Review of A Star Is Born (2018) by Isaacj — 05 Apr 2019

Here, in his directorial debut, Bradley Cooper presents a third retelling of a timeless romance. It is said that each generation has their own version of A Star is Born; whether it’s the 1937 original, Judy Garland’s 1954 retelling or Barbra Streisand in 1976. This modern adaptation draws on that same arc of one star ascending whilst another falls, but it also feels very different; Cooper’s film is a raw, affecting love story, perfect for the audiences of today.

Cooper himself stars as Jackson Maine, grizzled and drug-addled country rocker, cruising through fame down the side street of self-destruction. The film opens in the midst of an immersive rock concert… before which we see Jack swig from a bottle and pop pills on the side of the stage. Soon enough, we meet the other half of our captivating double act, as Jack stops off at a drag bar only to find Lady Gaga’s Ally performing a belting version of La Vie En Rose. He’s instantly smitten both with her and her undeniable talent. What follows is a love story of highs and lows, as Ally’s success blooms and Cooper’s Jack spirals steadily into a pit of addiction. This film not only explores the personal struggles of a relationship, but the paralysing and enticing nature of fame.

Bradley Cooper is transformative in his performance as Jackson; his gravelly tones and haggard gait make for a portrayal that is unrecognisably convincing. What is even more revolutionary, however, is Cooper’s direction, an attentive approach to a story that deals with tough themes. Lady Gaga is a powerful force as Ally; we already know this megastar’s ability to dominate a stage and deliver a vocal performance, but what is even more impressive is what we see of Ally when she is still a waitress too afraid to sing the songs she writes. Gaga’s performance is a compelling one and the director in Cooper is brilliant at playing to her strengths; we learn to love Ally as she grows into herself, with the help of (but not dependency on) Jack. Ultimately, what makes A Star is Born a story worth retelling is its central romance; this film always rested entirely on that being believable. Gaga and Cooper’s chemistry is simply wonderful; theirs is a real relationship, full of laughter, love and resentment. There’s something so ineffable just in the way the characters look at eachother that makes their love so potent and only heightens the emotional effect of the tragedy that follows.

Whilst Jack and Ally’s relationship is the obvious focus, other characters stand in the background with Sam Elliott giving a beautifully understated performance as Jack’s half-brother Bobby. The relationship between Jack and Bobby is superbly done; the screenwriters know never to allow it to take too much light but it still reaches an emotional payoff in one of the best scenes. In contrast, a manipulative triangle that forms between Jack, Ally and Rafi Gavron’s hissable manager is one of the weaker aspects of the film, a little too cliched and rather stunted.

There are also a few structural problems; throughout the second act, events in the story (from hastened wedding to SNL skits) stream too quickly by, yet the pace of Cooper’s edit seems to drag. These are quickly resolved by the third act, however, where we are brought back to the lyrical pace of the first hour that works so well. The soundtrack leaves one slightly underwhelmed; whilst the film’s booming anthem, ‘Shallow’ will stick with you for days, many of the songs lack much memorability with only a few really aiding the storytelling. You almost forget about the songs however in the many concert scenes; Matthew Libatique’s cinematography is judicious, an engrossing shoot, from the bright neons of Ally’s tour right through to Jackson’s rock concerts which we see in the same drunken haze of their star. Outside of these moments too, the film is shot with a tenderness that also manages to feel totally involving.

Early on in the film, Jackson wisely states the importance of having “something to say and a way to say it”. This couldn’t ring truer of A Star is Born; despite being a third remake, it’s a retelling that feels like it was meant to be told.