11 Dec 2018 Screen Zealots 2018 Film Reviews 15 comments
When you know a particular review is going to be poorly received because you differ from the popular opinion, human nature dictates that you put off writing about said film for as long as possible. The time has come when I can no longer wait to share my unfavorable thoughts on the long-winded "A Star is Born," a melodramatic, overstuffed, cornball of a movie from director (and star) Bradley Cooper.
Cooper stars as seasoned musician Jackson Maine, and man who falls in love at first listen with waitress Ally (Lady Gaga). Ally has given up on her dream to become a famous singer because every encounter she has with someone in the music business ends with them telling her that they like her voice but not her looks. Jackson not only sees her raw talent but her natural beauty as well, and the two start a passionate love affair that ends in tragedy because of course it does.
The film as a whole feels dated, and not just in its powerful white male gender roles. Jackson, a tormented alcoholic in a downward spiral, turns to the bottle even more as Ally rockets to stardom because his delicate ego just can't handle a woman succeeding as his equal. As a female I find this tired narrative objectionable, and I'd think (or at least hope) most men would feel the same. As her star rises, his fades, and the rest of the story falls into place with the expected formulaic trajectory. Ally is either manipulated or controlled by men at every point in the story, which made my stomach churn. Even more unpleasant is the romanticized ending that treats their very definition of a toxic relationship with dreamy rose-colored glasses.
Cooper, here better behind the camera than in front of it, makes some clever (if showy) directorial choices that save the film from feeling as if it's nothing more than a lame duck vanity project. The film's opening is particularly well done, but then he falls into the trap of overloading the story until the whole thing fizzles. There is simply too much going on that causes the film to lose its focus. The supposed love story that's at the heart of the picture isn't convincing in the slightest, and that's something I blame on the hokey dialogue as well as the actors. Where is the chemistry? Where is the passion? Where is the authenticity?
The performances here are fine, but nothing nearing awards-worthy territory. Sam Elliott , understated as Jackson's older brother Bobby, has far too little screen time to make an impact. Gaga has her moments and is insanely charismatic, but there's an abundance of lapses where it appears she has forgotten she's in a Hollywood movie and is instead the guest of the week on a daytime soap opera.
The soundtrack is admittedly fantastic, but there isn't much else to recommend about this unnecessary remake. It has very little original to say, and it places flash over substance.
A Star is BornBradley CooperLady GagaSam Elliott
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I think the viewers who love this film have never seen the first three.
Ann Grimes says:
Totally agree, very forgettable. And I like Cooper and Gaga, just not as these characters in this movie.
Brad needs to either stay behind the camera or in front of it, (with a better director than he is) because this was a mess from start to finish, and a colossal waste of Lady Gaga, Sam Elliot, and every other secondary character. It was a nasty sexist f**kup.
14 Dec 2018 at 9:41 am
Agreed! Still puzzled at everyone going gaga over this. (See what I did there)? LOL
Heh, heh, heh, 😀
peggyatthemovies says:
I didn't love it, nor did I hate it. I definitely thought Cooper out-acted Gaga and Gaga outsang him – both by a mile. I don't understand the raving over her performance to be honest – it was okay – but neither the film or her performance were Awards worthy for me.
M. Sampaio says:
As if I'm supposed to trust a bitter, random wannabe critic from Nevada over the countless raves the movie got from major publications such as Wall Street Journal (100/100), Variety (100/100), USA Today (100/100), New York Post (100/100), Chicago Tribune (100/100), The Telegraph (100/100), The Guardian (100/100), The New York Times (90/100), Los Angeles Times (90/100), Rolling Stone (90/100), Vanity Fair (90/100), Time Magazine (90/100) etc. LOL! Audiences love the movie too, considering it's going to cross $200 million at the domestic office this weekend. Stay pressed at all the success the movie has got. The acclaim and the awards ain't going anywhere.
Thanks so much for your comment! I enjoyed the music but found Cooper's direction, the soap opera style acting, and the disturbing ending that viewed a toxic relationship with rose-colored glasses to be a big miss. Would love to know your personal thoughts on the film, as that's what's interesting to me — not the opinions of other critics.
Marques says:
What? Completely disagree with everything, specially the bit about the lack of passion and chemistry. Literally every other review I've read points out how everything feels so real and I couldn't agree more after watching it twice. The movie is as great as everyone has been saying and deserves all the success and awards recognition it's already getting. Sorry not sorry.
Yeah, this movie just didn't work for me at all. Interesting how so many had such different reactions to it. I couldn't get over what I saw as the glamorization of a toxic relationship, but I'm happy you and others enjoyed it.
Thank god you and none of the 6 people who commented vote for Golden Globes, Oscars, SAG Awards, or any other local critic association. This film is the best movie of 2018 and one of the best films of all time. Old white People have absolutely no taste.
It'll be interesting to see how the movie fares during the major awards season. Thanks so much for the comment!
At last, a review that dares to be honest. I actually enjoyed most of the film despite the obvious flaws. I did find the connection between them unconvincing at times but it was the last half hour that disappointed me most. As if they had a time limit that had to be observed, it lacked substance and left me feeling flat at the end. Superb acting, let down by its unconvincing and contrived ending.
David Michaels says:
Toxic feminism is ruining everything, even movie criticism.
Misogynists hate it when women express their opinions, don't they?