Friday, October 19, 2018

Movie Review Madness - A Star is Born


What doesn’t Bradley Cooper do?  He acts, he flashes that sweet smile and those clear baby blue eyes, and he’s managed to come off as a real nice guy. Now he’s directed his first feature film AND he sings in it. In a 2018 remake of A Star is Born, Cooper is Jackson Mayne, an alcoholic musician with tinnitus, who’s not keeping it together. His brother, Bobby (Sam Elliott), does his best but Jackson is self-destructing. Then one night after a show, in search of a drink, he has his driver stop outside a place. It’s a drag bar, but the young lady featured to sing had been a former server. Everyone is enthralled with Ally’s performance, and Jackson falls hard.  Ally (a superb Lady Gaga) has tried to get in  the business, but she’s unconventional looking. She’s heard the critiques about her nose, etc,  and doesn’t need the verbal abuse.

Of course, in movie world – boy meets girl, boy gets girl up on stage, girl takes the crowd by storm, and conquers the music world very quickly. We watch Ally’s rise and root for her. Lady Gaga can belt a song and can really act too – she’s the real deal. Meanwhile, even though in love, jealousy rears its head. Jackson’s alcoholism is on a collision course with Ally’s success.  A Star is Born is solid. The story has good bones and this version works. The music is current and the singing is excellent. Cooper and Gaga have chemistry. My only usual complaint – it runs a tad long. I think Cooper could have edited or tightened it by fifteen, twenty minutes. Still, I’ll say Bradley Cooper can do it ALL – a director is born! Sing it loud.

16 comments:

  1. I heard it was really good although not my type of movie. I wonder how it stacks up next to the first two versions?

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    1. my father would say the Judy Garland version can never be beat. Old school over the top acting and singing....

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  2. Hi Joanne - yes it's a film I want to see ... mainly for Lady G ... so thanks for this ... and I'll remember it's a wee bit long - cheers Hilary

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  3. He sure can do whatever he gives a go, even remake of the remake haha

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  4. This version works... See, that I didn't know.

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    1. glad to give an opinion. Friends of mine also seem to agree. Enjoy!

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  5. I've never seen any of the 'A Star is Born' movies. I've been hearing rave reviews of this one and Lady Gaga. Her music isn't my forte' but she's definitely talented & a good person.

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    1. she's not wearing her costumes and being "Lady Gaga". She's the ingenue in this one

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  6. Thanks for the review. I haven't seen this yet, but I've been wondering how it measures up to previous versions.

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  7. A good review Joanne, sounds like my sort of film.

    Yvonne.

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    1. as much as you enjoy music, yes, this is good

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  8. Ha - a director is born. Clever concluding statement, Joanne. I've heard good things about this one. And Gaga never disappoints, except when she dresses as food items.

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  9. I like the previous movie so much with Kris Kristofferson and Barbara, not sure I want to watch a remake, but have been hearing lots of good things about this move.......so maybe. Out blog walking this am, and found my way here from someone else's blog. Always fun to meet new bloggers.
    Traveling Suitcase

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