Could have been so much more

Rating: 6/10 (29 October 2018)

We really wanted to like this movie. In short: great musical performances, good acting, but poor writing and character development. The central message Jack was trying to convey to Ally - be true to yourself and your music, tell YOUR story - never developed. There were so many missed opportunities: the bath tub scene should have been where he told her: You are selling out! Not, you have no talent, your ugly, etc. The back stage conversation with her manager about the dancers: she should have insisted that she wanted things done her way. She caved to fame and never fought for her own voice. Jack's death was hollow. He succumbed to his demons, with no hope or belief in himself. Did Ally EVER realize what Jack was trying to help her understand about herself? Yes, she became a star, but she never became the singer Jack saw in her. Was the last song supposed to convey all that? We just don't know.