The fourth remake of A Star is Born premiered on October 5th, 2018, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, produced by Cooper as well. Though this movie has been remade multiple times, this version is one that everyone needs to see. When I found out Lady Gaga was starring in a movie, I knew I was going to have to see it the weekend it released because she’s been one of my favorite singers ever since I can remember. A Star is Born was Lady Gaga’s debut as an actress and if I hadn’t known that before seeing the movie, it would have never crossed my mind. She has such a natural talent for acting that she didn’t even know about before Bradley Cooper reached out to her about starring in his movie. The chemistry that Cooper and Gaga had throughout the movie is so strong and their story takes us on a emotional rollercoaster.
Without revealing too much about what happens in the movie, Gaga plays a waitress named Ally who is discovered by Cooper’s character Jackson Maine, a famous country rock singer. While Jackson is struggling with his own battles with alcohol and drug use, he is able to turn Ally into a star, starting by taking her on tour with him where fans immediately fall in love with her and them as a couple. She was then later discovered by an agent and was able to create her own album and go on tour. Along with turning around Ally’s career, her and Jackson fall in love through their journey, though they face many obstacles along the way.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is the music and the soundtrack. The opening scene starts with Bradley Cooper singing a song entitled Black Eyes and my initial reaction was, wait, Bradley Cooper can sing? Before this movie Cooper had never tried singing before and he was able to discover his talent for it, like Gaga discovering her talent for acting. Gaga and Cooper sing several duets throughout the movie (one of my favorites being Shallow) that are filled with emotion, and you can tell how strongly their two characters feel for each other by the look in their eyes and their powerful voices. The very last song of the movie, I’ll Never Love Again gives me the chills every time I listen to it because of how amazing Gaga’s vocals are.
I feel like this movie can also connect with many people in our generation as well. There are several themes that surround the movie including self esteem, mental health, and drug abuse that are very prevalent in our society today. Though Ally struggled with her self image, she was able to recognize her worth, allowing her to become comfortable with performing and being able to pursue what she was meant to do. I think A Star is Born also sends an important message that you must be happy with yourself first before trying to please others, in order to make the most out of your life which is something that everyone must recognize.