A Star Is Born: Lady Gaga Takes the Stage

It has been a while since a movie has made me cry but A Star Is Born stirred up all manner of repressed emotions in me. A timeless story about love, fame, and tragedy, I had zero desire to watch this movie when I first saw the trailer. Who wants to see another remake, especially about such a depressing story, starring Lady Gaga of all people? But after reading the glowing reviews, my interest was sufficiently piqued that I found myself in the theater on opening night. And damn. I was floored.

To summarize the plot in broad strokes, Jackson Mayne (Bradley Cooper) is an alcoholic but very famous country singer who discovers Ally (Lady Gaga) singing in a drag bar and is instantly captivated by her voice. Enamored, he drags her on stage during a concert, where she sings a duet with him and finds instant fame. As her career is on the ascendant, Jackson's career takes a nosedive and he becomes more reliant on booze and pills. It's a classic romantic tragedy, and while none of what I've described sounds like it would be worth it, the following are all the reasons you need to buy a ticket ASAP.

The acting. I've always been a fan of Bradley Cooper, but in this movie, Lady Gaga is definitely the star (which I was delighted to see acknowledged by her top billing in the end credits). When she needs to sing in this film, she doesn't just belt out a number with her brilliant voice. She conveys all of the character's trepidation and nervousness, and then joy and elation when the audience cheers for her. And the chemistry between her and Cooper is eye-wateringly good. The way they trade banter, the little touches, how they lean in to each other. This movie contains the most eloquent love story I've seen captured on film in a long time. Watching Jackson and Ally fall in love and then spiral out of control as fame and addiction complicate matters is a gut punch and I'm still reeling after watching the film.

The music. Obviously Lady Gaga can sing. But turns out so can Bradley Cooper. And together, they complement each other wondrously, with each duet on stage conveying as much love and passion as all of their scenes off stage. If it wasn't enough to co-write, star, and direct the movie, Cooper wrote his songs as well, and the emotion he packs into every note is something to behold.

The characters. While the story might sound a bit pat, the backstory of these characters slowly unfolds over the course of the movie and you get so much insight into their histories and insecurities that you cannot help but root for them throughout the movie. Jackson is immensely flawed and difficult, but watching his interactions with his brother (Sam Neill) and how the two of them have coped with family trauma in vastly different ways is illuminating as the film hurtles to its conclusion. Watching Ally deal with her father and his friends tells you all you need to know about this kind but shy and careful woman. And for any Alias fans, there are some roles played by actors you will recognize, which further reinforces my opinion that Cooper must be the nicest guy in Hollywood if he's casting people he worked with on a TV show a decade ago.

This movie is gorgeous. A lot of it feels like a music documentary, with the lyrics and score telling you everything you need to know about the characters and the unfolding drama. It is so natural and unforced - the relationships feel real and you can personally empathize with these characters and what they must be going through. No one is a monster, but they are all battling demons. Watching A Star Is Born is guaranteed to stir up your insides and make your heart feel full to bursting. Even after writing this review, I haven't quite managed to convey the emotions coursing through me, so all I can say is watch it. And then maybe you will understand.