A (Major) Star is born
A Star Is Born opened to rave reviews, and deservedly so, but the real story here is that two stars were born, one of them in front of the camera, the other behind.
Star Bradley Cooper's Jackson Maine is a hard-rocking, hard-drinking rock star in this latest big screen take on this classic tale of rising and falling fame. After yet another crowd-pleasing performance, Jackson heads out on his own personal pub crawl, where he stumbles, literally, into a bar, and finds himself happily drinking as a show featuring bright and sparkly drag queens plays in the background. He's torn away from his drink when he hears the voice of the one live performance, a chanteuse singing "La Vie En Rose." Allie's got an amazing voice, an unusual look and Jackson is instantly smitten. He waits at the door after the show so he can meet her. The two then embark on a the kind of date many of us can only dream of in which fears are shared and songs are written, and the rest, as they say, is Hollywood History.
With "A Star is Born," Cooper has re-invented himself, not only as an actor and singer, but also a a writer, producer and director. This film is his baby and he has nurtured it into something amazing. He's taken this oft-told tale (there are three previous versions) and instead of making his character a lush, drinking to assuage his dismay about his waning celebrity, he gives Jackson a deeper backstory with details of a disability and harsh upbringing that help explain some of his personal, self-destructive choices.
Lady Gaga was right to trust Cooper with her first major movie role. The singer and now actress, took to the big screen like a fish to water. Although her character, Allie, may be swimming upstream when it comes to getting recognition for her talent, if Lady Gaga was nervous about taking on such an iconic part, it doesn't show in her performance. She is a natural and it appears she was "born this way."
"A Star is Born" is on a number of top-ten lists this year, including mine. It's an audience pleaser and a film many fans will pay to see more than once. It's going to be a major contender during awards season, a sobering thought to anyone who is in a film dealing with sex, drugs, rock and roll and the heady high of fame.
Lady Gaga was right to trust Cooper with her first major movie role. The singer and now actress, took to the big screen like a fish to water. Although her character, Allie, may be swimming upstream when it comes to getting recognition for her talent, if Lady Gaga was nervous about taking on such an iconic part, it doesn't show in her performance. She is a natural and it appears she was "born this way."
"A Star is Born" is on a number of top-ten lists this year, including mine. It's an audience pleaser and a film many fans will pay to see more than once. It's going to be a major contender during awards season, a sobering thought to anyone who is in a film dealing with sex, drugs, rock and roll and the heady high of fame.