‘A Star is Born’ Review: Damn this film is beautiful
When I first saw the trailer for A Star is Born, I rolled my eyes and thought “Here we go. Another remake. Another singer trying to be an actress. Another actor wanting to direct. REAL ORIGINAL, HOLLYWOOD.” But then I started hearing the inevitable buzzing that starts to happen around this time of year, and a lot of it was surrounding this very film, to my great surprise. So, I vowed to not let myself see the trailer in full anymore, lest I start building it up in my head and ruin the viewing experience with astronomically high expectations. And though my expectations were probably a bit higher than normal from the extraordinary word-of-mouth, it lived up to the hype and then some.
I have no idea why Bradley Cooper, of all people, decided that a remake of A Star is Born would be his directorial debut, but after watching it, I can’t imagine another version of the film that would have had the same heart-wrenching impact that this one did. He plays pill-popping, alcoholic country-rock star named Jackson Maine, who finds himself in a drag bar one night after a show – desperate for a drink – when he happens to see struggling singer Ally (Lady Gaga) positively slay a rendition of La Vie en Rose. He’s instantly awe-struck, and while in the midst of a drunken (yet incredibly charming) stupor, spends the rest of the night attempting to learn all about her and her songwriting, while shamelessly coming on to her. Their mutual connection is undeniable, though it isn’t lost on Ally that Jackson has a pretty considerable drinking problem. But their chemistry is so pure and their attraction so visceral that she’s willing to live with it (within reason). Jackson also plays a pretty large hand in catapulting her to stardom, not only because he finds himself quickly falling for her, but because he genuinely believes in her as an artist, which is a big part of Ally’s attraction to him. And thus begins the often wistful yet rocky love story of Jack and Ally, punctuated by music, lust, true love, and the destructiveness of addiction.
It’s the effortless chemistry between Cooper and Lady Gaga that makes A Star is Born irresistible to watch. There’s something incredibly vulnerable about both characters when we first meet them; Jack seems to suffer from a chronic loneliness that no doubt contributes to his excessive drinking, and Ally is a down-on-her-luck, undiscovered talent that has never had the confidence to sing her own songs. They both seem to solve each other’s problem (at least on the surface), and you can see how these two souls would have an instant attraction to one another. While playing a fall-down drunk isn’t something new in film, Cooper inhabits Jack with a loose, dazed charm, making it all the more believable that Ally would intertwine her life with his, especially since at times he seems like more trouble than he’s worth. He’s a guy who’s learned how to play a gig while blitzed out of his mind, but you can also see that he’s a man who’s fire is slowing burning out on stage. But there’s something magical about seeing his face go to a state of hollowness to one of pure joy as he watches Ally perform.
And don’t even get me started on Lady Gaga. Say what you will about singers who take on serious acting work – trust me, I said it in my own head after watching the trailer – but she is devastatingly good in this film. You’d think it would be damn near impossible for someone as iconic as Lady Gaga to shake of the shackles of pop stardom to play a struggling artist, and she not only manages to do it, but fully embodies the somewhat insecure, edgy, yet devoted and forgiving Ally. Now don’t get me wrong – Gaga gets to show off her natural vocal chops many times throughout the film and even gets to play pop star a little bit (in the film’s most blatant allusion to typecasting), but it simply wouldn’t work if she wasn’t able to achieve this raw and organic symbiosis with Cooper. She plays the loving partner of an addict to a tee, gently scolding him when he’s really messed things up, but melting right back into him when he apologizes. She looks on disapprovingly when he veers to closely to the edge, and dutifully picks up the pieces afterwards. Gaga is luminous, delicate, and emotionally-stripped down in this performance – that is until the film calls for her undeniably powerful vocals to rip through the screen.
Speaking of vocals, the film sounds absolutely amazing. For anyone who likes going to see live music, you’ll feel like you’ve been planted right inside the arena for the vast majority of the musical performances. And it must be noted that Bradley Cooper also does his own vocals, and has a bruised and gruff whiskey-soaked voice that’s reminiscent of today’s country rock artists. If there were an actual concert where Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga just sang duets, I would throw down my AMEX with enthusiasm at the chance to see it.
The unpredictable casting in the supporting roles also elevates the film in unexpected ways. At the top of the list is the ever-reliable Sam Elliot who plays Bobby, Jackson’s much older and ever-reliable older brother who acts as his assistant and handler, and along the has grown weary of Jackson’s boozing and drugging. Even though he takes a hard line with him at times, you can see that he does it completely out of love. Dave Chappelle even makes a brief appearance as Jackson’s friend George Stone, who at once seems unfazed by Jackson’s frequent excursions into oblivion, but also expresses a concern for his friend.
If you’re worried that Bradley Cooper’s A Star is Born will ruin your memory of previous installments, then I’ll tell you that you have nothing to worry about. Quite the opposite – I think they might just pale in comparison. I recently watched Frank Pierson’s 1976 version of A Star is Born starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, and while that film benefits from the star power and classic vocals of Streisand and the rugged energy of Kristofferson, the newest version blows it out of the water, if for no other reason that Cooper and Gaga create a rich, visceral connection on screen that will send you swooning.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go listen to the soundtrack and cry and get into the fetal position on the couch and pretend like a wasted Jackson Maine is the big spoon while he sings me to sleep.
