A Star Is Born 2018

This was a good movie but not a great movie (this will not be a popular opinion). First the good stuff: Lady Gaga was perfect for and in this role - acting singing, chemistry, song writing - all fantastic. The chemistry between Bradley Cooper and Gaga was believable and, at times, breathtaking. The first two thirds of the movie had a great arch and captured us (as a friend, who watched the movie with me, said, "I could watch the first part of this movie on repeat.") I am also a big fan of about 5 of the songs, and would add them to my library without hesitation, they are beautifully written. Now, the not so good stuff: the last third of the movie was too long - it could easily be cut by 20 minutes, but Bradley Cooper, as director, was more than a little self indulgent with his own scenes (we got the struggle, drawing it out didn't serve the storytelling). Ally's character arch was disappointing. As her star rose she didn't learn to love what Jack saw in her. She didn't learn to take ownership of her own story, the very gift Jack was trying to give her. Ally's story wasn't resolved until the very last moments of the movie, it was eclipsed by Bradley's directorial obsession with Jack's decline, belying the original premise of all the STAR IS BORN movies and lessening her triumph. I guess what moved it from great to good, for me, was that the first two thirds proved it could be great but the last third got hijacked (no pun intended). I give this film a 7 (good) out of 10. [Music-centric Romantic Drama]

I finally watched A Star Is Born, and boy... was I just blown away. This film is a literal whirlwind of emotions culminating in one truly tragic ending. I was hyped for this movie for months, and it definitely lived up to expectations (even exceeded them). I was totally floored by the performances of Lady Gaga and especially Bradley Cooper who completely disappears into his role of Jackson Maine (in a good way). The soundtrack to this movie is just spectacular with some of the best ballads that I've heard in a long time in both "Shallow" and "I'll Never Love Again". That first scene where Gaga and Cooper perform together on stage is just a revelation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_efYhYU2A

While this is a story that has been done many times (literally, this is the 4th remake), Cooper's version is just masterfully built and developed amazingly well even though it does run a bit long. It was over 2 hours long (135 mins), but at times I actually wish that it could have been longer due to how much I connected with the characters. It's a true "modern take" on a classic tale. And definitely prepare to cry as well. My god, the last 20 minutes of the movie were just... beyond brutal. If you've ever dealt with or really known/loved someone with addiction and/or depression problems, this movie hits so close to home that it is scary.

A Star Is Born is an instant classic and a definite Oscar favorite in multiple categories. If you told me that in 2018 the guy who played Sack in Wedding Crashers 13 years ago would direct and star in an emotional and moving film like this, I'd call you crazy. I'm definitely going to watch this again, but those last 15 minutes of the movie truly were gut-wrenching. Maybe I'll just stick with listening to the soundtrack over and over again... :P

Spoilers ahead!! You've been warned!

Nope. Nope. Nope. Just no all around.

How did so many people like this movie? It's terribly formulaic and unoriginal.

And God, I just can't with the instalove. Like 16 year old me was all about that, but c'mon. He was an overbearing, pushy drunk. I don't believe she would've ever given him the time of day if he hadn't been famous.

Also, if not for the fame and musical talent, why would you ever insert yourself into the life of a broken, deeply messed up person struggling with serious addiction issues? All of his bad qualities were plain visible for everyone to see from the get go. What would even make you want to spend more time with someone like that so you could get to know them?

Hated the plot (I was actually rooting for him to die at the end so the movie would be infinitesimally more interesting, even though SUPER PREDICTABLE still), I would not for the life of me be able to tell anyone how much time went by from when they met to the end. The timing was just plain wrong and confusing.
The chemistry was there, the acting was ok, although I was already sick and tired of the drunk/drugged act by the middle of the movie. And the singing and songs were good, too.

But the story? Beyond lame. Just plain bad

Just think about the underlying messages of this movie: If you bug and pressure a woman enough a no will turn into a yes. Whether it's a drink, skipping work to fly to a show, sing on stage while not really prepared, change her personal appearance and creative style... All to appease the men around her.
And also, no matter how much he loves you, he won't be able to deal with your success and will use it as another excuse to keep spiriling down.
(Ally didn't even have a last name for crying out loud! That's how unimportant she was compared to Jack's character)

That's messed up. Think about it.

[6.1/10] Is fair to criticize a remake for being rote? It seems a little churlish to complain that a retelling of a well-known story comes off as derivative and unoriginal. Obviously 2018’s version of A Star Is Born is pulling from its predecessors and plenty of other the other cultural flotsam in how we do movies about musicians in this day and age. But suffice it to say, even if you haven’t seen one of A Star Is Born’s many predecessors before, you’ve probably seen this same basic story ten times over.

The film tells the tale of Jackson Maine, a weathered rock-and-roll-with-soul type who’s half Bruce Springsteen and half Eddie Vedder, and Ally the drag show performer he plucks from obscurity and brings into his romantic life and the world of professional music. As you may have guessed from the title, Ally shines and her career takes off at the same time her relationship with Jackson is blooming, but shockingly, jealousy and alcoholism not only cause friction between the two leads but start to drag Jackson down at the same time Ally finds herself on the crest of stardom.

The film is pretty hackneyed from the jump. It hits every cliché from musical biopics and other thinly-veiled showbiz substitutes early and often. Jackson is a mess who’s lost the stuff, but the spark of this random relationship helps to both save him and give his music a shot in the arm. Ally is timid and full of self-doubt, but with encouragement and support and assurances that she’s pretty, finds that confidence and it-factor that lets her talent blossom. And along the way, there’s evil managers, ponderous exchanges about truth in art, and tired tropes about the pitfalls of fame and fortune. There is nothing new in the substance here, just reheated leftovers from the scores of films about performers that came before.

But there’s something to the style of the film which helps distinguish it a little, which is the bare minimum you can ask for from remake number four. There’s a committed attempt at naturalism in places. The film can’t always sustain the energy, but there’s a mumblecore-mixed-with-cheese quality to most of the dialogue that at least gives the viewer the sense that hey, maybe people in the music biz are just that rambling and “I’m 14 and this is deep” when they talk. The movie doesn't always pull it off (and the script does it no favors), but I at least admire the attempt to make the character sound like real people even if they can’t seem like real people.

The film’s also well made from visual standpoint, with alternating scenes of people lit low in the dark of night owl bars and evening concerts, and characters backed with brightness in more natural, sun-kissed settings that represent the pull of the superficial world Ally and Jack occupy and the realer places away from it.

Still, the core of the movie is dull and unconvincing. I’ll concede that watching this film on the same day a number of women have spoken out about Ryan Adams taking an interest in their careers when they were young and tying his support to obsessive and exploitive relationships dampened my enthusiasm for the already suspect romance at the center of the film, which takes the same shape.

But separate from that metatextual issue, it’s hard to be invested in the core relationship that the rest of the film is built on. The premise of the film seems to be that Jackson recognizes some spark in Ally, and that Ally recognizes some wounded humanity in Jackson, and that this mutual recognition allows the pair to connect as artists and human beings. But both qualities are unconvincing for most of the film’s runtime, and however cute or relatable the film strains to make their interactions, they never rise above seeming like a couple who love each other instantly and enduringly mostly because the film needs them too.

It’s particularly difficult because so much of A Star Is Born is built on the idea that Jackson has this truth-telling insight, that Ally has this irrepressible stardom within her, and that it comes through in the music they make and the songs they create. The big problem is that those songs -- the showpieces of the film -- are trite nonsense. Lady Gaga obviously has a lovely voice, and Bradley Cooper slurs his way through a back-of-the-throat drawl well enough, but these sterling reflections of their pure and wounded souls come off like shallow navel-gazing without a whit of insight or inspiration. When the things that are supposed to not only signify your characters’ transcendent abilities, but what’s within their hearts, fall flat, there’s not a lot you can do to make up for it, especially when your movie is a kinda sorta musical.

Oddly enough, for all the star wattage in the film, the strongest interludes of the movie come from the supporting characters. Lady Gaga acquits herself well in a role that seems tailor made for her, and Bradley Cooper shows off his chops when he loosens up on the “Tim Riggins with a guitar” vibe. But Sam Elliott quietly steals the show with minimal screen time as Jackson’s brother with whom he has a complicated relationship, and Dave Chapelle of all people (who knows a thing or two about having a complicated relationship with fame and show business) gives a hell of a dramatic performance as Jackson’s advice-giving old friend.

It’s no coincidence that these brighter moments tend to come when the movie slows down. One of the biggest issues with A Star Is Born is that it barrels through plot points, with Ally’s rise, Jackson’s fall, and the pair’s meeting and romance all happening so quickly that none of it has any time to breathe or land. Charitably, you could attribute that to trying to create an atmosphere of the whirlwind way success comes and goes, but the effect is that it’s hard to latch onto anything that happens in the film. Only in the film’s last twenty minutes or so, when it dispenses with the up-and-down narrative and faux-profound exposition and focuses on the quieter effects on its characters, does the film start to feel like something more than yet another deep-as-a-thimble quasi-musical biopic.

By then, however, it’s too little too late. At the end of the day, A Star Is Born is fine. It’s well-made, often well-acted, and competently hits the expected beats with a few new wrinkles here and there. The problem is that, like its characters, the film seems to be convinced that it is burdened by the heavens with the need to Say Something™, with all the self-seriousness that comes with that would-be grand purpose. And yet, like the supposedly profound and soul-imbued songs its main characters sing, the end result comes off like high-grade, unaffecting hackwork. Fair or not, you’ve heard this tune before, and this rendition plays like it thinks it’s at the Grammys when it’s really just doing karaoke.

"Maybe it's time to let the old ways die."

'A Star Is Born' is a depressing look on love, drugs and rock n roll, but will occasionally stumble into some cliche moments with the main message shooting itself in the foot. I mean, the whole "if you’re talented, but don’t have anything to say", which is just this movie. Nothing new is said at all. However, as soon as the credits rolled, I was left speechless. A mishmash of emotions that left me drained.

Bradley Cooper is absolutely excellent as the talented, yet deeply troubled Jack. Every time Cooper is on screen, I really bought him as the alcoholic rock star. The way he carries himself throughout with his mumble speech was totally believable. I don't know what’s more impressive: This is Cooper’s directorial debut or his singing voice...maybe both.

Lady Gaga is also really great and finally shows off her acting chops, something that her previous roles failed to do. While some of her line delivery was a bit unnatural, but I thought she’s terrific during the dramatic aspects. And of course her singing voice is dynamic.

Sam Elliott, on the other hand, absolutely broke me and his screen time is very slim. Without spoiling anything, there’s a scene involving him reversing his car and we get a close up shot on Elliott’s face, with no dialogue and music, just his reaction. It’s some of the best acting.

The sound design is incredibly detailed, especially during the concert scenes. The songs itself are really good and you can understand why within this story it made them stars. Although the editing is a bit clunky at times and the directing isn't anything too special. The movie can get a little bit predictable, because it almost follows the Oscar bait formula, but didn’t distract my emotional investment .

Overall rating: Out of all the movies nominated this year at the Oscars that I thought are either bland or straight up bad - this is probably my third favorite with the others being 'The Favorite' and 'Roma'.

me to Bradley Cooper "I just wanted to take another look at you."

Having loved this in cinemas and having recently re-visited it on VOD, this seems as good a time as any to note down some thoughts.

I didn't like the much as much on re-watch as I did in the theatre, but I've left my initial score stand.

The things that worked for me the first time around still work now: the chemistry between the main characters (as well as generally interesting side characters), a fantastic performance by Lady Gaga (both musically and from an acting perspective), and some genuinely goosebumps generating moments (Ally getting pulled onto the stage for the first time, Ally's father comforting her, the final shot of the movie).

However, as many have noted, the movie's deficiencies became much clearer to me upon second viewing. For a movie called A Star Is Born, the second and third acts spend an inexplicably and indefensible amount of time dealing with the fading star that's Bradley Cooper's character.

It's unfortunate that this lack of focus robs us of the plot development we actually care about: Ally's professional success and the development she goes through - with and without a man by her side.

One last thing: the very final section is so close to perfection. Lady Gaga's singing, while acting, is unreal. The moment is so powerful... and then Bradley Cooper ruins it by filling it with flashbacks of stuff that happened during the last two hours of the movie. Don't worry dude - we haven't forgotten. I wish he'd shown a little bit more restraint and more confidence in Lady Gaga's performance, and the audience's ability to connect the dots.

All of those complaints aside, I still love this movie. It's emotional film-making, and it works.

It's fundamentally difficult to try to tell a story that's been told several times before.  We all know roughly how the story is going to play out so the telling of the story already has a strike against it before it even starts.  For me this film was broken up into two completely viewing experiences.

The first half of the film is absolutely electric.  Bradley Cooper is endearing and charming and Lady Gaga is .... spunky?... and in her own way very endearing.  The first few scenes between them are magical and their chemistry is undeniable.  The two leads are perfectly cast and their performances are phenomenal.

The second half?  That's where the film needed to make its bones and I think it fell short.  It has to be a lot harder to tell a story of a relationship falling apart than it is to show it coming together (although some films like Blue Valentine pull it off well).  The movie started to ramble a bit and may have even gone on a bit too long.  I don't think that it portrayed the heartache that it needed to.  My 8.75 rating is a reflection of how good the first half is.

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I went into this film not sure what to expect. I had see all the previous renditions of this film and wasn't necessarily disappointed by any of them. The only thing going through my head before was yet another remake. However, the fact that Lady Gaga was starring was big enough of a draw to pull me in let alone Bradley Cooper.
From the moment the film started it had my attention. It was filmed flawlessly and the story was fantastic. It really does a good job at showing a plethora of feelings through amazing acting and story telling that we in our millennial generation have been denied until now. It combines the great parts of old Hollywood's story telling style, removes the parts that don't work, and creates a storytelling hybrid fit for any audience member of any generation.
Perhaps even better is the music written for this film. It was done so well that you literally felt like you were there live at the concerts.

Regardless of if you think Lady Gaga is your style or not you need to go see this movie. It is an amazing story of triumph over adversity and the sad realities of trauma in many respects. This film really truly is the best piece of cinematic work I think I have ever seen in 26 years.
In a side note, this is deffinitely an adult movie and not meant for the kiddies. If you get a chance to as well, see this while it is in theater still. The experience of it on the big screen is incomparable to any other experience. The sound is without a doubt amazing.