In 1937, a movie named A Star is Born was released. Starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, it told the story of a young woman who comes to Hollywood with aspirations to be an actress, and does so with the help of an alcoholic actor whose best days were behind him. The film was a smash hit and became the first colorized film to be nominated for Best Picture, also getting nominated for another six Oscars, winning one. The story became so iconic that it was remade in 1954 as musical with Judy Garland and James Mason. And again as a musical in 1976 with Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. And yet again in 2013 as a Bollywood musical. And finally, once more in 2018, with Lady GaGa and Bradley Cooper, the latter of whom directed the movie.
The same basic plot points as the other four versions are followed, reworked to a setting involving two country musicians. Jack Maine, played by Cooper, is an alcoholic country music singer who discovers a waitress - played by GaGa - with a natural talent and aspirations to become a singer herself. After inviting her to play on stage with him, she becomes a huge sensation. She shies away from her country roots and becomes a pop star, though maintains a romantic relationship with Jack, who continues to struggle with his alcoholism, which puts a strain on not just their relationship but her career.
The film serves as the first starring vehicle for GaGa, after a string of minor appearances in films like Machete Kills and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. The story finds the pop singer fittingly in her comfort zone, putting her in settings that she’s all too familiar with - sold out stadiums, guest appearances on television shows, and award shows. Her voice is heard all over the radio and her songs are smash hits. With GaGa being surrounded by locations that she’s already already accustomed to, one would initially think she is essentially playing just a version of herself.
However, despite the familiarity, GaGa isn’t pigeonholed but instead is given the tools to properly shine. Placing her in her comfort zone for her first starring feature allows her to be at her most relaxed and turn in a fairly natural performance. Her character’s background even bares some similarities to her own - growing up to an Italian family in New York, GaGa described herself growing up as “very dedicated, very studious, very disciplined” and was born to parents who came from lower-class backgrounds and had to work hard for everything. And we see a lot of that in her character Ally, who is seen living at home with her father, a limo driver, played by Andrew Dice Clay.
Because Ally’s struggles mirror her own early life, GaGa’s performance immediately becomes a wonder to watch. Her character feels very much like a real person, her struggles feel relatable, and her relationship with her father and his friends can easily remind plenty of the relationships they have with their own families. She embodies the underdog, everyman character type but she plays it with such ease and overcomes any schmaltz that goes with these sort of stories to give the audience a character that’s easy to invest in.
Unfortunately, while GaGa’s performance is a joy to watch, the same can’t be said for Cooper. Now, it’s not so much an issue with Cooper himself. He’s a fine actor, and it’s difficult to say he’s turned in a bad performance. And in A Star is Born, he does once again give it his all, and in a way, a bit against type. Typically playing authority figures, “cool guy” laid-back protagonist, or everyman figures, here he plays a sad, pathetic alcoholic who leaves nothing but a path of destruction in his wake, gravely affecting those around him, including his brother, played by Sam Elliott, who gives easily one of the most emotional performances in the film.
And Cooper does a great job giving us a very believable character. The issue with said character is the fact that there’s essentially not much about him that can really get us to like him. He’s meant to have our sympathy, but rarely do we feel he’s ever in a position to warrant said sympathy. He’s constantly messing up and embarrasses himself, and only gets worse as the film goes on. There are moments in between his drunken misadventures where it seems like he’s trying to get his act together, but those moments rarely feel sincere or like he’s trying too hard. The focus on his attempts to right his wrongs never really gain much traction, outside of one solid moment where he stays with a friend, played by Dave Chappelle, in what’s more of a cameo appearance, despite the fact that he was advertised in the trailers as having a major part.
So, when Jack once again gets too drunk and continues to hinder his relationship with Ally, it never feels like it’s much of a surprise, nor do we feel the true emotional impact in many of those scenes. Due to his lack of positive moments, all his negative moments just feel grating and borderline antagonistic in a way. While the point of the story is how Jack’s alcoholism affects his relationship with Ally, he never once feels like a character the audience can connect to. He feels like nothing more than an obstacle who needs to be removed so that Ally can focus on herself.
Despite a not-so likable co-lead, A Star is Born has plenty of positive aspects that help turn the attention away from some of its faults. The film’s use of music is one of its strongest elements. Unlike the other musical remakes, this version of the film is not a musical in the traditional sense. Characters don’t just randomly break out in song and dance, and then go back to their normal conversation. The film’s soundtrack is composed entirely of songs that both Jack and Ally perform throughout the movie.
However, the songs that are written for the film aren’t just random songs performed to extend the film’s run time. Most of the songs tie into the film’s overall story, with songs like “Why Did You Do That” directly driving the plot forward, while songs that are big hits for Jack and Ally, such as “Maybe It’s Time” and “Shallow” - the latter being the film’s standout tune, thanks to its highly dramatic tone - contain lyrics that tie into the film’s overall themes of love, redemption, and self-acceptance, and are heard multiple times throughout the movie to help drive home the heavy nature of certain scenes.
A Star is Born is a romantic drama with one of the leads being a truly unlikable person. And it’s the sort of fault that can really drive a movie down. And at times, it almost does. Despite the glaring setback, the film has some other great elements going for it. The rest of the cast - lead by Lady Gaga’s powerhouse performance - is great, and the film’s music is highly emotional and really help drive the movie forward. While the film sometimes fails to fully evoke the audience’s emotions, the times it does manage to make an impact are truly enjoyable to watch.
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