Jeri Jacquin
In theatres this Friday from director Bradley Cooper and
Warner Bros. is two people filled with the need for music when A STAR IS BORN.
Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) is a musician-singer who can
fill a concert arena singing his songs. On stage or off he also has a problem
with staying away from alcohol. Even with Bobby (Sam Elliott) keeping an eye on
him and cleaning up the messes, Jack is one hot mess.
After a concert, Jack doesn’t have his liquid courage in the
car and asks his driver to pull over to the local bar. Recognizing him at the
door is Ramon (Anthony Ramos) who insists on bringing him to the bar and buying
Jack a drink. That’s when he realizes that he is in a drag bar and watches the
show.
Ramon insists that Jack prepare himself to see his friend
Ally (Lady Gaga) perform and almost immediately he is taken in. Going backstage
to meet her, they go out for a drink after to discuss her want of music. Seeing
she is a straight shooter makes Jack go even weaker in the knees and he wants
her to come to a concert the next night.
After kissing their jobs goodbye, Ally and Ramon make it to
the concert and Jack decides to get her onstage for a song. The next day on
YouTube, dad Lorenzo (Andrew Dice Clay) can not believe what he is seeing.
Excited beyond belief Ally begins a relationship with Jack that puts them on
the stage together over and over again.
Ally is noticed by manager Rez (Rafi Gavron) who wants to
blow her up everywhere. Believing in her talent is one thing and changing her
is another and although she sees what is happening, Ally also knows she has to
go to get. Jack begins to feel as if he is losing her in some way and responds
accordingly.
His path of self destruction begins to have an effect on
their relationship. In one instant Ally sees how destructive Jack’s life has
become because of the past, his ability to have relationships and where they
are both going musically. Yet she will not give up or give in when it comes to
the man who brought her love and music.
Love has amazing powers as long as you believe.
Cooper as Jack is pretty much front and center of the film
and although that may be fine, the character is not new. The only thing
‘different’ in this story is a brother and an alcoholic father but it is
muddled which just drove me crazy. There was nothing unexpected here which
again supports my theory that remakes need to have a 75 year stamp on them.
What might surprise viewers is that he sings the heartfelt songs with ease and
together with Gaga they are sweet performances.
Elliott as Bobby has a few scenes and makes the most of
them. The problem is that the scenes seem so disjointed and I suppose that
could be because their storyline has such an age gap. I love Sam Elliott so I’m
happy to see him in anything but if you are going to use this iconic actor in a
role, do it well and do it memorably.
Clay as Dad Lorenzo is a proud papa and I’ll admit I didn’t
know for at least five minutes that it was him. There are appearances by Dave
Chappelle and Eddie Griffin but I’m not sure how that storyline fit into it
all, again disjointed. It was good to see both of them so there’s that.
Other cast include Bonnie Somerville as Sally Cummings,
Michael Harney as Wolfe, Willam Belli as Emerald, Rebecca Field as Gail, Eddie
Griffin as Pastor and Dave Chappelle as Noodles.
Okay, here’s the rough part. I am an avid and devoted fan to
the 1937 Janet Gaynor/Frederick March A STAR IS BORN. There is something
amazing about that era so that the ’37 version is stunning, emotional and
heartbreaking for me. The first time I saw it I knew I had to see it again and
again (which I have). Gaynor and March cemented my love of black and white
films.
In 1954, Judy Garland and James Mason brought their colorful
film to the screen and man, oh man, did the voice of Judy Garland dig deeper
into my heart. There is no one like her and there will never be again so to
watch her in this version of A STAR IS BORN reminds me of how wonderful both of
these actors were. I saw both of these films on television as a kid.
In 1976, Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson brought A
STAR IS BORN to the big screen and I can not stress enough how blow away I was
at 16 years old. The presence of Streisand and Kristofferson could have been
enough but when they both sang their respective songs I absolutely couldn’t
breathe. When they sang together I had a tear and a smile on my face. Yes, I
remember every emotion the first time I saw the film because I spent several
weekends after at the matinee to experience it all again and again. That is
what this version of the film did for me and it is a memory as clear as if it
were yesterday.
So, here we are in 2018 and although the music is amazing
and the two performers put it down emotionally, there is nothing in the story
that is going to keep me going back again. I don’t want that to sound as if I’m
saying the film isn’t good, it’s alright to my way of thinking but because I
hold the other films so dear – there just isn’t room for another version. It
just didn’t need to be re-told, re-imagined, re-thunk or any other re…the
studio should have just released the original in theatres like they are doing
with SUPERMAN.
I know, I know, I’m going to get chided for my opinion but
we all know it’s the truth. Understand there is so many original scripts out
there waiting to be discovered and made into films that I just do not
understand why Cooper thought this was in any way necessary. Why Hollywood , why?
Okay, I’m done. I know there are many people who are excited
about the film so go and be excited. Cooper and Gaga can sing so enjoy that and
pick up the soundtrack which I think has the potential to be so successful
(just please don’t do a sequel Gaga!)
In the end – the music brought them love!
