The pitfalls of fame and Hollywood are very present in this musical romance drama. A remake that’s portrayal sees a famous musician help a young singer find fame and fortune, whilst he spirals out of control ultimately suffering a turbulent downfall.
Admittedly, before I watched this film I had no idea what it was about or who was starring in it. A family member persuaded me that it was an amazing film and not to be missed, which I am glad I decided to watch. Lady Gaga, who co-stars with Bradley Cooper in the film, has been the talk of the film awards, as she missed out on winning the best actress award at the Golden Globes, much to the dismay of her fans. The film has grossed $203.6 million in the United States and Canada alone and is predicted to be nominated at the Oscars, competing against the likes of Black Panther and Roma.
The film itself provides Gaga’s first lead role, vocally showing off her powerful voice which will give anyone with a heart, pure and utter goose bumps. Whilst watching the film I thought it to be gloomy and dejecting, however it captures the essence of what we picture the reality of celebrities’ lives to be like and it is probably not very far from the truth either.
Cooper’s character Jackson Maine battles with a drug and alcohol addiction before meeting Gaga’s character (Ally) and continues that struggle as he falls in love with her. As she rises to fame she is embroiled in the controlled lifestyle she now leads, forced into dying her hair and changing her image in order to become a marketable entity. By far my favourite song ‘Shallow’ displays that apparently Cooper can sing and Gaga does not need the ensembles like that of her meat dress to prove she is a star. I almost feel as if I am watching a documentary, with the on stage clips providing an authentic appearance and Gaga’s versatile performance throughout.
A Star is Born offers a rags to riches story, but what makes it different from other films was that it did not need to have a happy ending, which is very commendable for not following the norm. It makes visible the damage fame has to offer if you are not careful. This led me to believe that even though it is a sad story, it still blew me away with the music and cinematography. The vulnerability in Maine provides a voice to the depression men so often hide away and suffer from, which is very relatable to people no matter who they are where they come from.
I would highly recommend people from all audiences to go see A Star is Born. The movie pulls together brilliant music, a love story, plus elements of humour and tragedy into one timeless film.
By Abi Trunk