Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut in a “A Star Is Born” is undoubtedly a success. Between the memorable music, the outstanding performances and the timeless story, this film is simply a joy to watch.
“A Star Is Born” may seem like just another corny romantic flick, but it is something much more than that. This film is more concerned with reality than the fantasy of love, fame and fortune.
Even though this film is the fourth iteration of the story – the first being the 1937 film by the same name – 2018’s “A Star Is Born” appears entirely relevant in today’s world. This is a testament to how universal the story has been over the years.
The film’s story is pretty simple. An aging country-rock star named Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers a talented singer named Ally (Lady Gaga), and they fall in love. As Ally rises to fame, Jackson’s alcoholism becomes an increasing problem in both his career and in their relationship.
It is truly amazing how well-crafted this film is considering it is Cooper’s first time directing. There is so much in the film that works marvelously well.
The first thing that really stands out about “A Star Is Born” are the knockout performances. The cast features Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay and Cooper himself.
The chemistry between Gaga and Cooper is ineffable. They are completely authentic together, and as a viewer, I loved watching them act with one another.
Gaga proves that she is as good of an actor as she is a singer, and “A Star Is Born” showcases both of those talents.
Cooper’s portrayal of an alcoholic country-rock star is completely believable. He captures the character’s troublesome circumstance superbly.
Cooper also gets to showcase his singing ability in the film, which is not too shabby.
Sam Elliott and Dave Chappelle also give fantastic supporting performances.
Another thing that “A Star Is Born” does so well is the music. Every song in the film helps tell the story of these characters’ lives. Plus, it’s amazing to watch Gaga perform in this film.
One of the only aspects of the film that feels off is the pacing. The ending moves too quickly, so much so that it doesn’t give the audience a proper amount of time to really process what transpires in the final 15 minutes of the film.
While “A Star Is Born” is a romantic film, there are still a number of scenes that are tough to watch. This makes for a complex and captivating film-going experience.