LogFAQs > #933832374

6. A Star is Born (2018)

KBM: 6
Scarlet: 6
Karo: 9
Johnbobb: 14
Genny: 15
Inviso: 16
JONA: 16

KBM - Why I Chose It: A huge success with critics and audiences alike, becoming the second-highest grossing film of the 2018 domestic box office that wasn't a superhero franchise movie or sequel, the newest take on A Star Is Born, starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga and helmed by Cooper himself in his directorial debut, was nominated for hundreds of awards, including eight Academy Awards. The soundtrack's lead single, Shallow, won the composing team Best Original Song at the Oscars, and was certified platinum in many countries including the US. The film was also chosen by many critics as one of the Top 10 best films of 2018, including by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.

My Thoughts: An excellent remake of a classic story, this version succeeds in all the ways it needed to, and then some. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper have brilliant chemistry and both turn in terrific performances, as does Sam Elliott in his supporting role as Jackson Maine's brother and manager. It doesn't stray too far from the major story beats of previous versions, but it does just enough to update the story for the 21st century without seeming aggrandizing-of-the-self [holy shit GameFAQs autocensor lmao] or pandering about any of it (unlike the '70s Streisand adaptation). All in all, it's just an excellent film, and ends up being the best-paced, most emotionally impactful of all the versions of A Star Is Born you can choose from. What really pulls it all together, of course, is the excellent Lady Gaga-led soundtrack, which, though I really enjoy the soundtracks to the '50s and '70s versions, basically blows those out of the water. Bradley Cooper also proves his not-insignificant chops as a writer/director, filming in a beautiful but restrained style, and not letting the movie get overlong and thereby overstay its welcome.

Favorite Song: Tough call, but Look What I Found is just SUCH a jam and I can't get enough of it.
Best Song: Probably I'll Never Love Again although this is also a very tough call and Always Remember Us This Way is a tempting choice. This soundtrack is just so fucking good that it's impossible to actually decide. I understand why Shallow was such a big hit and it's certainly very catchy, but I don't think it's technically the best song on the soundtrack.

Scarlet - A raw, powerful performance by Lady Gaga anchors this self-masturbatory project from the unremarkable mind of Bradley Cooper.
Best Song: Shallow

Karo - I'm not really sure we really needed to tell this story for the umpteenth time, but this is clearly the best version of it. There is a certain chemistry between the leads that is absent in the others, and though it is nearly as long as its predecessors it doesn't feel like it goes on forever.
It takes the best aspect of the previous two films and fuses them together, as well as giving us a Norman Maine who is more human and relateable, and less of a drunken buffoon just played for laughs.
Lada Gaga is even a more bizarre choice of casting than Barbara Streisand was, and though she does a much better job why must we have a music superstar in this role at all? Isn't this whole story about some nobody who makes it big? Why not at cast someone who isnt a household name at the very least so suspension of belief is not required to see them as some undiscovered talent that only a washed up alcoholic could discover.
Still this is a competent enough production that justifies its existence at the very least, which is more than can be said for most remakes.

Score: 70/100

Best Song: 'Shallow'

Johnbobb - While the story is certainly nothing new, the 2018 version still manages to feel a little bit fresh. The music is solid and distinct from the '54 and '76 films. The performances of Gaga and Cooper and both excellent, as well as Elliot (in particular, this is probably the only one those three that manages to have an interesting or memorable supporting character). Everything is objectively filmed well (the lighting in particular is consistently pleasant) and the sad notes hit all the right buttons to bring the waterworks, but ultimately I wish it had a little bit more to say.
Favorite song: Shallow

Genny - Between Bradley Cooper's exquisite directing and his on-screen chemistry with Gaga this A Star is Born just barely earns the title as my favorite. There's something so humble about Ally's beginnings here and her discovery by Jackson Maine that makes both of them believable in their respective roles. Shallow is a banger, but the real showstopper is that closing number in tribute to Maine. My heart!

Inviso - Strictly in terms of the acting, Id have to say this is head and shoulders above the other two versions of this film. Lady Gaga and Bradley Coopers relationship feels real, and the struggles they face are elevated as a result of their chemistry together. And even though I am a bit turned off by the rise of a musician (as opposed to a movie star, which just feels like it works better as a plot), Lady Gaga does a good job of highlighting the steps she had to go through to slowly ascend in her stardom. I appreciate the fact that the movie is played EXTREMELY straight, and it feels so harsh and realistic at the same time. Ultimately though, that serious tone kinda hurts it, because there never felt like anything that excited or enticed me about this film. It was well-crafted, but a bit to bleak and normal to excite me.

JONA - Both Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper do a great job here and have great chemistry. The story and writing are well done even if its a bit predictable. The last scene is really great. Although, that could just come from watching the other two versions of this movie. I did not like a majority of these songs. This is coming from someone who doesnt like country though, so take that with a grain of salt. My favorite song ended up being the pop song which was probably not intended to be a song anyone would say is their favorite of this movie. Its a good movie that was just surrounded by other movies about careers and by the time I got around to watching this, I already had enough.
Favorite Song: Why Did You Do That?