Did you people even understand this film?

Rating: 9/10 (27 February 2019)

I've been going through the reviews And I'm just appalled at how many people missed the point about this film. Maybe I shouldn't be. If there's one thing this movie bangs into your head, it's how shallow people are and that is certainly proven by the reviews here. Anyway, I have a complicated relationship with this film. I saw it for the first time back in October and was so shook up by the end, I couldn't see it again until January when I took my mother. You see, I suffer depression, and if this film had an alternate title, it would called 'what NOT TO SAY AND DO TO A MENTALLY ILL PERSON'. This film is a must see for anyone who has a friend or family member suffering mental illness. It gives you insight into how depression messes with our brains and distorts things said to us, negatively. It's very easy to dismiss this film as a 'boy meet meets girl, boy makes girl famous' type movie but that would be a huge insult. I'm a filmmmaker so I have been watching interviews with cooper about this film and there's a couple things about this film that need to be cleared up 1) Jackson is NOT a fading performer. He can play concerts the rest of his life and be fine. 2) jackson was NOT jealous of ally's success. He was disappointed she became a sell out, but those were his own insecurities. There's a scene in the film where he finally figures this out but I won't spoil it for you. 3) I have been seeing A LOT of comments about how 'that's not an alcoholic behaves'. First of all, Bradley cooper is a former (But never really goes Away) alcoholic. Alcoholism does not look like one size fits all. I'm a disabled screenwriter and I HATE when i get feedback like 'character is too outgoing to be disabled. It's unrealistic'. EXCUSE ME?! Do I have to sit in a closet with a bag over my head to fit your stereotype? So those comments need to stop. If anything I think this film taught us the importance of needing each other and treating each other well. Some people may disagree with me but the only person who treated Jackson well was ally. Not even his brother was nice to him. Yes I know what you're going to say, but if there's one thing I appreciated about this film, it's how it treated alcoholism as a DISEASE, because it is. Sorry for the rant but there's so much misinformation and misinterpretation of this film it makes me angry. Near perfect film in my opinion. Only took one point off for the end because like I said, traumatized. I STILL can't listen to 'shallow' without crying. Super disappointed in how this film was treated in Award season, awarding far inferior films like 'roma' And 'green book'. If you want a movie that makes you feel and changed your life (and maybe the life of someone else too) this is it. And for those of you wondering if the end was necessary, of course not, but depression isn't rational and it was something jackson had struggled with SINCE HE WAS A CHILD. It's like everybody missed that part. In his messed up brain, it was a self sacrifice. Until you know what it's like to suffer depression and have your mind play tricks on you and warp things people say and do, you'll never understand.