Breathtaking

Rating: 9/10 (6 December 2018)

Cooper does a fantastic job of telling the well understood claim that fame is temporary and always comes at a personal cost. The visceral direction, timely track and epic performances give both a grandiose and nuance to the emotions portrayed on screen.
What worked:
The acting
Gaga's performance has received much critical acclaim of which she is deserving. Her range and honesty is believable and sincere in every scene and shines through in particular moments (bathtub scene and final song). It is unequivocal to suggest she deserves recognition from the academy in the form of an Oscar nomination.
The real star here however is Cooper. His performance is monumental and empathetic, erratic and subtle, triumphant and full of pain. His portrayal of alcoholism is so gripping that the viewer is immediately placed into a milleu of tragedy and internal turmoil from the first shot, an emotion that is sustained until the final moments of the film. Such bravery and brilliance Cooper has put on his best performance yet.
The music
The music is integral to the narrative itself but also serves to guide the viewers emotions throughout the film. I'm the beginning rock anthems are belted out, the music is intoxicating and bold much like the initial relationship between Gaga and Cooper. Subtlety and nuance accompanied the grandiose as the intimacy of their relationship is conveyed. The film then moves to pop and it's various distortions and delusions, climaxing in operatic purity and celebration. I can't see how the track won't take home a few Oscars.
The plot
I won't spoil it, but it is absolutely genius. Heartbreaking, triumphant and captivating the story has really set itself apart from the previous 'A Star is Born' films.
The visual metaphors
Lighting is carefully constructed to represent the various characters. Red symbolisies Cooper and his bygone era whil blue and green symbolism Gaga's rise to fame. The red blur of Coopers house during the climax is particular powerful.
What didn't work
The majority do the film was a breeze to watch, with very little breaks or mishaps narrative wise. The majority of the shots were fine, although their being a small cliche during the wedding and proposal sequence. The biggest flaw has to be the lack of supporting characters, although Rockwell's performance is fantastic, Cooper and Gaga rarely share screen time with other actors.
Conclusion
An epic, an instant classic and a must see. The finest Rimance I've ever had the proven age of seeing, competing with the likes of Hone with the wind and Casablanca, Cooper has really outdone himself.