Great performances, thin script

Rating: 7/10 (14 October 2018)

I was beyond impressed with Cooper's performance, who learned to sing and play guitar for this role, as with Lady Gaga, who showed a strong and genuine talent for movie acting. Cooper's direction illuminated the great chemistry between the two leads. However, in my opinion the plot was thinly developed and implausible, and much of the dialogue was weak. The film's opening scenes were exciting, well-paced, and colorful, and for the first 1/2 hour I was exhilerated and engaged. But from there the story was simply another melodrama. That thing that happened at the Academy awards - no, just no! Jack cleans up but then Ally's agent tells him he might ultimately wreck her career, so he commits suicide. Really? Needless to say, I was not one of those viewers who was weeping at the end. The bottom line is that I accept that this film is a vehicle for the performers and the music.