• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Lieff Ink

TELL YOUR STORY

  • About
  • Services
    • Writing • Editing
    • PR
    • Writing Tutor
  • Words
  • Press
  • Blog
  • Clients
    • Client List
    • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Book
    • Accolades
    • Reviews

A Star Is Born

October 8, 2018

When I heard that Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were starring in a movie about music I was sold. I didn’t care if it was a remake or not – I was going to see it. After doing a little bit of research, I discovered that this was actually the fourth incarnation of A Star Is Born (I was only aware of the 1976 version with Kris Kristofferson and Barbara Streisand) but it was a different take. So be it. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were going to be playing music together and I couldn’t wait.

Last night we saw the highly-anticipated film and to say that it lived up to the hype is an incredible understatement. The searing guitar that opens the movie is about as exciting as an opening scene gets. It shows Cooper, as country rock singer Jackson “Jack” Maine (the perfect name for him), shredding his electric guitar with the kind of fervor exuded only by musicians so talented that they can play wasted and not miss a note. Maine, thrashing around with the best hair this side of my significant other, is shown playing with his band in front of thousands of fans (the audience scenes were actually filmed at Coachella). As soon as his set is over, he quickly leaves the stage, with his head down and his mane (see what I did there) under an Australian-looking cowboy hat, and rushes into the back of a town car where he immediately dives into a bottle of gin. Next thing we know he’s looking for another bar where he unexpectedly finds his musical muse and love of his life.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. There is so much to say about this movie in terms of authenticity but I’ll start with the music. In preparation to play Maine, Cooper learned to drop his voice (both speaking and singing) to a lower octave and clearly has mastered both the electric guitar and the piano with professional ease. As always, when actors are actually playing the instruments and singing the songs, the movie is elevated. While Cooper has revealed that he sought out Eddie Vedder for inspiration, so much about the character reminds me of Jeff Bridges’ beyond talented Otis “Bad” Blake – a past his prime country singer/songwriter who also oozes charm and can’t quit the booze in 2009’s Crazy Heart.  If you haven’t seen it, do that now. Like right now. https://lauralieff.com/top-ten-reasons-to-go-see-crazy-heart-immediately/

Similar to Maine, Blake allowed his alcohol dependence ruin his career and personal life – but he has that charisma, both on and off stage, that Maine has as well. Some of the stuff that comes out of both characters’ mouths is so intrinsically funny that it’s debatable whether or not they know how funny they really are. In Crazy Heart, Blake writes a song in just a few short minutes while lying down on a hotel bed, strumming a guitar. His journalist/muse/lady friend asks him what song he’s singing, because she thinks she’s heard it before, only to realize that he had just written it a moment ago.

Bad Blake: “That’s the way it is with good ones; you’re sure you’ve heard them before.”

And that’s exactly how I felt when I first heard Maine sing “Black Eyes.” Where have I heard this song before? I hadn’t – it’s just that good. And they’re all good. But it gets even better when Gaga’s Ally starts writing with Maine because their chemistry reaches through the screen, grabs the audience, and doesn’t let go. For the entire movie.

It’s hard to believe that A Star Is Born marks Cooper’s directorial debut and Lady Gaga’s (real name Stefani Germanotta) first starring role. They are so sincere and true to each other’s characters it’s a pleasure to watch. As Gaga’s real-life story goes, before Germanotta became her alter ego Lady Gaga, she was a piano-playing singer/songwriter just like Ally so I’m sure she reached to her own experience for this character. In fact, for the rest of this review I’m going to refer to her as Germanotta because everything about her A Star Is Born character is stripped down to her authentic core. And that genuineness is prevalent throughout the entire movie: the gravely, road worn and weary voice on Maine, Ally’s honest reaction when Maine pulls her on stage for the first time, and Ally’s hilarious relationship with her father who is played brilliantly by the virtually unrecognizable and phenomenal Andrew Dice Clay, just to name a few. I believe everyone in this movie and that’s because each person was carefully chosen to play thoughtfully crafted characters. No fluff here.

A few more people who have small but pivotal roles: Lukas Nelson plays guitar (he doesn’t have any lines) for Maine’s band and handled some of the songwriting behind the scenes. Sam Elliott, whose speaking voice is so legendary I want him to narrate my life, plays Maine’s brother with a compassionate ferocity. Although he doesn’t have much screen time, Dave Chapelle plays an old friend and is an extremely important part of Maine’s story. Additionally, the drag queen crew and Ally’s dad’s luxury car service crew are two very dynamic groups of people who are indisputably funny and greatly contribute to the plot. Although they are mostly on the outskirts of the plot, each of them absolutely elevate this movie.

A few more notes:  

  • The original songs and storyline are integrated to perfection. Throughout the movie, I believed those songs were being written as I watched.
  • Cooper is one of my favorites and the genuine love and loss in his eyes is unprecedented.
  • The dialogue is as good as the music – in fact, the conversations are so real and the reasons behind the ways these characters think and act are so expertly fleshed out that the audience digs deep with them.
  • There is so much under the radar humor that adds to the artistry of what I’m going as far as to say is a modern-day masterpiece.
  • Sincerity is everything in this movie and I love that it is shot beautifully, thoughtfully, and from the eye of a musician. Also, Charlie the pup is the cutest and belongs to Cooper in real life.
  • My one criticism is the shift Ally goes through when she transforms from soulful singer/songwriter to pop star. It’s so much like Germanotta’s own story and the main reason I wasn’t a fan for so many years. In fact, I wanted nothing to do with her or her Pokerface until I saw her play piano and belt the “Your Song/Speechless” medley with Elton John at the 2010 Grammys.
  • A Star Is Born marks the first time in a long time that a soundtrack with all original music is something to celebrate. In fact, the last soundtrack I bought might have been Crazy Heart.

There is no question that this movie is going to resonate with a wide variety of people – music fans, people who believe in great love, and people who want to see what true bravery looks like. Relatable conversations between flawed people is ultimately what the movie-going experience is all about and Cooper and Germanotta make that happen for the entire two hours and fifteen minutes. While A Star Is Born is by no means a story of redemption, it is one of truth, tragedy, heartbreak, love, and the magic of music.

Laura

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Blog Archive

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010

Footer

Laura Lieff was named Colorado Mountain College’s 2017-2018 Part Time Staff Member of the Year for her work as a writing tutor and teaching assistant.
Laura Lieff was named Colorado Mountain College’s 2017-2018 Part Time Staff Member of the Year for her work as a writing tutor and teaching assistant.

Work With Me

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
lieff-ink-logo_updated-2
  • About
  • Services
  • Words
  • Blog
  • Client List
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · PO Box 1228 Edwards CO 81632 · info@lauralieff.com