[Review] A Star is Born: Two Stars are Born
After its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, A Star is Born was immediately hailed by foreign media as a frontrunner for next year's Oscars, with some even speculating it would win Best Picture. Is this film truly that good?
The English title of A Star is Born is "A Star is Born," which directly translates to the birth of a superstar, and that is also the film's title in Taiwan. In the film, this superstar is Ally, played by Lady Gaga. The film tells the story of how she transforms from an ordinary restaurant employee, an amateur singer who performs in bars in her spare time, into a superstar. In fact, this film is the fourth remake of the same story, with the first film dating back about eighty years. Therefore, in addition to being well-made, the film also had to prove that it wasn't just another remake but had its own significance. The result? The film was not only critically acclaimed but also gave birth to two superstars: Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. You might be thinking: Bradley Cooper is already a very successful actor in Hollywood, and Lady Gaga is an international pop star. How could this film cause them to be reborn? It's true that they are both already very successful actors and singers, but this film adds new identities to them: director Bradley Cooper and film actress Lady Gaga. Based on their performances in this film, they will achieve even greater career success in these new roles.
A Star is Born has a simple story, telling a love story on the one hand and a story about fame on the other. Compared to the plot development, the film focuses more on the character settings and development of the two leads. The opening scene is a concert by rock superstar Jackson, played by Bradley Cooper. The shaky camera films him from behind as he sings the powerful "Black Eyes," with thousands of fans standing below the stage. This doesn't look like a scene from a movie but like a real concert recording; Bradley Cooper doesn't look like an actor but like a rock superstar. After the concert, the film begins to delve into the character of Jackson. He returns to his car alone to drink, full of loneliness, and a piercing high-frequency sound rings in the background: he has severe tinnitus. Then, he goes to a bar to unwind and meets the female lead, Ally. Director Bradley Cooper skillfully uses camera movement, filming Ally's performance from Jackson's point of view, and coupled with his own superb eye acting, it's enough for the audience to understand that something magical has happened: love at first sight. The relationship between the two continues to develop rapidly, and the scene outside the convenience store further establishes their relationship and showcases Ally's talent. Jackson falls in love not only with Ally herself but also with her talent.
As Jackson invites Ally to attend his concert ("She came to hear my concert"), the film presents one of its most moving scenes, which made me cry non-stop. This scene opens with Jackson and his band playing "Out of Time," a song without lyrics that sounds like the opening music for a concert prelude, creating atmosphere and rhythm while showing Ally stepping out of the car and entering the venue, everything poised to erupt. After Jackson sings a song solo, he invites Ally on stage to sing the song she wrote outside the convenience store. He says he has finished the arrangement and will sing the first verse, hoping Ally can come on stage to sing the rest. As Jackson sings the first verse, the audience, like him, eagerly anticipates Ally's arrival on stage. Then, the magic of film and music happens. Ally steps onto the stage, and a superstar is born. Lady Gaga in this scene perfectly portrays Ally's transformation from timidity to being overwhelmed, unable to believe her own success. Coupled with her beautiful singing voice, it was truly moving to watch. Moreover, Jackson and Ally in the film never rehearsed this song together, so it's a product of their combined effort and their love. The climax of a typical film usually comes in the middle or later stages, but I feel that this scene is the climax of the film.
Even if the above scene wasn't the climax of the film, it was the peak of their relationship. After seeing the spark between the two in this performance, most viewers would expect a passionate scene to follow. However, Jackson quickly passes out drunk after returning to the hotel room. This scene introduces another theme of the film: alcoholism. This film tells not only the birth of a superstar but also the fall of another. The story of the film seems symmetrical, telling Ally's rise to fame through her singing on the one hand and Jackson's fall due to alcohol on the other. The turning point of this story is Ally's solo performance of "Always Remember Us This Way." After a series of sweet moments and montages, Ally sings this song at a concert, and the lyrics hint that their best times are coming to an end, and the plot will move in another direction. Seeing this scene, I also anticipated that the ending of the film would be very sad, but I couldn't imagine it would be so heartbreaking. Watching Ally sing the last song, savoring the poignant lyrics, I believe the audience, like Ally, has the same feeling. The sweetness of the first half of the film makes this ending all the more tragic, making one feel that all of this could have been avoided, that things didn't have to develop this way.
After watching the entire film, I feel that the script isn't particularly outstanding, but the most ingenious aspect of the film lies in its focus on the songs and the actors' performances. Perhaps the production team also knew that the most attractive and important aspect of A Star is Born is its music. The film's cinematography makes the dramatic scenes feel very natural, while the scenes with rock music are full of dynamism, and coupled with the powerful rhythm, it really makes you want to go to a live concert immediately. The songs in the film are the essence of the film. In addition to the few most prominent songs mentioned above, the other songs are also excellent. I believe many viewers, after watching the film, will want to repeatedly savor the music in the film. In fact, while writing this review, I was listening to the film's soundtrack. After finishing writing, it's time to watch the film again.
Of course, the outstanding performances of the two leads also contribute greatly to the film. Bradley Cooper plays a jaded superstar in the film, suffering from hearing loss and tormented by alcohol. From the sound of his voice when he speaks and sings, he deliberately lowers his vocal tone for this role. His demeanor, voice, and appearance truly present a completely different Bradley Cooper to the audience, even making me forget his real-life image. From the loving, expectant gaze at the beginning of the film to the heartbreaking ending of this character, Jackson truly evokes a range of emotions in the audience. On the other hand, Lady Gaga, already a Golden Globe winner, also delivers a nuanced performance in this film. As one of the most popular female singers today, Lady Gaga plays an ordinary person in the early part of the film, and her portrayal of different emotions while singing "Shallow" is truly captivating. Later, as Ally becomes more famous, she also becomes more confident and charming, but at the same time, her inner world becomes more complex. Lady Gaga's moving singing voice is already a major advantage, but her acting elevates the entire performance, giving me goosebumps and making my eyes well up almost every time she sings, especially in the final scene, which is incredibly powerful and heartbreaking.
Finally, it must be said that Bradley Cooper's directorial debut shows confident and mature skills in handling different scenes, completely unlike a director directing a feature film for the first time. It seems that he learned a lot of skills from his past collaborations with great directors such as Clint Eastwood and David O. Russell. Perhaps he is the most dazzling superstar in this film!