A Star is Born | Opens 18th October | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Lady Gaga delivers an outstanding debut film performance starring alongside Bradley Cooper in the remake of A Star is Born.
It’s the fourth time the tale of an aspiring artist falling in love with a more established mentor has been brought to the screen, the last iteration was the 1970’s version starring Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand. This time the classic tale focusses on a country music star who meets an Edith Piaf singing ingenue in a gay bar.
Bradley Cooper’s debut as a director is an impressive film that successfully grabs the audience from the first scenes and holds them close as Jackson Maine’s world collides with that of waitress / singer Ally.
Ally works alongside best friend Ramon. She’s as a waitress by day, but in the evenings she performs at a gay bar channeling legendary French singer Edith Piaf. Successful musician Jack persuades his limo driver to pull over at a bar so he can continue drinking, he’s just focussed on the next drink – and is oblivious to his surroundings. Inside he encounters Ally as its instant chemistry. Drag stars Willam and Shangela are brilliant in these early scenes.
Jack persades Ally to come to his next live show, with best friend Ramon in tow. Jack drags Ally onto the stage to sing a song she wrote, and the crowd adore her performance. Soon she joining Jack on tour for a whirlwind romance, but music industry executives also love her style and offer her a record deal.
As Ally ‘s star begins to rise, Jack continues to battle drugs and alcohol and the two lovers are on different trajectories.
It’s a heartbreaking movie, intimate and raw. The impressive achievement is that within minutes of the film starting you are completely absorbed into the story, and it’s very real and believable characters.
Gaga is a tour de force, and takes poll position in the race to the awards seasons, delivering a faultless performance, that is complex, nuanced and captivating. Bradley Cooper should be praised for both his acting and directing contribution and the supporting cast is first class. Sam Elliot, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle, Anthony Ramos and Ravi Gaffron are all outstanding.
Graeme Watson
