A Star Is Born

Rating: 8/10 (17 October 2018)

The original 1937 version with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March was good, the 1954 Judy Garland and James Mason was great, and the 1976 version with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson was worth watching, then came this next incarnation in the classic story, the first leading role for the "PokerFace" pop star, and the BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated directorial debut for actor Bradley Cooper. Basically Jackson Maine (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Bradley Cooper) is a famous country singer privately battling alcoholism and drug addiction, he plays a concert in California ("Black Eyes"). His main support is Bobby (Oscar nominated Sam Elliott), his manager and significantly older half-brother. After the show, Jackson goes into a bar, that happens to full of drag performers, there he witnesses a performance by Ally (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Lady Gaga), a waitress and singer-songwriter ("La Vie en rose"). Jackson is amazed by her talent, they spend the night talking, where Ally discloses to him the troubles she has faced in pursuing a professional music career. Jackson invites Ally to his next stage performance, she initially refuses, but she does attend and, with Jackson's encouragement, sings on stage with him ("Shallow"), they receive a standing ovation from the audience. Jackson invites Ally to go on tour with him, and they slowly begin to form a romantic relationship ("Maybe It's Time"), they begin to initiate sex one night, but Jackson passes out drunk. In Arizona, Ally and Jackson visit the ranch where Jackson grew up and where his father is buried, but Jackson is angered after discovering Bobby sold the land, Jackson punches Bobby, who subsequently quits as his manager. While on tour ("Always Remember Us This Way") Ally meets record producer Rez (Rafi Gavron), who offers her a contract, Jackson is visibly bothered by this, but supports her decision. Rez wants Ally to turn from country music and towards pop ("Heal Me"). Jackson misses one of her performances, after passing out drunk in public, he recovers with the help of his friend George "Noodles" Stone (Dave Chappelle), and later makes up with Ally. Afterwards, Jackson proposes to Ally with a ring made from a loop of guitar string, and they are married that same day. While Ally is performing on Saturday Night Live ("Why Did You Do That?"), Bobby reconciles with Jackson. Later, Ally is ecstatic hearing that she has been nominated for a Grammy Award, but she and Jackson fight after he drunkenly voices his disapproval of Ally's new image and music. At the Grammys, Jackson is intoxicated but just about manages to perform in a tribute to Roy Orbison, and Ally wins the Best New Artist award. Ally goes on stage to receive her award and starts her acceptance speech, Jackson follows her, he wets himself and passes out. Ally's father Lorenzo (Andrew Dice Clay) berates Jackson and Ally helps him sober up, shortly thereafter Jackson joins a drug rehabilitation program. Jackson recovers in rehab, where he discloses to his counsellor that he attempted suicide as a teenager, later he tearfully apologises to Ally for his behaviour, and returns home. Ally wishes to bring Jackson to perform with her on the European leg of her tour, when Rez refuses to allow this, she cancels the remainder of the tour, so she can care for Jackson. Rez later confronts Jackson, informing him of Ally's decision to cancel her tour and accusing him of holding Ally back. That evening, Ally lies to Jackson, and tells him that the label has cancelled her tour, so she can focus on her second album. Jackson promises that he will come to her concert that night, but after Ally leaves, he commits suicide, hanging himself in his garage. Ally becomes inconsolable after Jackson's death, Bobby visits her, he explains to her that Jackson's death was his own fault and not hers. Ally takes a song that Jackson had written but never performed and decides to sing it at a tribute concert, where she introduces herself as Ally Maine ("I'll Never Love Again"). Also starring Anthony Ramos as Ramon, Alec Baldwin, Ron Rifkin as Carl, The Terminal's Barry Shabaka Henley as Little Feet, Michael D. Roberts as Matty, Michael J. Harney as Wolfie, Rebecca Field as Gail, Heroes' Greg Grunberg as Phil (Jack's Driver), D.J. 'Shangela' Pierce as Drag Bar Emcee, Drena De Niro (Robert's daughter) as Paulette Stone, Eddie Griffin as Pastor and Bruno's Luenell as Cashier. Lady Gaga is a superb singer and acting as the aspiring singer who dreams of stardom she is also terrific, Cooper is also great as the hard-drinking country and western crooner who finds his own career dwindling, together they are a convincing loving but troubled couple. This version is closest to the 1976 version, with the story being about a young woman rising to fame and fortune as a singer (not an actress), the love story and chemistry is convincing, the songs and singing voices from the leads are fantastic, and the emotional stuff all works well, it is a splendid musical romantic drama. It won the Oscar for Best Original Song for "Shallow" (also won the Golden Globe), and it was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Sound Mixing, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography, it won the BAFTA for Best Original Music, and it was nominated for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama. Very good!