Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: Bradley Cooper, Roadshow Entertainment
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Dave Chappelle, Sam Elliott, Rafi Gavron, Anthony Ramos, Andrew Dice Clay.
Multi-award-winning film (including the Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards) this year, director/co-producer/star Cooper’s remake of A Star Is Born is rightly described as “passionate, emotional and fearless”.
Unconvincing as it may sound, this romance of ‘high tragedy’ between an experienced musician and a struggling artist works successfully.
It stars Oscar-nominees Cooper and Lady Gaga. While Bradley makes his directorial debut with this film, it’s Lady Gaga’s first leading role in a major film.
Cooper (The Hangover, American Sniper) plays seasoned musician Jackson Maine who ‘discovers’ and falls in love with struggling artist, Ally (Lady Gaga). She had just about given up on making it big as a singer, until Jackson persuades her to com into the spotlight.
Just as Ally’s career takes off, their personal relationship begins to fracture, as Jackson fights an ongoing battle with his internal demons. Cooper is brave to also take on the role of an alcoholic rock veteran, who struts on stage, singing with an electric guitar. Nevertheless, he manages well to turn his performance from shrewd to spiteful, unfeeling to affectionate.
Lady Gaga sill upstages him: she dominates, in particular, the final moment of the film.
Originally made in 1937, this is the fourth remake of A Star Is Born, after the 1954 musical that starred Judy Garland and James Mason and the 1976 version with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.
A romantic revival with a message, it’s neat viewing on Blu-ray, with appropriate credit in these words: “it’s the same story told over and over, forever. All any artist can offer this world is how they see those 12 notes”.
Foresight from Cooper delivers a story to treasure.
