Remakes can be tricky because you’re more likely going to be compared to their predecessors. It would require a lot of guts to sprinkle your own magic movie dust to avoid being referred to as the “remake of that classic movie.”
Bradley Cooper proved he had that with his directorial debut, “A Star Is Born.” Not only did he show he had the guts to take on this classic behemoth and make it his own, he also showcased exceptional artistry by putting together a movie that’s both gut-wrenching and emotionally stirring at the same time.
And he was close to being perfect.
It’s like an impeccably arranged musical ensemble that you can listen to for hours. Everything looks, sounds, and feels right.
Jackson Maine (Cooper) is a successful musical artist who is on the verge of the twilight of his career. He has lost meaning and is struggling to regain some semblance of what it’s like to actually enjoy performing.
Unknown to his screaming fans, Jack is simply going through the motions. Little do they know that the star they scream for is on the brink of self-destruction.
As he guzzles a bottle of alcohol right after a performance in the beginning of the movie, we are shown his real struggle. It foreshadows his eventual descent to substance abuse.
Already intoxicated and worn by his earlier performance, Jack instructs his driver to look for the nearest bar, which happens to be a drag bar where Ally (Lady Gaga) happens to be performing.
Jack is enthralled by her sultry rendition of “La Vie En Rose” and, for the first time, we see his eyes come to life.
This serendipitous meeting will set the tone for their relationship in the movie: a roller coaster ride that’s filled with all the juicy ingredients: steamy passion, jealousy, hurt, anger, triumphs and failures that will all put their relationship to the test.
Writers Will Fetters, Eric Roth, William Wellman, Robert Carson, and Cooper had a formidable script, one that was able to highlight both characters’ flaws, motivations, and development as they go through the arduous journey of chasing one’s dreams.
It will make you think about holding on to hope but at the same time, you’d be scared and think “what is the price and how long will it last?”
As Jack’s career plummets, Ally’s starts to rise. And despite their obvious love for each other, it is going to create conflict somewhere along the way. It’s only a question of how big of an impact it’s going to have. Will it break them or make them stronger? Will it cost one of them their dreams?
Cooper and Gaga deliver knockout performances. They are raw and intense. Each scene, regardless of the intensity of emotions, is authentic, hence relatable.
You will cheer with them on their small triumphs and break a little as they encounter one problem after another.
Aided by impactful camera work by Matthew Libatique, we’re taken along each step, as if we’re walking beside the characters in the scenes. We feel the hurt from the way their eyes shift; we sense the tension from the subtle facial movements. Being that close to the characters is vital in staying invested in their journeys. And that’s why as viewers, we never let go.
In one scene, Jack brings Ally onstage and puts her on the spot by playing a song she played for him on the night they first met. In the middle of the drowning cheers and music, we don’t get distracted. We are only drawn to Ally and see every shift of emotion in her face: from surprise to shock, fear and then the realization that this is the moment of truth, that her dreams are on the far end of the stage and all she needs to do is take a few steps forward and open her mouth. She finally gives in and we see all these happen as she belts out “Shallow” which can easily be one of the most iconic moments in movie history.
This modern take on the Hollywood classic can definitely stand on its own. It’s not necessary to always associate it to its predecessors. However, it does pay homage to the earlier movies.
Gaga singing in the alley with her arms outstretched as the movie title fades in to the screen will bring you back to those eras in the same way the Grammy scene will make you relive the similar intense scene by Streisand and Kristofferson.
But it doesn’t matter whether or not you’ve seen the earlier films. The 2018 version is a classic in itself.
It did everything right from the compelling story to tour de force performances to an excellent lineup of music.
That dramatic final shot is one for the books.
And we have Cooper’s magic movie dust to thank for all these. A star wasn’t just born; another classic was made.
It’s damn near perfect.
“A Star Is Born” premieres on October 10.
Photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
