer though who’s never been given the same breaks that Jackson has. Of course it’s no spoiler to reveal that in the course of really helping her gifts flourish, the 2 find themselves falling deeply and passionately in love. Yet when fate starts moving their professional lives in 2 distinct and different directions, these 2 lovers will soon discover their blossoming happiness tested in ways they could never imaginable, and the stakes no less than everything they’ve ever worked for and all they’ve ever wanted both separately and together on the line…..
Now for a movie that is an individual’s first time at the helm, I feel like A Star is Born is most definitely a home run over the fence and into the stands from beginning to end. Indeed by finding himself equipped with the extraordinary conviction that usually an individual at the peak of their creative abilities would showcase, Bradley Cooper is able to provide the movie-goer with a first-time look at who he is as a director in such a powerful and potent manner that it truly gives off the vibe that this is someone who has been directing for a long time now rather than just getting started. Indeed you can also pinpoint just who his directorial inspiration was as well. I say this because every single frame in A Star is Born gives off a hint of the directorial style of one Mr. Clint Eastwood. Yet while Bradley Cooper chooses to take out a loan on some of Clint’s directorial touches, it isn’t stealing them and passing them off as his own, but is rather a loving tribute and homage to a director that clearly inspired Bradley whilst they were making American Sniper together.
In addition, instead of providing the movie goer with the usual playbook that they have all come to expect from a film of this particular genre, Cooper instead chooses to powerfully showcase a romance drama that manages to encapsulate a snapshot of love and romance that is rendered completely rather than partially. Indeed while there are still conflicts and squabbles between the 2 main characters, it should be noted that none of it is played in a way that feels staged. Instead it is shown and brought to life in a way that is so relatable yet heart wrenching that you will find yourself hurting right alongside them. Indeed it feels like you are watching a documentary instead of a fictional narrative, and it is through that realism that Cooper manages to earn all the emotion in the curves in this particular road rather than make you feel like you have to tear up or be inspired simply because.
Ultimately though, the main key that really helps to seal the deal when it comes to how wonderful this film truly is would have to be the fantastic chemistry on display between Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Indeed this is because on their own they both deliver powerhouse performances with Gaga especially proving to be captivating as she manages to match her director/co-star beat for beat perfectly. However when the 2 of them are sharing the silver screen together, it is something truly magical to behold. Indeed it’s amazing how seemingly natural it is for this duo to really become their respective characters and then work as effectively as possible in playing off one another. On the other side of the coin, Bradley Cooper manages to show a side of him we never knew existed and contributes a singing voice that is just plain astonishing in all the best ways. Indeed while this film does have quite the impressive supporting cast including Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, Andrew “Dice” Clay and Anthony Ramos, and they all manage to do phenomenal work in the screen time that they are all given, I still feel that this movie’s heart and soul has to be, without question, Cooper and Gaga, and they manage to bring a passion and intensity that just lights up the screen for all to see.
All in all it is quite incredible to believe that this movie is yet another example of a remake from Hollywood that spent an inordinately long time in the foul depths of that horrific land known as development hell. This is because not only does this film succeed so phenomenally well on its own merits, but it’s also a remarkably realistic musical that manages to showcase an incredibly relatable tale that, although we may have heard a few different variations of, comes equipped with a set of lyrics all its own. Indeed this is a tour de force directorial debut from Bradley Cooper, and I can only hope that this is not his last turn at the helm because he is dynamite. Indeed A Star is Born may be a remake of a previously told story, but this is one remake which should prove as timeless to this generation as the previous endeavor was to that one. On a scale of 1-5 I give A Star is Born “2018” a solid 4 out of 5.
