'A Star is Born' review

Bradley Cooper's musical remake shines brightly as an intimate portrayal of showbiz, love and mental health bringing emotional punch and heart-felt tunes

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in 'A Star is Born' (Warner Bros./MGM)

by Jack Linsdell

Bradley Cooper's directorial debut 'A Star is Born', is the fourth remake of the original 1937 flick (which has since been adapted into a 1954 musical, Barbara Streisand's 1976 cult classic and a 2013 Bollywood romance) and has become the Oscar frontrunner. I had my screening today, and considering I've seen many films fall short of leggy box office runs and critical buzz, this deserves every success it gets. Honestly, the quality of this musical-drama cannot be expressed until you have been taken on the emotional rollercoaster the movie provides you with. 

The film first came into production in 2014, with Cooper attached as director, co-writer, producer, star (no pun intended) and music composer. To say the flick was a passion project for the 'American Sniper' lead-man would be an understatement (he developed the story and music for 2.5 years) and this can be felt in every tiny detail of the production - it's a film clearly made with love and care. I have to admit, when the trailers for the Lady-Gaga led flick debuted with the tag "from director Bradley Cooper" I laughed, wondering why Warner Bros. would promote it being a first time director beyond trying to position him as their next Clint Eastwood. But, I have to say, he has a promising career behind the camera as his work here is outstanding. 

The concert/musical performance scenes are told from the subjective perspective of Cooper and/or Gaga, placing the audience "centre stage" and immersing them into the passion and energy of the music. Cooper doesn't rely on fast cutting, too many camera angles and grand/swooping aerial shots, instead offering a single, continuously-moving camera which watches our 'stars' from close up, providing an intimate connection between (us) the audience and the actors. Indeed, this intimate approach is used throughout the film, bringing us closer to these characters and emphasising the personal journey they are going on. Cooper has made a film that doesn't overthink or impress the audience with extravagant camera work, but one which is both realistic and intimate at times feeling like a well-crafted documentary but with emotional depth and complexity. Visually, the film looks gorgeous with colours, stage lighting and vibrant costumes being used to full effect to contribute to the "mood", whilst having enough restraint to foreground the performances as the focus of our attention. 

Speaking of which, Cooper's hard-drinking, passionate and famed musician Jackson (Jack) Maine is portrayed by him with brilliant sincerity, whilst also remaining well-balanced. Considering Cooper is not a famous singer, his performance is so believable and captivating that he has proved himself to be an actor capable of high pedigree performance. On the stage he felt a natural and talented singer, whilst behind the scenes Cooper brought an emotional vulnerability and desperation which so defines his character by the third act. When he (spoilers!!) takes his own life at the movie's climax, his performance of Jack has been so believable that the situation is truly heart-breaking. Not to be outdone, Gaga is equally brilliant in her own right. I've never thought much of her if I'm honest, but its clear that she has a multitude of talent as both a musician and actress. Now, although I'm not surprised she can act so well (as most musicians and actors train in the same dramatic arts schools), her performance is so very well judged that her character leaps from the screenplay pages. Firstly, her chemistry with Cooper is excellent and the audience instantly believe their "true love" - they feel like real life partners. However, her portrayal of a ordinary person carrying out an 'everyday life' in the first act feels truly natural (considering her true life pop star status), and her expressiveness highlights specific details (like when she's considering joining Jack on stage for the first time) and adds to her characters integrity. Then, as Ally grows into a celebrity singer, her performance dynamic changes but remains grounded in reality. 

I feel that both Cooper and Gaga are playing versions of themselves. Indeed, Cooper's early career was plagued by substance addiction and career doubts leading to his contemplation of suicide, mirroring Jack's character exactly. And, Gaga's found success at such a young age, tricky dealings with record labels and Grammy award achievements are very similar to Ally's career. My point is that perhaps the performances are so terrific not just down to two talented actors, but the fact that two very talented actors are playing personal stories they've experienced themselves. Uncanny or not, this adds so much depth and emotional depth to the flick, that 'A Star is Born' is a much better film for it.

The story centres on a love relationship developing between Cooper's Jack and Gaga's Ally, as he being a successful singer at the film's beginning uses his contacts to launch her career, which propels her life upwards and his sadly the opposite way. The musical-drama flick deals with the topic of showbiz unlike any other movie I can place. It plots the rise and fall of musicians, raises the issues surrounding pressure to "look" and "sound" a certain way as an artist and the strains on managing a productive touring/recording schedule. If you thought being a singer was an easy life of wealth and privilege, this film begs to differ. However, it deals with the more moral theme of "staying true to who you are" as its deeper subtext, and Gaga's journey from her roots as a country-like singer and songwriter to a "glammed up" and promiscuously dressed pop sensation is a sad one because her original personal performances with Cooper to start with are so heartfelt. It raises that question of reaching your dream but then being pulled/forced further on - getting far away from your true personality. But, to me, what struck me most was how the film dealt with mental health (especially in men). When Jack is blamed by his brother and Ally's stage manager for ruining her career, and the effects this has on him (leading him to suicide), it is truly devastating and heart-breaking. And after his death, when his brother says that the suicide was nobody's fault but Jack's own, I truly understood the misunderstandings and stigma's that surround mental health. Our actions have consequences, as do the words we say.

When that fateful scene comes, Cooper approaches it with subtly and care (with the audience not actually seeing him go) and the emotion comes not from manipulatively sad music or typical Hollywood gimmicks, but a silence as Gaga grieves, confused and angry. It is masterfully done. 

Also, the music makes the film. Many have commented that the film isn't a musical - but it is (see the next article). Gaga and Cooper have produced, written and performed (live) many of the film's songs, and they are truly integral to the plot, emphasising how the characters think/feel at a certain point in the narrative. However, on a musical level, the beats and tempos of the music is well judged and on the speakers of a cinema screen, add to the effect that we're actually watching a series of concerts/gigs. The soundtrack is selling like hot-cakes in both America and the UK and like 'The Greatest Showman', I'm expecting it to remain a chart-topper for a long time. 

Many audience members, especially below the age of 30, will no doubt believe this is an original story. However, the story has been told in different variations more time than Spiderman. And, the main point of comparison is the Cooper/Gaga-led musical-drama offers a contemporary adaption of the story, bringing it up to date with modern times, but also providing greater emotional depth and musical integrity than previous adaptions. The Streisand-starring adaption remained ambiguous in whether Jack's death was accidental or suicide, whereas Cooper's flick is conclusive on this. Otherwise, treat it as another take on source material, bringing the story to the hearts of a new generation.

It's commendable that as the end titles rolled, Gaga's name appeared as the headliner (before Cooper's in other words) meaning that not only is Cooper positioning her as the true "star" of the movie (perhaps to advance her deservedly Oscar nomination buzz), but showing that really the story is around her. It offers an interesting discussion, but establishes this as another "strong but vulnerable" female depiction in cinema. 

'A Star is Born' is a masterpiece, being both a well-acted, passionately/expertly made emotional drama, whilst also a crowd-pleasing and at times humorous musical. It deserves every success, and Gaga and Cooper deserve career advancements for their incredible work here. The film leaves you with a mood unlike any other has before, and is honestly not only one of 2018's finest but as one of the best-made movies I've ever seen. Truly the star that is born is the film itself. 

5/5 STARS