A Star is Born

A STAR IS BORN (2018)

There could be a hundred Oscar nominated film reviewers in a room...

This is the story of a nightclub singer beginning a relationship with a famous country singer and superseding his fame while he struggles to vanquish his demons.

Fortunately I hadn’t seen the previous three versions of this film so I went in fresh as a daisy. I’ve always worshiped songwriters so was already impressed with the knowledge that actor/producer/director Bradley Cooper (amongst others) had written all the original songs. Obviously I knew Lady Gaga was a cracking songwriter (don’t be a drag, just be a queen) and thanks to American Horror Story I trusted that Gaga could deliver a line without embarrassing herself so I entered the cinema pretty open minded and assured.

I exited the cinema confused at the awards hype of the film as a unit. I completely understand that a Pop Culture Icon leading her first movie will be big news and garner hype. Fair enough. But Oscar hype? Gaga doesn’t do anything that Britney didn’t do in Crossroads 15 years earlier.

Cooper deserves a nom. And potentially to win. He’s outstanding. I believed every single word he spoke and I believed I was watching a rock star. I did not believe, however, what happened at the Grammy’s nor what happened in his garage. Both took me out of the film.

I loved every scene with Cooper and his brother, Sam Elliott. What a formidable pairing. Just delicious.

I wish Gaga’s character had become a Country star. I feel we could have arrived at the same conclusion, only this would’ve been more credible. It was hard enough imagining Lady Gaga as a waitress, let alone as a diluted pop star in a halter neck. As a country singer she would’ve delivered a deeper sting to Cooper’s character as she muscled in on his territory.

Gaga does the best she can behind her chemically relaxed facial muscles. Cooper is captivating and Elliott is heartbreaking. And ‘Shallow’ is a good song. Oh and while we’re on ‘Shallow’. That scene.

Upon their first meeting she sings to him a few lines of this brand-new, never-before-heard song, which she has written but hasn’t finished. Next thing we know this famous rock star has the audacity to plagiarise it. He goads her to join him on stage in front of thousands of his fans and without rehearsal they successfully manage to make it a duet with brand new lyrics and matching ad-libs and trills! Absolutely absurd and surely everybody’s dream come true.

Watch this on a Saturday night with a Chinese and some rosè wine.

7 Gravelly Voiced Thumbs Up!