The casting and directorial debut of the remake of ‘A Star is Born’ has caused a stir over the last month and received rave reviews. There has been rapturous reports and plenty of gossip surrounding the leading pair, whether it’s Lady Gaga’s call for a Grammy or the ‘flirtatious’ relationship between herself and actor-come-director, Bradley Cooper. But Hollywood hype is rarely justified and the trailer alone suggests the film could have translated to another cheesefest or over-sweetened rom-com, yet the reality was far from such. The 2018 version left cinema goers in genuine awe of Cooper’s credible transition into directing and Gaga’s admirable acting ability. With both leads using the movie to show off hidden talents and reinvent themselves, the title of ‘A Star is Born’ arguably has hidden levels.
Everyone knows the plot of the film. Having been remade three times since the original movie in 1937, A Star is Born is the traditional tale of boy meets girl or rather established star meets struggling artist; they fall in love; roles are reversed as girl’s career flourishes; boy ends up tragically dying as a result of an alcoholic lifestyle. The general outline isn’t necessarily the most imaginative, but the strong characterisation and believable chemistry between the two protagonists are what carries the story.
Cooper and Gaga manage to carve consistent intrigue and emotion throughout the film, where the confessed ‘instant connection’ between them is evident from their first scene together. As Jackson Maine (Cooper) first sets eyes on Ally (Gaga) during her performance of La Vie en Rose at a drag club, the electricity is far from understated. Reportedly, Cooper was inspired by watching a slicked-back hair and stripped back Gaga perform the French anthem that immortalised Edith Piaf in 1945 at a benefit concert in 2016. This was the moment he knew he needed her to be his costar, describing her performance as ‘levitating’ in an interview with Vogue.
The film progresses as a besotted Maine invites Ally to sing one of her own, unheard-of songs at one of his major gigs on tour. Gaga is remarkably convincing at playing someone who has never performed to huge crowds before, as a nervous Ally is featured on the side of the stage attempting to muster the courage to walk out. When she does, the first epic soundtrack cues. A clever way of exploiting Gaga’s powerful vocals, ‘Shallow’ and all the other tracks are performed live by the pair, a move that allows audiences to engage in their raw emotions and the euphoric festival vibes. It’s no wonder the soundtrack album to ‘A Star is Born’ received equally positive reviews and soared to number one of the US Billboard charts.
And it’s important to mention in the review of ‘A Star is Born’ that not just Gaga’s voice that carries weight either, as Cooper has sent shockwaves across the media with his ability to sing and mimic an authentic rock star. The ‘Hangover’ actor sought advice from greats, such as Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, and enlisted in 18 months of training to ensure his delivery of Jackson Maine passed as a natural frontman. True to form, he also showcased his representative acting expertise, deploying his character as a believable alcoholic struggling to cope with the rock and roll lifestyle in virtually every scene.
Seen as though 99% of film fans already knew the story of ‘A Star is Born’ and that Maine was sadly going to end up dead, there’s no spoilers in this review. But what was perhaps less expected is the final scene as Gaga performs that final musical number and converts auditoria into a weeping mass. Whether it’s the bona fide connection between the two or the momentous melody, I’m not sure, but ‘I’ll Never Love Again’ bursts with pure passion and a somber sadness. It is also sadly tied up with the pop singer’s personal loss, where the day she was due to perform, she instead received news that a close friend of hers was dying. She seemingly poured some of her grief into the scene, using the song and music as a coping tool “All I wanna do is sing, man,” she replied to an understanding Cooper who proclaimed it wasn’t necessary for her to keep filming. With this knowledge, the film again has transcendent levels.
Spoiler Alert* – Take a look at ‘I’ll Never Love Again’ below, or scroll past to keep it a surprise.
If you hadn’t guessed from this review, ‘A Star is Born’ is well worth a trip to the cinema. The epic musical episodes and montages of their budding relationship are interlaced with realistic footage that invites us to the dark side of the music industry, while playfully interlacing scenes with humour through ongoing jokes and Gaga’s streetwise and punchy persona. Moreover, Cooper’s directorial talent reimagines the classic plot and successfully brings the 80-year-old story into the 21st century.
There are plenty of great films due to hit cinemas this year, so why check out what’s showing at cinemas near you.