Review of A Star Is Born (2018) by Mallory S — 06 Oct 2018

Exceptional! Gaga and Cooper together on screen were astounding. However, Lady Gaga was slated in the film to be a star born, and though her character did in the script, it was Bradley Cooper who truly stole the show and became a star. His depiction of Jackson Maine is Oscar worthy. He showed the depth of pain in addiction, the ease of drowning your sorrows, the stupidity in actions, the frustrating and embarrassment you become as a drunk, and yet through the whole movie you love him, you never take your eyes off him, and your heart feels for him. In other versions of this movie there's a touch of feeling sorry for he male lead, by Cooper's performance makes you want to reach out and hold him, tell him it's going to be okay, you still belong here.

Cooper's version makes you cry not just because it's a sad ending, but because you too, fall in love with Jackson's Maine, you feel his pain, you know someone in your life who has felt his pain, you've lived his story too. It sheds so much light on alcoholism and mental illness and deep depression. Spoiler ahead: The ending was shot so tastefully. When you compare to the other suicide scenes from the previous 3 versions, they almost seem glamorous, beautiful even, Cooper showed suicide for was it it, scary, dark, soul crushing, alone, quiet, still, and yet regardless, you always leave something behind that needs you. It was hard to watch but I appreciated how tastefuly it wa a carried out, no gore, no shock value, just torment, pain, anger, and the end.

The ending song, I thought I could pull myself together but boy was I wrong. Lady Gaga's voice is exceptional, she has powerhouse vocals and you can feel her singing in your chest and you get goosebumps as she powers through those cords, but the most powerful part of her final tribute song, was when the band faded, and you were left with Jackson Maine's rhaspy, raw chorus. I burst right back into tears. It was the perfect way to end this, because as I said Ally May have become a star but Cooper stoke this show and it ended with him stealing the show.

The beautiful, DARK light, end credits were much appreciated for all of us who needed a moment to regain our composure.