A Star Is Born

Surprisingly mature filmmaking. Bradley Cooper manages to sell both the big concert scenes and the small intimate ones where two people talk with complete ease. He gives quite possibly the best performance of his career, and Lady Gaga definitely deserves all the awards she picks up. Even the songs can move or tear you up and it's awfully good to watch. The only major complaint might be a certain predictability and schematicism, but on the other hand, in this case it would be unfair to the film to criticize it. This is exactly what it promised and delivered and in a highly superior performance. A film that is honest, functional and superbly shot and acted, and moving. (10/04/2018)

I was skeptical about this film, but it ended up being enjoyable, touching, and Bradley Cooper deserves much admiration for his acting, directing, writing and singing. Lady Gaga has already shown in American Horror Story that she can act too and here she just strongly confirms it and I hope she gets a well-deserved Oscar. The highlight for me was Ally's first appearance on stage, she literally brings the whole stadium down with her voice. I also praise the well-chosen songs. A solid film for the genre, but I'm not the target audience. 75%. (12/30/2018)

The beginning is awesome, the kind of hit parade that Bradley Cooper "the rockstar" sets off in front of packed stands is a cinematic opening that's unmatched by the best ever in filmmaking. It's lively, personal, authentic and with incredible energy. Actually, the whole first half of the film could be characterised in a similar way, because even in the intimate passages it doesn't lose its sparkle and fantastic atmosphere, let alone the performances of the leading duo. A film with a heavy dose of music, which paradoxically often goes sensationally acapella, because when the two main characters interact you feel that you only perceive their voices and otherwise there is silence, nothing else around. That’s to be expected with Cooper, because he's talented, and when a director tells him he'll have to learn a booming rock baritone, he will. But Lady Gaga, a non-actress, delivers a first-rate acting and emotional performance, if she does get the Oscar, nobody will be surprised. Unfortunately, the bar set by the first half does not last into the second half. The final transformation doesn't have enough pull and it's just too much to take in. Rather, it seems to me that Cooper and Libatique are subtly chasing awards with it, but it has a rather digressive effect on the viewer. It's still damn good filmmaking, though, spontaneous, full of energy and fantastic songs and performances, but it's a bit short of a full score. (11/04/2018)

The melodrama, which works as long as the two of them are searching for the way to each other, are inseparable, partying backstage and sing duets. However, as soon as Ally leaves the civilian image and embarks on a horrible pop-solo career (although this is an intention, but the fact that it is hardly watchable does not change anything), it stops working, because suddenly as if Cooper did not know whether to focus more on Jack or Ally. As a result, he doesn't pay much attention to either one. Many touched topics (Jack's brother, Ally's victims, etc.) lead nowhere; which is the most striking in the case of the motif of gradual deafness. It was supposed to be the centerpiece and not a topic that you don't even know if she even knew / think of. The other half is fragmented and without pace, when you know exactly what it is aiming for, but it stretches through too many unnecessary scenes that are completely the same. And so even the final emotional overflowing song tribute will not shake disappointing impressions. (01/20/2019)

The story may be all cliche, but if it captivates me so much, should I mind? Why would I? A Star Is Born is a great film with great performances (excellent actor Bradley Cooper sings excellently and excellent singer Lady Gaga acts excellently), shot with a familiar sure hand (perhaps producer Clint Eastwood gave a bit of advice?) and with a great soundtrack composed from original songs, each of which could be a hit. I'm just happy enough to give it five stars. (11/30/2018)