It’s very rare that I exit a cinema screening truly moved by the film I have just watched. A Star is Born suckered me in with thinking that it was just going to be your ‘run of the mill’ romance story and then obliterated that idea within seconds.
Bradley Cooper stars and directs this epic tale about Jackson Maine, a country singer crippled by alcohol and drug addiction who comes across Ally, a young girl singing in a drag bar who has a real talent.
A whirlwind romance ensues and Ally is taken on the ride through stardom and all the trials and tribulations that come with fame and living with someone with an addiction.
Cooper and Lady Gaga’s chemistry in addition to the songs being played on screen is transcendent. You don’t believe for one second you are watching a feature film, it almost feels like a real-life documentary. There is such energy between them, when they laugh together you’re laughing with him, when things are going wrong you are concerned, you are worried.
A rollercoaster journey of emotion that is very, very rare in cinema nowadays. There is usually a great divide between what’s happening on screen and audience reaction but A Star is Born brings us all in for a ride we will never forget.
As we see their relationship blossom it’s clear to see the relationship isn’t a healthy one and the struggle drags across the duration of the film. It’s quite hard to watch at times and some scenes, in particular, were so strong it becomes near impossible not to fully invest in what is happening on screen.
Bradley Cooper’s singing is outstanding, coached and helped by Lady Gaga on-set and for him to stay focused on directing this piece in addition to putting in an Oscar worthy performance, this guy deserves the world for this one.
I’m not a fan of romance movies not by a long shot but A Star Is Born is on another level of filmmaking entirely. It’s a studio feature film made with an independent heart and that makes it truly magical.
As Ally’s fame grows in her own right, Jackson’s crumbles. The power switch is palpable but Ally’s rise to fame involves a shady manager and ‘selling out’ essentially and thus causes even more of a strain between Ally and Jackson’s relationship. What started out as a beautiful romance with a shared true love of music quickly dissolves into a more corporate avenue for Ally and an avenue that Jackson doesn’t agree with.
Jackson is the type of artist who does it for the love of music and as a coping mechanism for his addiction, not for the money or the fame that follows. Ally is very quickly rushed through her paces to stardom without a second to stop and think about what’s actually happening.
Ally is so focused on stardom that her true soul channeling music sadly falls by the wayside.
Just when you think the movie can’t take a sharper turn we are lunged into more emotional scenes that were incredibly painful to endure. For people out there who have been through the pain, torture and struggle of living with someone with addiction this film may be extremely hard to watch at times.
The realism and intensity that this film projects from start to finish is unrivalled in anything i’ve seen for a very long time.
The concert scenes were the highlight for me in this particular movie. The soundtrack will no doubt be a best seller and the song ‘Stronger’ is certainly an Oscar contender for best song.
Speaking of Oscars the entire movie itself could easily be the best film I’ve seen in a long, long time to be in the running for an Oscar. It’s a mature La La Land, it’s a transcendent piece of cinema brilliance and I absolutely loved it!
A Star Is Born
Summary
Best picture, best director, best actor, best actress, best original song. A Star Is Born could easily take the lot as this film is going to take some beating. An emotional journey. An instant classic. A future Oscar winner.
