"Electrifying"

Rating: 9/10 (7 October 2018)

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's music romance is a rip-roaring journey back stage of love and fame. A star is truly born in Bradley Cooper's directorial debut.
When returning from a gig, country music singer: Jackson Maine (Cooper) walks into a drag bar to find a phenomenal voice in waitress Ally (Gaga) moonlighting as a club singer. Enchanted, Jackson and Ally share an evening professing their passion for music, leading Jackson inviting her to join him on stage during a concert to reveal her voice to the world. The couple's romance quickly blossoms as Ally's musical career begins, but Jackson's alcohol and drug addiction begins to disrupt their dreams.
42 years following Frank Pearson version with Barbra Streisand, Cooper launches his directing career with a 21st century re-envisioning of the Hollywood classic. Following the legacy of Janet Ganor, Judy Garland, and Streisand, Gaga is an apt idol of modern pop, and her transference of her musical talent to the screen is magnetic. With rumours of Clint Eastwood directing the project in 2011 with Beyoncé, I can honestly say I'm glad Eastwood's project never lifted the ground.
It's incredible to think that the man who stared in three Hangover movies, and voiced a space racoon, can produce a stunning piece of cinema. As demonstrated from A Star is Born, Cooper understands the art and craft of filmmaking, and its a joy to see him put his skill to work.
As the alcoholic Jackson Maine, Cooper depicts a likeness to Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Johnny Cash in Walk the Line (2005), but at his centre is a heart passionate to share Ally to the world, but troubled by his tinnitus, pulling him to the bottle. Donning a deep Arizona accent Cooper loses himself deeply into the role. A character on the edge but spirited to heighten Ally's gift. Then we have Lady Gaga as the Ally who's nervous and hidden soul majestically blossoms in her romance with Jackson and her rise to fame opposite Jackson's decent. Gaga has complete investment in the film and we completely buy into her. Moments on and off stage Gaga crushes it as the heartfelt Ally. Gaga and Cooper's chemistry on screen is sublime, the very heart beat of the film itself, producing several powerhouse ballads.
Opening in the middle of a concert with the roaring crowds, howling guitars tuning and high frequency amps, met with the smooth camera motion, Cooper literally invites us to join him on stage to be in the moment. This no more true than during the climax of the first act, when we witness the captivating "Shallow" already picked for award attention for Best Original Song. At this point I have never found a better moment to use the world "electrifying". Matthew Libatique's cinematography engulfs the audience into the music scene, decorating each shot in exquisite lighting and composition producing beautiful imagery throughout the film. Any one of these shots could be seen on an album cover.
Cooper remarkably presents the joys and troubles of showbusiness with the central couple's imbalanced relationship, one rising to fame, the other declining. With a realistic feel to the drama behind the stage, alike to the ups and downs of La La Land (2016). But know that this is in no way like the Hollywood musical, but an honest romance occurring in the music industry. There is much excitement to be had in the music but also much sorrow.
With already early awards buzz, A Star is Born will no doubt be a hit for the audiences and critics and will do well when awards season arrives. I am hoping that viewers who love The Greatest Showman (2017) will see this and forget all about that nonsense and appreciate a real piece of cinema.