An Emotional Rollercoaster

Rating: 9/10 (5 October 2018)

This movie might not be the best directed or best scripted film of the year, but it is the best acted and most powerful of the year. I could feel the instant connection between Jack and Ally, and I felt the tension in Jack's heart as he tried to not mess life up.
This film had a lot of pre-release intrigue because it was Coopers's director debut or maybe people liked the idea of seeing Lady Gaga act for two hours without makeup or flamboyant antics. A Star is Born totally delivers on the hype. It is funny, chill-inducing, powerful, and heartbreaking. Bradley Cooper shows his diversity as an actor when you compare this role to his roles in Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, or American Sniper. He really makes you believe he's a rockstar with an addiction that eats at him. Jack's happy, carefree personality is instantly contagious, and by the end of the movie, I felt like Jack was my best friend. He is a good singer for being an actor and Lady Gaga is a phenomenal actress for being a singer.
A couple nitpicks. The dialogue sometimes feels a little cliche and the story lacks complexity beyond Jack and Ally's relationship. Jack's relationships with other people and Ally's booming career both receive significant screen time but aren't all that interesting.
This is a movie worth seeing and one that you will feel for several days after.