A Star moves into movies

Rating: 8/10 (6 October 2018)

Jackson Maine, a rock star on a gradual downward spiral, helped by prodigious amounts of alcohol abuse, encounters Ally, an enormously talented singer and songwriter trapped in a dead-end job. By inviting her on stage with him, her star starts ascending while his decline continues. They fall in love, but there are four individuals in the relationship, the other two being alcohol and her manager.
I have seen none of the previous films with this title, but the rags-to-riches vs riches-to-rags story is hardly new territory. So how does it stand up on this particular occasion?
Pretty well. Bradley Cooper does well on his first outing as director: some scenes are perhaps dragged out a little longer than they need to be, but both Cooper and Lady Gaga act well. I wouldn't go so fas as to say she's a revelation, but she is pretty solid and has some moving moments.
The music is well recorded and presented, with superb sound design. I can't say I cared for every song, but one or two are standouts. And both Cooper and Gaga sing well. Incidentally, Stefanie, couldn't you start using your real name now?
For me, though, the best moment was a 5-second shot of Sam Elliott's face as he reversed a truck out of Jackson's driveway. I've always tended to denigrate Elliott for mumbling through his moustache, but this was 5 seconds of the best facial acting I've seen in ages.