"A Star Is Born" Review- Sing the Song, Come Blow Your Horn

Before I get into this movie, know that I have never seen any of the previous versions of “A Star Is Born”. This story is all brand new to me as if it was a new original idea, which is very rare for someone like me.

So “A Star Is Born”…how did it fare? I have to say it was pretty extraordinary. There was so much I liked about it and even though it may not be on the tippy top of my favorite films of 2018, it’s still a 100% worthy Oscar film.

The songs are not Greatest Showman or La La Land memorable, but the orchestral and rock sounds that were composed are just a sound to behold when listening. There were a variety of producers for each song, including Gaga, Lucas Nelson, and Mark Ronson, so major credit goes to those folks.

Speaking of Gaga, talk about a star being born. Even for people who know she can act and sing, she brings full throttle performance that’s sure to pick up traction during the awards season. When she sings, you don’t see Lady Gaga, you see her character, Ally. You actually notice a completely rare person, which is a pretty high bar to fly to considering the kind of fame Miss Gaga has gained. She also works well with a lot of other terrific cast members including Sam Elliot and Anthony Ramos. Not to mention the tight as a knot chemistry she has with Bradley Cooper.

Going into that, as spectacular as Gaga is, Bradley Cooper is the real fire that lights this film. He co-wrote, directed, and put on a brilliant performance. Yet, when you watch it, the cinematography, the colors, and the staging are such a sight to see that at times, I almost questioned if it was really his direction. For a first time director, Bradley Cooper did not leave anything untouched, which gives “A Star Is Born” such a desirable and entertaining look for every kind of fan imaginable.

The story is a bit slow at some points, but it has perfect character development as well as lots of upbeat hair-lifting musical numbers and some gut turning scenes that when you add the acting performances, just gives the script so much beauty and life. It’s not a musical; it’s more of a romantic film with music that is either catchy, gives you goosebumps, or both. Three songs in particular were so good they almost made me cry. One is “Shallow”, which is currently topping the iTunes Charts and will probably be the Oscar nominee battling every song from Mary Poppins Returns. The other two you will have to see for yourself because they do contain some minor spoilers. Finally, even with a flashy simple story, the movie also deals with drug abuse, the power of fame, and the inner consequences of going for your dreams.

“A Star Is Born” will stand on it’s own, even with there previous versions behind it, and is a true ball of fire that is the perfect way to start off what I think will be one of the best Oscar seasons yet. Gaga and Cooper dived in, and they came out alive.

Two Nebs Up!