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A Star is Born — Redux:
4th Time Isn’t the Charm
by Sandra Olmsted
While an improvement on the 1976 version, which it follows too closely, this version of A Star is Born is musically much better. Bradley Cooper, who also directs, as the established, drunken rock star Jackson and Lady Gaga as the talented, upcoming artist channel Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand too closely, although Bradley and Lady Gaga sing much better. The script offers no real surprises except for Lady Gaga’s first full song, which a delightful throwback to Judy Garland’s era and the 1954 version. Too often the script seems to be an amalgam of the best moments from all the earlier versions; however, those unfamiliar with the earlier versions will think this film reeks of originality.
As with even the earliest version of A Star is Born starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, the story begins with an established male star, who is self-destructing, meeting a talented young woman, who needs a break to get her much-deserved career started. Fortunately and predictably, Jackson (Bradley Cooper) falls in love with Ally (Lady Gaga) and her talent and whisks her away to fame and fortune.
If anything, it happens too easily and too quickly, so that the rest of the film is about them either performing or about Ally’s unconditional love for Jackson, despite his flawed character. As Ally’s career skyrockets, Jackson’s stardom crumbles. Even those who haven’t seen the earlier version know how this ends, and the only possibilities to anticipate are the nuances of plot and tone that director Cooper each will use.
Several complicating characters add some interest because of their stellar performances. Sam Elliott as Bobby, Jackson’s brother and manager, have contentious moments over Jackson’s behavior, Bobby’s self-sacrifice, and their troubled childhood. Andrew Dice Clay as Ally’s limo-driver father who deferred dreams of Sinatra-esque stardom and Anthony Ramos as Ally’s best friend Ramon push Ally to embrace her inter-star. Rafi Gavron as Rez, Ally’s tough manager, wants only the best for his new star and tells Jackson the truth he didn’t need to hear.
Even though Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga model much of their performances on the 1976 version, William Wellman, the director of the 1937 version, and Robert Carson, its screenwriter, get original story credits on the 2018 version. Pulling in the best scenes from the 1937 and 1954 versions makes for a mishmash of dramatic moments which are not always well connected. The mostly rock and pops music track has little variety despite the early scene promising jazz and lounge songs.
Although entertaining enough, the film is too long and many scenes should have been trimmed down. A Star is Born (2018) is only entertaining as an escape at the movies, but it is not memorable. A Star is Born, a Warner Bros. release, is in theaters as of Oct. 5 and is rated R for language throughout, some sexuality/nudity and substance abuse. Much as the 1976 version was too long, this new version is an egregious 135 minutes.
