Venice Film Festival 2018: A Star Is Born review - Bradley Cooper’s got the X Factor with this stomping remake

David Sexton31 August 2018

Bradley Cooper's debut as director is the fourth version of this great showboat of a story, about a declining male star helping a young female one to rise, paying the ultimate price for it as their careers change places.

The first, from 1937, is little remembered; it’s the 1954 remake with Judy Garland that remains iconic. The 1976 re-tread with Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand didn’t change that.

Cooper perhaps was attracted to the story because the central relationship bears some resemblance to that in his best film with David O Russell, Silver Linings Playbook: two damaged people helping each other.

The first section is terrific. Veteran rock god Jackson Maine (Cooper) gives a barnstorming performance at a stadium concert, despite hearing problems and, it soon becomes clear, crazy drinking. On the way home, he tumbles into a friendly drag bar and is stunned by a performance of La Vie En Rose by the only woman allowed to sing there, kitchen worker Ally, as well he might be, since she is played by Lady Gaga, a genuinely gigantic star.

Every time Gaga (real name Stefani Germanotta) sings in this film — many tunes of her own composition — she completely kills it. In comparison, Cooper is no more than OK singing live. But then he’s playing a talent in decline, so the dynamic serves the film.

Star performers: Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga star in the movie

Where the casting works less well is when Gaga merely acts, especially in intimate scenes. She maintains her own presence and never quite slips into character. And once the story gets past her fairytale discovery, there’s quite a tough drama to bring to life.

Ally is picked up by a pop manipulator Rez, a typically shitty Brit (Rafi Gavron), making Jack jealous and even more alcoholic. At Ally’s great triumph, winning at the Grammys, he disastrously pisses himself — one of the worst wees ever.

They still love each other; he successfully graduates from rehab (despite his multiple addictions, Jack always looks ripped); but evil Rez catches him at a low point and tells him Ally would be better off without him …

Cooper has succeeded in giving this dinosaur of a film stomping new life. This is A Star Is Born re-made for the age of the talent contest. It was never going to be subtle.

The top picks at this years Venice Film Festival

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