In the 2018 iteration of “A Star is Born” Sam Elliot’s character says that “Music is essentially any note between twelve octaves. Twelve notes and the octave repeats. It’s the same story told over and over.” In 1937, then again in 1954,1976, and most recently, 2018, the story of a rising star, a troubled musician, their romance, and his downfall has been told. Each time, told with different actors and plots, the overarching skeleton of the story has stayed the same. Now a timeless love story reimagined, Bradley Cooper’s 2018 masterpiece co-starring Lady Gaga in the footsteps of Hollywood legends Janet Gaynor, Judy Garland, and Barbra Streisand, is breaking box office predictions and assuring its place at the top of the iTunes charts.
“A Star is Born” is a gift, especially to those who are familiar with Lady Gaga’s worldwide artistry, and to those now and in the future, who are experiencing her for the first time. Never before have we seen her play someone opposite of her normally theatric and elegant character; her Emmy-winning role as The Countess in “American Horror Story: Hotel” was as magnificently costumed and poised as the real Gaga. In “A Star is Born,” her character Ally begins the film as a waitress and drag performer with crushed dreams of being in the spotlight. She is intrinsically different than Gaga, who emanates confidence and grace. Bradley Cooper’s Jackson Maine finds her though, through his haze of pills and alcohol. As a troubled rockstar with an emotional past, he brings Ally toward the limelight and watches as it hits her spot on. As she performs an industry-machinated pop song on “SNL,” his eyes are darting around for a drink backstage. But, as anyone who has witnessed it would agree, their love for one another is portrayed masterfully through Oscar-worthy scenes and precise direction, turning what could have been a “PitchPerfect” style blockbuster hit into a moving and timeless remake.
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga share “A Star is Born” equally and both make landmark career performances as Jackson and Ally. Cooper’s debut as a director is a beautiful, exhilarating, and heartbreaking portrait of romance, fame, and addiction. His simultaneous performance as Jackson is an intimate and unforgettable version of a classic character. Gaga’s Ally transitions from scorned waitress to global superstar but remains humble and kind at even the peaks of her fame. Above everything, she loves Jackson, and Gaga’s performance is as moving in her first time onstage with Jackson during “Shallow” as it is in the stunning final moments of the film. Like Gaga, Ally was born to be a performer. Her voice is rugged, tender, and emotional- but when she is enveloped by fame, a manager, and a hair and make crew, she faces the world as a more “Gaga”-esque performer, rather than the the gritty, bare-faced powerhouse she was during “Shallow.”
While the best element of “A Star is Born” is the acting, its marketable and emotion-evoking soundtrack is deservedly at the top of music charts while the film tops box office, and likely long after. “Shallow,” another number one to add to Gaga’s list, is an acoustic duet between Gaga and Cooper, who has never sung on a track before the single’s release. Like the film, Gaga and Cooper share the soundtrack equally, and both shine implausibly. Most of the soundtrack was recorded live, which only adds to the authenticity and emotion of the entire experience. “Always Remember Us This Way,” “Heal Me,” “Is That Alright?,” and “Before I Cry” are stunning ballads (think Gaga’s “You and I,” “Speechless”) throughout the track list. Bradley Cooper’s Jackson rock songs are head-banging tracks that no one could have foreseen. The electricity in “Black Eyes” opens the movie perfectly, and serves as a great introduction of Cooper’s vocals. As a delicious treat to Gaga fans and moviegoers, both DJ White Shadow (a frequent Gaga producer) and Lady Gaga herself, crafted Ally’s pop repertoire, consisting of “Why Did You Do That?” and “Hair Body Face” which are infectious radio-ready bops. What stands out the most though, is the final song, which will likely take home “Best Song” at the Oscars. “I’ll Never Love Again,” is an achingly beautiful ballad that Gaga delivers in the final scene. Perhaps one of the most moving performances in recent music theater movie history, “I’ll Never Love Again,” is a major tear jerker and Spotify save from everyone in the audience.
While “A Star is Born” will be unforgettable on any platform, it is a once-in-a lifetime movie theater experience. While you can, see the film in theaters, let yourself smile, and cry, and maybe even treat yourself to some popcorn. Cooper’s “A Star is Born” is a classic and wholly original tour-de-force and it is everything it should have been.
