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A Star is Born (2018)
I didn't think anything fresh could be brought to this story that has already been brought to the screen in 1937, 1954, and 1976 but Bradley Cooper has scored a major triumph with his 2018 re-thinking of A Star is Born that takes this story back to its essence...a love story, pure and simple.
For those who have never seen any of the previous versions of this story, in 1937 and 1954, a movie star named Norman Maine whose career is on the decline due to his alcoholism meets an aspiring actress named Esther Blodgett and helps her become a movie star named Vicki Lester. But when Norman's drinking starts affecting Vicki's career, Norman realizes that he must let Vicki go and there's only one way he can do it. In the 1976 version, the lead characters become musicians instead of movie stars, as they did in this new version.
Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a burnt out rock and roller who meets an aspiring singer named Ally (Lady Gaga) falls in love with her on sight and recognizes her talent and uses the little juice he has left in the business to springboard her career. Unfortunately, jealousy and resentment surface as Ally becomes a bigger star than Jackson was, but they marry anyway. Eventually, Jackson's drunken escapades start to harm Ally's career but she refuses to give up on Jackson, so Jackson forces her to.
I don't even know where to start here, because I'm still in shock that I enjoyed this film as much as I did. Bradley Cooper is to be applauded and remembered at award season for bringing something new to this classic story that simultaneously respects an original story that is 81 years old. As director and co-screenwriter, Cooper is very careful to bring us the story that we know and expect but tweaks it just enough to give the story a fresh and glorious breath. What I love about this version is that it concentrates less on the show business aspect of the story and more on the love story. Watch the first scene where Jackson watches Ally sing for the first time...he falls in love with her at first sight first and notices her talent second.
Remember in the '54 and '76 versions when the leading man discovers the leading lady in a dingy little nightclub? In this version, Ally is actually discovered singing in a drag bar. I loved that. The most famous line in three previous versions of the story is lovingly recreated, not once, but twice here. Cooper even brings a shocking addition to the famous scene where Jackson ruins the Grammy Awards for his wife.
The other thing I loved about this version of the story that is barely touched on in the '54 and '76 version is that the characters of Ally and Jackson actually have families who have had a profound effect on the paths their lives have taken. As a matter of fact as this film opens, Ally is still living with her dad, beautifully played by Andrew Dice Clay and watching their mutual respect for each other was a joy. Jackson's family is only revealed through backstory but it does surface in one powerful scene with Jackson's manager (Sam Elliott).
The music for this film, almost exclusively composed by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, is a refreshing melange of contemporary soft rock and funky dance tunes. I especially loved "Shallow", "Always Remember Us This Way" and "I'll Never Love Again". And what can be said about the vocal miracle that is Lady Gaga that hasn't been already said? Not since Barbra Streisand have I heard such vocal pyrotechnics in a movie. I was even blown way by her rendition of "La Vie En Rose". Gaga also proves to be a promising actress and I wouldn't be shocked if she and Elliott receive Oscar nominations. I don't know about lead actor, but I definitely see Cooper snagging a nomination for his direction. This film proves that Cooper may have a new career behind the camera.
I didn't think anything fresh could be brought to this story that has already been brought to the screen in 1937, 1954, and 1976 but Bradley Cooper has scored a major triumph with his 2018 re-thinking of A Star is Born that takes this story back to its essence...a love story, pure and simple.
For those who have never seen any of the previous versions of this story, in 1937 and 1954, a movie star named Norman Maine whose career is on the decline due to his alcoholism meets an aspiring actress named Esther Blodgett and helps her become a movie star named Vicki Lester. But when Norman's drinking starts affecting Vicki's career, Norman realizes that he must let Vicki go and there's only one way he can do it. In the 1976 version, the lead characters become musicians instead of movie stars, as they did in this new version.
Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a burnt out rock and roller who meets an aspiring singer named Ally (Lady Gaga) falls in love with her on sight and recognizes her talent and uses the little juice he has left in the business to springboard her career. Unfortunately, jealousy and resentment surface as Ally becomes a bigger star than Jackson was, but they marry anyway. Eventually, Jackson's drunken escapades start to harm Ally's career but she refuses to give up on Jackson, so Jackson forces her to.
I don't even know where to start here, because I'm still in shock that I enjoyed this film as much as I did. Bradley Cooper is to be applauded and remembered at award season for bringing something new to this classic story that simultaneously respects an original story that is 81 years old. As director and co-screenwriter, Cooper is very careful to bring us the story that we know and expect but tweaks it just enough to give the story a fresh and glorious breath. What I love about this version is that it concentrates less on the show business aspect of the story and more on the love story. Watch the first scene where Jackson watches Ally sing for the first time...he falls in love with her at first sight first and notices her talent second.
Remember in the '54 and '76 versions when the leading man discovers the leading lady in a dingy little nightclub? In this version, Ally is actually discovered singing in a drag bar. I loved that. The most famous line in three previous versions of the story is lovingly recreated, not once, but twice here. Cooper even brings a shocking addition to the famous scene where Jackson ruins the Grammy Awards for his wife.
The other thing I loved about this version of the story that is barely touched on in the '54 and '76 version is that the characters of Ally and Jackson actually have families who have had a profound effect on the paths their lives have taken. As a matter of fact as this film opens, Ally is still living with her dad, beautifully played by Andrew Dice Clay and watching their mutual respect for each other was a joy. Jackson's family is only revealed through backstory but it does surface in one powerful scene with Jackson's manager (Sam Elliott).
The music for this film, almost exclusively composed by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, is a refreshing melange of contemporary soft rock and funky dance tunes. I especially loved "Shallow", "Always Remember Us This Way" and "I'll Never Love Again". And what can be said about the vocal miracle that is Lady Gaga that hasn't been already said? Not since Barbra Streisand have I heard such vocal pyrotechnics in a movie. I was even blown way by her rendition of "La Vie En Rose". Gaga also proves to be a promising actress and I wouldn't be shocked if she and Elliott receive Oscar nominations. I don't know about lead actor, but I definitely see Cooper snagging a nomination for his direction. This film proves that Cooper may have a new career behind the camera.