A beautiful cover of a classic...

Rating: 10/10 (21 October 2018)

I just got back from this movie and all I can say is WOW. It is just about a perfect execution on updating and reworking the 1954 (and other versions) classic. Cooper fills his film with wonderfully alive and vivid imagery. The musical sequences pop and sizzle over the screen. The most striking scene is the moment a star is born when Ally first sings with Jack the song "Shallow." Absolutely hair raising and memorizing. That is the central moment in the film and quite appropriately nothing after that point is quite as striking. But, of course, as a doomed romance that moment should be the most alive.
The two central performance are perfect. I realize that a lot of people will be impressed with Lady Gaga being able to act. And she does turn in a very solid performance. But I was more shocked that Cooper could sing. He has a soulful authentic voice that makes it understandable why Jack is a fading star. The shock of each turning in a fully realized performance makes the emotion of the story all the more raw and powerful. Add in that Sam Elliot gives one hell of a nuanced understated performance as well and this film just breaks your heart.
The story has been largely retained, multiple lines from other versions are present, but it has been updated and made now in very specific ways. I also rather enjoyed the meta moment in the film when Bobby is talking about Jack's view that each musician only ever puts his own spin on the same 12 notes. It works in the movie but it is also clearly meant to reflect that Cooper (as director) is putting his own spin on this classic tail.
This is among the best of the year so far. Great cover.