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Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga excel in A Star is Born, truly one from the heart |
Director: Bradley Cooper
Cast: Lady Gaga (Ally Campana), Bradley Cooper (Jackson
Maine), Sam Elliott (Bobby Maine), Dave Chappelle (George “Noodles” Stone),
Andrew Dice Clay (Lorenzo Campana), Anthony Ramos (Ramon), Rafi Gavron (Rex Gavron),
Greg Grunberg (Phil), Ron Rifkin (Carl)
The story of A Star is
Born is practically a staple of Hollywood. Bradley Cooper’s film is the
fourth version (after 1937, 1954 and 1976) and re-packages the action to the
country and western scene. Cooper injects the film with a real seam of emotion
and complex, challenging humanity – represented above all by Cooper and Gaga’s
searing, heartfelt, beautiful performances.
Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) is a famous country singer, and
a self-destructive, if charming, alcoholic. One day, by chance, he stumbles
into a bar and overhears a performance by Ally (Lady Gaga), a soulful artist
rejected on multiple occasions for a record deal because of her slightly
unconventional style and looks. Jackson and Ally form a deep connection and he
invites her to perform with him. Their bond grows and Jackson is proud as her
career starts to flourish. But this rise is matched by his own increasingly
damaging alcoholism and drug addiction which puts his health and their
happiness at risk.
A Star is Born
brilliantly refocuses the story as a beautiful relationship drama. In previous
versions, the man slumps into destructive behaviour due to resentment at the
female protégé’s increasing success. Here though, Jackson – despite flashes of
jealousy – remains supportive and proud of his wife, and she devoted to him.
What Cooper has structured here is a story about the damage of depression and
alcohol – and how they can shatter and destroy a person regardless of events in
their life.
It also means we get a fresh perspective on an otherwise
predictable drama. Having Jackson remain proud and supportive – and
increasingly guilt-ridden by the impact his behaviour has on Ally – means we
can also remain invested in him. Similarly, it’s hard not to share his feeling
that Ally loses something of her beautiful soul as her manager crafts her into
a manufactured pop icon. It’s the intrusion of the rest of the world into this
couple that puts strain on their relationship, not internal tensions.
It’s a film in many ways that starts with a happy ending.
The early, romantic meetings are beautifully done, the first performance of Shallow (Ally’s song) on stage plays
like the fist-pump ending of any number of Cinderella
stories. Her protective attraction matched with his old school chivalry in
their early relationship is deeply romantic and shows what could be between
them. Cooper sprinkles the film with happy endings – you’ll be begging the film
to stop at any number of them – and barely a scene goes by that won’t have you
choking back tears or watching through your fingers in pained horror at how
badly things can go wrong.
It helps that for both leads this was clearly a deeply
personal project. Both produce sensational performances. Cooper has talked
about his struggles with both alcoholism and depression – and he brings all
this deep rooted pain to bear here. Jackson is, in many ways, a wonderful man –
caring, supportive and loving – but struggles with demons he can’t control.
Cooper’s fragility, his suffering, his gut wrenching guilt and sadness are played
beautifully in a performance that truly comes from the heart, and that leaves
you wanting to give him a hug.
Lady Gaga is his match in a performance of tender innocence,
of gentle humanity and earnestness. Again you sense the story of an
unconventional person, with crippling self doubt, more than speaks to her.
Gaga’s emotional bravery and commitment here is extraordinary, and you feel
again she is showing in this film something very personal and tender to her.
The chemistry between the two actors is electric – it’s rare to see two such
performances complement each other so perfectly.
These two actors play off each other beautifully, with
scenes that are at times hard to watch in their scarring emotional truth. At
the same time, the investment of the audience is absolute in this loving
relationship. The film also has some excellent performances in the support, not
least from Sam Elliott as Jackson’s frustrated, but fundamentally loving,
brother.
A Star is Born
shocked me. It’s not the film I was expecting, or the story I anticipated. Instead
it’s an entertainment industry parable, a love story, a film about the
destructive unpredictability of depression and how sometimes love can’t conquer
all. With some graceful direction from Cooper and above all his emotional
honesty – and the truth of his and Gaga’s performances – this becomes a film
that tugs on the heart strings until heart strings break. Beautifully made and
wonderful.
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