A Star Is Born Indeed

Rating: 10/10 (10 February 2019)

A Star Is Born was probably the most eagerly anticipated movie of 2018. A lot of hype preceded it, mainly focusing on Lady Gaga's first major screen debut. That said, I must admit (and this is rare for a Hollywood movie) that the movie is deserving of all the hype and subsequent praise. Lady Gaga is simply phenomenal and it is a good, solid directorial debut for Bradley Cooper. This is the 5th time that this story has been told on film (if you count What Price Hollywood). It is just as good as the 1954 version starring Judy Garland and James Mason. Cooper has reimagined the story, but, and to his credit, he hasn't played around with the winning formula too much. The music is also very good and the onscreen chemistry between Cooper and Gaga comes across as believable and sincere. Cooper has succeeded in keeping this classic story alive.