November 9, 2018
By Clare Wiesen
I walked into A Star is Born knowing very little about the movie or its history. Honestly, I saw a trailer for a movie with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper and thought, “Why not?” I anticipated a movie theatre filled with other teen girls excited to see Lady Gaga belt it out on the big screen, but that wasn’t the case. It appeared to be date night for many middle-aged couples, which was my first hint that I was not emotionally prepared for this movie.
That being said, I loved it.
Bradley Cooper plays the scruffy, alcoholic, rock country musician pretty spot on, and I never would have guessed that he had no experience with music prior to the movie. His vocals are good for a novice, but it’s not surprising that the most popular songs from the movie’s soundtrack are the ones sung by Lady Gaga.
Cooper deserves credit for both his acting and directing, but Lady Gaga is the true star of A Star is Born. We’re used to seeing the public Lady Gaga, the woman with bleach blonde hair who wears meat like it’s velvet. With her natural brown hair and minimal makeup, Gaga is unrecognizable as Ally, a young woman with an amazing but undiscovered voice.
The first section of the movie was full of cute, rom-com type moments: singing in the parking lot of a grocery store late at night and a guitar string used as an impromptu engagement ring. The first part was so happy that I knew when the other shoe fell, it was going to fall hard. And man, was I right.
The second part was emotional to say the least. For people considering seeing the movie, know that it touches on subjects such as addiction and suicide. If people do see it in the theatre, I recommend bringing a box of tissues. A full box. And maybe an extra pack, just in case. Lady Gaga’s vocals on “Shallow” and “Always Remember Us This Way” are enough to make me tear up, but the ending will leave anyone in touch with their emotions in a teary pool on the ground.
While I loved the film and would see it again once I have emotionally recovered, it has its faults. The second half of the movie is slow in some moments, such as during Cooper’s philosophical moments. Gaga’s character also wins awards for her music in a pivotal scene, which is questionable. I loved some of the songs that she sings throughout the film, but I’m not sure the lyric “Boy, could you please stop being so fine?” deserves a Grammy. While that song is definitely not my favorite, many other songs from the movie have already been added to my playlists.
A Star is Born feels familiar, maybe because the story has been told again and again, but also because it’s real.
I’m very glad I went to see A Star is Born. Do I wish I had known a little more about the movie? Yes. Do I wish I had brought tissues? Yes. Do I wish I hadn’t worn mascara? Very much, yes. If you’re looking for a good cry that isn’t about college or school or your own life, I would highly recommend this movie. If you just want to see a movie with Lady Gaga and can’t handle uncontrollable sobbing in public, maybe just listen to the soundtrack for now.
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