A Good Movie

Rating: 7/10 (22 February 2019)

Jackson -aka Jack- Maine (Bradley Cooper) a popular rock star takes Ally (Lady Gaga) a waitress and singer in a Drag Bar to accompany him on stage and basically this is where a star is born. The song sung by both of them in this opening was the best song in the film. Very enjoyable. I mention this because the rest of the songs in the movie were not as good, no real hooks which is to say the melodies were not there, and, at times, it was hard to understand the lyrics. Oh, and sometimes the songs went the distance and we heard the whole piece. Not enjoyable. Song selection wasn't good.
We see Ally's star rise and Jack's star diminish as he is way into alcohol and drugs, and he has a case of tinnitus. The chemistry between Jack and Ally is quite good and one would think there is something here worth preserving and leaving the egos behind. Doesn't happen that way.
Oscar-wise, there is much talk about this movie. I would award the Best Actor Oscar to Bradley Cooper as he has done probably his best work ever. Lady Gaga was okay, but needs some acting help if she is to continue in the acting business. And generally, I am not smitten with her singing. Bradley Cooper directed this movie and did pretty good and we know this because we have long been told that to act in and direct the movie is not an easy task. In here Cooper's directing and his acting went smoothly and who knows maybe he'll get an Oscar for directing. That's okay.
Notables: Sam Elliott as Bobby, Jack's older brother, who works for Jack; Dave Chappelle as George Stone who tries to give Jack sound advice that Jack ignores as he is too restless to settle in one place; Andrew Dice Clay as Ally's father, Lorenzo; Anthony Ramos as Ramon, Ally's close friend; Ron Rifkin as Carl who talks to Jack about his tinnitus; Rafi Gavron as Ramon, Ally's manager who changes her look and he tells Jack to get his act together because he is tired of cleaning up his mess; Greg Grunberg as Phil, Jack's driver.
All in all this is a good movie, but not an Oscar worthy movie although Bradley Cooper deserves Oscar for Best Actor (7/10)
Violence: Not really. Punches thrown.
Sex: No.
Nudity: Yes, but brief.
Humor: Yes, some good lines.
Language: Yes, but not much..
Rating: B