A Star is Born

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga fall in love in Hollywood’s newest sensation

by Josefine Cook

Here comes the fourth version of a Hollywood classic – fortunately it beats the 1976 outing with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. Bradley Cooper makes his directorial debut, giving us a melodramatic love story of two stars, one born and one falling.

Jackson Maine, a drunk Country rock star is played by a slightly weathered Bradley Cooper. When he finds himself in a drag bar after his show, Ally – a very non-Gaga Lady Gaga – performs a spine-shivering version of La Vie En Rose. He falls for her breath-taking talent and natural beauty, and after a night spent sharing insecurities and lyrics outside a supermarket, he puts her in the spotlight of his show, where they perform a duet of her original song Shallow. The performance launches her into pop-stardom, leaving him to crumble as alcoholism takes its toll.

It is refreshing to see Gaga without her iconic eccentric costumes and makeup. The six-time Grammy winner gives an outstanding performance of the girl-next-door, proving that she can pull more than a Poker Face. Similarly, Cooper manages to portray the role of a worn-down cowboy rock star effortlessly, preventing us from remembering the rom-com boyfriend he played in Wedding Crashers. Their chemistry is instant and definitely far from the shallow.

The Country twang in Cooper’s voice brings the viewer in and up on the stages of sold-out gigs. All the songs were recorded live during filming, capturing that authentic, rustic sound. And when Cooper’s face isn’t on show, what adds to the cinematic experience are Ally’s impressive Western outfits. Not to mention the Californian desert, sunsets and Sam Elliot’s (Jackson’s brother and manager Bobby) deep, cowboy voice.

A brilliant lead couple, fabulous music and undeniable talent – A Star Is Born is sensational.

A Star Is Born comes out on the 3rd of October.

*This review was written in October 2019 and data hasn’t been updated since the time of publication.

The target publication of this articles was The Daily Mail online.