Cooper & Gaga Power an Electric "Star"

Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

There are certain stories that seem to be re-told (or get re-made) regularly in the movie world. The classic Hollywood tale A Star Is Born, about an older star whose career is on the wane, and a young star whose career is on the rise, was first filmed in 1937, featuring Janet Gaynor and Frederic March. In 1954, a splashy wide-screen musical adaptation was released, starring Judy Garland and James Mason. A third version, starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, came out in 1976. The latest re-telling of A Star Is Born features Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, and it’s a well-made, contemporary update of this often-told tale. 

Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a hard living country/rock singer who meets a waitress and aspiring songwriter named Ally (Lady Gaga) after one of his shows. He hears her sing, and her raw talent impresses him. The two end up having a conversation about Ally’s struggles to make it into the music business. She even makes up some song lyrics on the spot. Jackson asks her to perform with him the next night. When she decides to show up for the concert, Jackson tells her he’s written music for the lyrics she composed the night before, and that she needs to sing the song. Of course, the audience loves Ally’s performance, and Jackson invites her to go on tour with him.

The two fall in love, but Jackson is on a downward spiral due to his addiction to drugs and alcohol. He's also got some family issues with his brother that he needs to work out. Meanwhile, Ally’s star is on the rise. A record producer approaches her about working with him, and he starts to mold her into a pop artist. As Ally becomes a star, Jackson’s addictions begin to overwhelm him. Is their love strong enough to survive Jackson’s personal demons? If you’ve seen previous versions of the story, you may know the answer to this question, but this remake brings a fresh spin to this show business saga. This remake has been in the works with various director and star pairings over the last few years (including Clint Eastwood and Beyonce) but Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are the true heart of the film.

The two leads have wonderful chemistry; you can almost feel the electricity crackle between them. Lady Gaga’s performance feels natural and unforced. She does a fine job, underplaying rather than overplaying as Ally. Bradley Cooper (who learned to play guitar and sing in a different vocal register) inhabits the role of Jackson, making it truly his own. The strong supporting cast includes Sam Elliott (terrific, as always) playing Jackson’s brother, Andrew Dice Clay (in a nice, understated turn as Ally’s father) and Dave Chappelle. The songs, by Gaga, Jason Isbell, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, among others, are fantastic. They fit the style of the country/rock and pop worlds the story is set in perfectly.

The film manages to tell an emotional and compelling love story while making a commentary on how the pop music machine can remake stars in a new image, sometimes losing what made them special in the first place. In addition to starring in and producing, Bradley Cooper also directed the film, and he does a fine job behind the camera. While A Star Is Born doesn’t break any new ground, it’s an entertaining story that‘s well worth seeing. The combination of the strong performances, great songs and excellent direction make the movie a sure bet for move and music fans. The film is finishing up its run in theaters, and a digital and video release date should follow soon. Here’s a link to the trailer for A Star Is Born: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSbzyEJ8X9E, and a video for the song "Shallow:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_efYhYU2A.