Written by Shalini Langer | New Delhi | Published: October 12, 2018 5:56:05 pm
A Star is Born movie review: While its not great acting that is on display here, the dialogues are lame, the story predictable and frustratingly uni-dimensional.
Related News
World Mental Health Day: Lady Gaga writes powerful letter about suicide and stigma around mental health
Bradley Cooper opens up on sexual harassment allegations against A Star is Born producer Jon Peters
After Rihanna, Lady gaga might be ready with her cosmetics range
A Star Is Born movie director: Bradley Cooper
A Star Is Born movie cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott
A Star Is Born movie rating: 2.5 stars
In the fourth rendition of this story, about a rising star mentored by a self-destructing one, there is one crucial change. The latter role, of an alcohol and drug-addled ageing rock singer, is played by the man who is also the films producer, director and co-writer. The title may say what it does, but the film is as much about the death of a star as the rise of one.
And that is not a happy result. This film belongs to Lady Gaga, who outshines, outsparkles and, of course, outsings her way to a smashing film debut. Cooper seems to acknowledge that by giving her this platform, and yet not enough. And while its not great acting that is on display here, the dialogues are lame, the story predictable and frustratingly uni-dimensional, Lady Gaga sings her heart out, kicking the film to a jump start every time.
Jack Maine (Cooper) and Ally (Lady Gaga) meet at a bar, which he stumbles into half-dazed on his way home from a concert, and where she is singing. He recognises her talent immediately, and sparks fly quickly. In what is the best part of the film, both the bruised Jack and the artifice-less Ally find company and comfort in each other. Lady Gaga is perhaps a little old to be playing the role of an ingenue, but the films strength is in letting us look past all that, like it intends. In what may be a comment on Lady Gagas own over-the-top persona, there is a scene where Jack strips off Allys make-up, beneath which she is literally unrecognisable.
HOT DEALS
Lenovo Ideapad 130 (Core i3 – 6th Gen/4 GB RAM/1 TB HDD/39.624… ₹ 30750 MRP ₹ 35890 -14%₹4613 CashbackBuy Now
Lenovo V310 Notebook 80SX0081IH Core i3 (6th Gen) 4 GB/ 1… ₹ 34470 MRP ₹ 35564 -3%₹0 CashbackBuy Now
As Jack starts taking Ally along on his tours and letting her sing, her talent is spotted by a record company executive. The film tantalisingly flirts with the idea of how Ally might now change into what Jack peeled off, but can never settle down to explore that, or anything else that follows. There is that plus Jacks growing alcoholism, plus his tinnitus, plus his complicated relationship with father/brother, plus Allys own not-so-believable living arrangements with her father and his buddies, plus the whole artist-being-pure-to-her-art spiel, plus Jacks jealousy at Ally leaving him far behind, with nothing that sticks. The previous versions of A Star is Born carried less of all that baggage.
In the process, that real connection which Cooper and Lady Gaga display in the beginning dissipates long before the film gets around to it. Without ever really getting around to it.
Must Watch
-
Weekly Auto Wrap: 2018 Hyundai Santro, Tata Tigor facelift and more explained
-
MJ Akbar better positioned to speak on allegations of sexual harassment: Smriti Irani
-
Kapil Sharma and Gurpreet Ghuggi revisit their school days
-
Jalebi vs Helicopter Eela: Audience Review
For all the latest Entertainment News, download Indian Express App
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd More Related News
-
Lady Gaga is moved to tears after A Star is Born receives standing ovation
-
Lady Gaga: Fame is very unnatural
- Tags:
- Bradley Cooper
- lady gaga