A Star Is Born marks Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut and it is not only a beautiful masterpiece, but a love letter to the power and importance of music. The remake of the 1937 film also marks Lady Gaga’s first leading role in a movie, and fans of the singer may think the movie could easily be a biopic about her life.
In the movie, it explores the ups and downs within the dream of being the next big superstar. Ally (Lady Gaga) is working as a waitress and in her free time, she writes songs which she never sings. Jackson Mayham (Bradley Cooper) is a singer who struggles with his physical as well as mental health and numbs them under a lot of alcohol and drugs.
On the day Ally sings “La Vie en Rose” at a drag club, Jack drives by after his latest concert to drinks himself to sleep when he sees her on stage.
You can say it was love at the first note, because he felt for her right in this moment. They talk the whole night and he invites Ally to his next concert, which she at first refuses but later accepts because she realises that she want to achieve more in life and live in the moment.
Leaving her dad for whom she took care of behind, she flies to his concert where Jack surprises her with an invitation to come on stage and sing her song with him. And so the emotional music rollercoaster begins….
Cooper constantly looks for a challenge to show another side of what he can do as an actor. This time, he does not only play the leading role, but also sits in the director’s chair of the remake. He portrays Jack authentically that you cannot stop feeling what he is going through. If you’ve seen Silver Linings Playbook, you know what I mean, plus holy guacamole, the man can sing!
Lady Gaga is the perfect fit for Ally. Not only can she sing acoustic like a goddess, she really is quite the talented actress. Surprisingly for me, she really opened up herself to this role which was not easy for her as I assume. What I love about this movie is, that it does not only show all the happy things about following your dream. Every decision may come with a price.
Jack gave her a chance and let her evolve. The second a manager discovers her, she starts to change in tiny steps. While she says no at first, she later does not dare because she is afraid that she could lose everything she wanted for such a long time. So a new hair colour, short dresses, and the deep emotion that were in her lyrics, lost to the beat of pop music.
While she is at the top of her career, Jack starts to fall apart. He drinks more, takes more drugs, and his health deteriorates. Jack is suffering from his tinnitus, which is getting worse and will end in losing his hearing completely. Later, it is revealed that he has been suicidal for almost all his life.
Personally, this confession hit me like a bus because it is an important part for the movie in the end. A word can make a difference. Being with the person you care about for a moment longer and asking her or him if they are okay can make a big difference. It is a small line we are moving on every day. Follow your dreams, live your life, but never forget to turn to the person next to you and give him a bit of your attention and time.
This movie truly shows how we all wish for a dream-come-true situation in our lives, but if we are not careful, it can turn into your worst nightmare. I do not want to give too much away because it would be a shame. This movie is filled with emotion and features such a beautiful soundtrack.
