Incredibly Moving

Rating: 9/10 (18 June 2019)

For the first five minutes after the movie ended, I literally could not speak. My throat had closed due to the emotion I was feeling, and if I'd tried to say anything, only nonsense would come out.
I was hesitant to see this movie in theaters because it was yet another story about the music industry--and those stories are almost always the same: the humble beginnings, the discovery of amazing talent, the quick rising to the top with the help of an eagle-eyed manager, then someone gets a solo deal, there's excessive drug use (that usually ends with someone going into rehab), fighting, the greedy manager takes away what was once special about the artist, and then it all ends with a tragedy that may or may not be the ultimate end for the artist.
A Star is Born has all of these elements, but despite all that, it manages to tell a story so impactful with characters that were so deeply connected with its actors that I can forgive all the tropes and say that, without a doubt, this movie is the best example of its predecessors. Not just because of the quality of the storytelling, but from the original music written and performed live throughout the film.
It's amazing to me that this is Bradley Cooper's first time directing, and Gaga's first time acting. I hope they are both immensely proud of what they accomplished with this powerful film.
If there's any critiques I have, it's that Jackson doesn't get his chance to properly spell out to Ally that her manager was stripping away what made her special, turning her into a soulless popstar; and that the evil manager doesn't get his due for pushing vulnerable Jackson over the edge.
In my mind I like to think Ally somehow found out what he said, and she teamed up with her drag queens to go beat up that S.O.B.
One can only hope.