The Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper makes his debut as a film director bringing the third reinterpretation of the iconic love story to the big screen A Star is Born, an exciting and troubled love story between two artists who will form a couple both on stage and in life.
Ally (Lady Gaga in her first major film role) is a young singer with a lot of talent, but little self-confidence, who makes ends meet by working as a waitress and paying tributes to Edith Piaf in a drag-queen club. Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) is a country-rock star with many demons (first of all alcohol) and an ear that no longer works due to tinnitus. One night, desperate for a place that sells alcohol, Jackson meets Ally while performing on one of her nights and the man immediately falls in love with her talent and clean personality. The two immediately begin a romantic relationship and, under his protective wing, Ally quickly becomes (also thanks to a shrewd manager) the artist of the moment. But as the girl's career is rapidly rising, Jackson continues on his self-destructive path that will put their relationship to the test.
Bradley Cooper's version is the third remake of the 1937 film of the same name with Janet Gaynor and Fredrich March, preceded by the 1976 version (probably the most iconic, ed.) With Barbra Streisan and Kris Kristofferson and before that from the 50s. with Judy Garland and James Mason. A 21st century version should have seen the dark of the hall much sooner, with Clint Eastwood directing and Beyoncé as Ally, but after several production postponements Cooper, selected by Eastwood for the role of Jackson, went behind the machine from. Jack.
Right from the start we can see in A Star in Born a problem of rhythm that betrays a distension of history (not original in itself) that is not attentive. It must also be added that, despite the charisma and talent that have transformed her into one of the pop icons of the new millennium, Lady Gaga is a little and no actress. Which is a shame, considering with how much dedication Bradley Cooper gets into the folds of a not particularly new but difficult character, who in addition to underlining his acting qualities (also thanks to the rarely unwelcome presence of Sam Elliot in the role of brother / father figure / manager Bobby on whose voice stamp Cooper created the voice of Jackson) reveals an excellent singing talent. Credit is also to be given to a surprising directorial prowess to the actor who seeks, with discreet results, his own vision of a film now exacerbated at the highest levels after four versions. The spearhead of the film, however, are undoubtedly the songs (including Shallow, poster of the film, of which we can already foresee the nomination for Best Song at the Oscars) written by Lady Gaga together with Lukas Nelson which we recommend listening to on Youtube.
