A Star is Born user review

  • Ga Ga Land

    a-star-is-born.jpg


    Never seen the previous three versions of this supposedly classic Hollywood story, but the 'rags to riches' plot is a fairly well worn one, so this all hangs on the execution. And glad to say Cooper nails it. This is really good folks especially for a debut, and a terrific showcase for the multi-talents of its two leads. Negatives first; there's a sense of 'trying too hard' that you often get from first time directors, like he wants deliver his masterpiece straight out of the gate. Tries to be super emotional and the editing is a bit over-zealous, like the film is in a rush. That said there are plenty of scenes that pack a wallop and there's a mild dusting of humour sprinkled in. I think the film could have got away with a bit more of it to be honest. All that said, Bradley really ups his game in the acting department (barring the odd bum note here and there) and completely sells the grizzled, drawling Arizona rock singer on the downward slope of his career, yet with plenty of charm. He seems to be trying to channel his co-star Sam Elliott (also excellent) and to be fair he pulls that off. Lady Gaga is equally interesting as a scrappy, struggling New York singer riddled with insecurities who is discovered by Cooper and begins her ascent just as her mentor is on his way down. As I type this I realise how cliche that all sounds, and to an extent it is, but its delivered in an authentic and believable way and the one thing the film really gets right is the central relationship between the two singers. The chemistry is genuine, and Gaga's performance is as impressive as her vocals. I found her extremely watchable, she has that perfect balance of vulnerability and toughness; and while she isn't a flat out stunner she's certainly attractive and has a hypnotic quality about her. The other thing the film gets right is the music scenes that are delivered with power and passion. I especially liked one of Jackson's gigs; but the high point is still probably that first on-stage duet between the two performers that really cements their relationship. I think this is going to attract crazy hype and Oscar buzz so I'd recommend checking it out early before you get sick of it. A really impressive debut from Cooper, and a film star really is born with Gaga. One of 2018's best so far.

    Pros

    • Excellent debut from Bradley Cooper
    • Mesmerising and committed performances from Cooper and Gaga
    • Fantastic songs and overall sound design
    • Engrossing (if familiar) story

    Cons

    • A little melodramatic
    • Could use more humour
    • Some scenes could flow better

    Scores

    8

    Comments

    There are no comments to display.
  • Loading…

A Star is Born

Comments
0
Author
lucasisking
Review score
8 / 10
Average score
9.0 / 10
Back
Top Bottom