Directed by Bradley Cooper
Where & When: Vista Theater, Hollywood, CA. October 7, 2018 8:45 PM
In 1937, "A Star Is Born" was first made about a North Dakota farm girl, Esther Blodgett (played by Janet Gaynor) who dreams of coming to Hollywood to become a famous actress. She struggles until she meets Norman Maine (Fredric March), a popular movie star and one of her favorite actors. They fall in love and with his help, Esther gets a new name ("Vicki Lester"), a screen test and a role in a movie that makes her an overnight success. While her career is on the rise, Norman is now struggling due to his increased drinking problem. This movie became a classic love story set in show-business and has been previously remade as a musical in 1954 (with Judy Garland and James Mason) and 1976 (with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson).
Bradley Cooper co-stars and makes his directorial debut with the latest version of "A Star Is Born" and has pop superstar, Lady Gaga making her feature film acting debut. Cooper knows he can’t draw too far outside the lines of the basic plot but also realizes he has to plant this romance firmly in to the present. He mostly succeeds by keeping the film grounded with moments that are delightful and believable, stirring original music and with Gaga who clearly uses her early experiences as a young singer trying to make it in the business to help shape her spirited performance.
Set in the world of country music, Jackson Maine (Cooper) is one of the hottest acts right now. After a LA gig, Jackson is in the need of adult refreshment and has his driver stop at a local bar. It turns out to be a show place for female drag performers but since they serve liquor, Jackson is perfectly content. He becomes mesmerized when Ally (Gaga), an actual female, hits the stage and performs a live rendition of Edith Piaf’s "La Vie En Rose". Moved by her voice and talent, Jackson wants to meet her. And while well aware of who is he, Ally is not particularly impressed, dismissing him as some overindulged performer. However, after spending most of the night hanging out, talking and sharing with him a song she wrote, Ally begins to see him as a more generous, down-to-earth guy.
Jackson invites Ally to his next concert and while very attracted to him, she's also wary as he might have a serious problem with alcohol. Ally reluctantly agrees to go, leaving behind her waitress job, with the eager encouragement of her father (Andrew Dice Clay) and close friend, Ramon (Anthony Ramos) who gets to tag along. They are whisked off in a private jet and given backstage passes to see the show. When Jackson sees her, he wants Ally to come out on stage to sing one of her songs. Initially terrified by the idea, Ally eventually decides to take a chance with the crowd, and later social media, embracing her. She hits the road with Jackson, playing with the band and honing her craft until love blossoms between them and eventually marriage.
Rez (Rafi Gavron), a record producer, moves in on Ally to convince her to let him manage her career. He begins to mold her in to a pop singer like Britney Spears and uh, Lady Gaga. As Ally achieves success, Jackson sinks lower in to the depths of his addiction. His destructive behavior comes to a head at the Grammy Awards where he is almost too drunk to play during a Roy Orbison tribute and, after Ally wins the Best New Artist prize, Jackson not only embarrasses his still loving yet exasperated wife during her acceptance speech but completely humiliates himself at the same time.
"A Star Is Born" begins well enough with Jackson and Ally forging a heartfelt connection through music and witnessing this attractive couple drift from a professional to a personal relationship. This set-up is charming and enjoyable with our two leads having a lovely chemistry but once we reach the point when the dynamic of their union begins to shift, the movie starts to fall in to more routine and predictable territory.
As a filmmaker, Mr. Cooper is more in line with some of the more idiosyncratic directors he has worked with as an actor like David O. Russell, Derek Cianfrance and Clint Eastwood. With "A Star Is Born, he has managed to make a somber character-study drama that still offers a crowd-pleasing love story at it's core. The film is briskly paced, despite it's 135 minute running time, and bathed in warm, earthy tones thanks to the alluring work of cinematographer, Matthew Libatique. And while this is an admirable achievement, Mr. Cooper doesn't yet display a distinctive style as a filmmaker but I'm sure he will have another opportunity to work on his personal stamp.
Gaga made her major acting debut in the fifth season of "American Horror Story: Hotel" and unexpectedly won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. While her performance here would not be considered much of a stretch, she does bring charisma and warmth to her role of an aspiring singer. As far as her ranking amongst other musicians-turned-actors, I would say Gaga is closer to Mary J. Blige in her Oscar-nominated turn in "Mudbound" than Madonna in pretty much any movie she’s ever done.
As for Mr. Cooper, he plays Jackson as a good-natured addict with an easy swagger and sexy deep voice that recalls Sam Elliott, who just happens to appear as Jackson's brother and manager, Bobby. These brothers have a strained relationship that was made complicated during childhood because of their alcoholic father. Cooper's performance is far more effective in the later half of the film, revealing a vulnerability after he has left rehab and begun the difficult and painful process of asking the people in his life for forgiveness.
The 2018 version of "A Star Is Born" barely differs from the previous glitzy incarnations with the most obvious difference being the period clothing and dated attitudes. And that’s perfectly fine. Refreshed and contemporary, this is an enjoyable romantic-drama filled with passionate desire, sensual energy and thrilling music. In this era where anyone can achieve star-like qualities with the right connections and an incredible amount of luck, Mr. Cooper has made a pleasurable fantasy that will appeal to a new generation of film-goers.
No comments:
Post a Comment