Review of A Star Is Born (2018) by Kj P — 15 Oct 2018

While I'm not particularly a fan of remakes, unless the original film was terrible to begin with, A Star is Born has been a film that's been remade numerous times since the original version from 1937. Upon hearing the announcement that this 2018 version would be coming along, I decided to revisit the previous three renditions of this tale, with the original 30s version being the standout version in my personal opinion. With that said, I was highly looking forward to this movie in particular, due to the fact that the cast behind this film has already proven themselves to be talented in the past and Bradley Cooper stepping in to write and direct only peaked my interest more. A Star is Born is one of the best films of 2018 and one of my favourite remakes of all time.

Following Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) as he stumbles across a struggling artist in Ally (Lady Gaga), they form an unlikely bond that very quickly gives her fame and fortune, if not in the best ways. Jack is a very detailed character here, being a drunk, having family issues, and struggling with his fame, while Alley is pretty much the exact opposite of that. This made for some terrific drama and the third act of this film brought me to tears. Between Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, I think you'd be crazy to believe this movie isn't going to give them both many awards in the coming months, but I truly believe Sam Elliot may give the best performance in the film. The way he subtly displays emotion here was absolutely brilliant and I think he deserves the most recognition for that. His character is fresh and has never been seen in any of the previous versions of this story, which was a pleasant surprise.

When people reflect back on this film, they may remember it for the performances or where the story progresses from start to finish, but the music plays a very large role here. Although this isn't a musical, the original songs throughout this film are characters themselves. Throughout the film, you'll hear heavy Rock, Country, and even Hip-Hop, which caught me by surprise, but each song helps to deepen the characterization of either Ally or Jack and it was incredible to witness. Where I think some viewers may find issues, however, is in the fact that this film takes place over quite a long period of time.

After the second act of this film concludes, it does speed up the pace and slightly jumps through time on multiple occasions, asking the audience to follow along without giving any definitive answer as to how much time has really passed, but I personally didn't find it necessary and the natural progression was felt by me, personally. The way this film is stitched together in editing was terrific in my opinion and only elevated the concert sequences, as well as the calm moments between characters. Sound and music drive this story and the editing around it all was very much present here and very well done.

In the end, although the core story has remained the same through the years and the conclusion probably won't surprise those who have seen the previous versions of this story, there is enough of a fresh take here to please fans and newcomers. This 2018 version of A Star is Born takes the best elements from the past and injects new life that added many layers to these characters. Aside from a few jarring instances that come out of nowhere story-wise, I truly don't have many complaints. This movie worked for me on an entertainment level, as well as an emotional level and it's one of the best movies I've seen all year.