Granted…
It’s the third remake of the 1937 original, but frankly all I remember is the 1976 version in with Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand.
And that’s 42 years ago!
We’re talking A STAR IS BORN 2018. And while the basic story hasn’t really changed much the current casting of Bradley Cooper opposite Stefani J.A. Germanotta (a.k.a. Lady Gaga) is simply terrific!
The Basics: Mesmerized rock star falls for struggling waitress/unknown singer-songwriter and takes her under his wing. Then as HER career rises and soars, HIS begins to crash and finally burn.
Is it jealousy and ego, or alcohol and drug abuse? Or both?
The musical romantic drama also marks the directorial debut of multi-talented Cooper who co-wrote the screenplay as well as serving as the film’s co-producer.
The amazing thing here is Cooper also delivered the songs in one take performances before thousands of concert goers at various domestic and international venues no less.
And no, he didn’t lip-sync them either which is almost unheard of in movie making.
All that plus a credible supporting cast including Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay, Anthony Ramos and Sam Elliott as Cooper’s older brother and manager.
Expect multiple Oscar nominations here including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress—and Best Sound.
And about the closing scene?
Suffice it to say you could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium—which was followed by applause by the audience.
So you may question what’s with that minus mark following my A rating?
Well, to be perfectly hones, I felt that there were a few moments in the film where things could have been tightened up a bit.
But maybe I’m being too critical—you think?
“A STAR IS BORN” earns a cinematic: A-
Look forward to it; Gaga, like Winehouse, has yet to achieve her potential (IMNSHO).
Additionally, Cooper is a solid actor/producer; I don’t expect less from him as a director.
Then you add Chappelle AND Andrew Dice Clay (whom you might have rightly thought dead)? Could be YUUUUUGE.
ADC is far from dead. Dude still plays Vegas regularly at the Tropicana’s Laugh Factory, has his own show on Showtime. Still tours to sold out venues. I’m stunned by his longevity, quite frankly.
SInce we had kids, we don’t do Vegas; you coulda knocked me over with a feather sayin’ ACD played there. We’ll see after the hit college…
Assumi’ ADC is tsill alive.
; ‘ )
Gaga spent 6 months rehearsing for this act.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxcFcKvjZCk
She is the Pete Rose of female vocalists. She forces herself into rarefied air where she rubs elbows with greats like Sinatra, Streisand and here, Andrews. Her efforts in her chosen craft make the rewards even more satisfying to her fans. I am one.
To be perfectly frank, I WASN’T a GaGa fan—that is until I saw this movie.
The exit polls by audiences are through the roof!!!!!