To be honest, this swooningly entertaining version of the Hollywood classic (the third to date) should be titled A Star is Dying; while it’s Lady Gaga’s Ally that’s the focus of the title, the film itself – co-written, directed and starring Bradley Cooper – keeps its eye firmly on Cooper’s country rock legend Jackson Maine.
This works to its advantage in the first (much better) half: he’s out looking for booze (not a good sign) after yet another stadium show when he ends up in the drag bar where Ally is performing (she’s the only non-drag act and the only one singing live). They spend the night together hanging out, talking music and – in her case – punching out a cop, and it’s a wonderfully romantic start to their lives together. Soon he’s asking her up on stage with him and she’s totally won over; can a happy ever after be far off?
Well, he’s a drunk who’s losing his hearing, she’s moving on up and has a shady UK manager steering her towards “superficial” pop, and there’s going to be more than one sad song sung before this is done. Cooper is gruff but vulnerable and his story has heart, but Gaga’s the real star here on stage and off: Ally’s coming-of-musical-age lights up the screen in ways he can’t touch.
(A Star is Born is out now on DVD and Blu-Ray through Roadshow)
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