A Star is Born

A romantic flick for the ladies, A Star Is Born is directed and acted with heart, but lacks a single motif, relationship or storyline that we haven’t seen hundreds of times elsewhere and that would make it stand out. Only Cooper’s acting performance is excellent. And Gaga is very solid for a non-actress. (04.10.2018)

I have probably seen too many of these music dramas already, since I cannot give this movie five stars. However, I completely understand why the overall score is so high. It has quite a few surprises up its sleeve. Only, the whole time I was waiting for the finale and it didn’t manage to shock me as much as I’d wished. The first surprise was Bradley Cooper. Who would have thought that a comedy actor who became famous with the Hangover trilogy will eventually star in such a romantic epic and in addition will show everyone that he can sing and write pretty solid Southern rock? Well, another surprise was, of course, Lady Gaga. I accept her music, I respect her as a pop star, and I acknowledge that her pop music is original. Acting-wise, she wiped the floor with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, who were recently laughing at her at the Golden Globe awards. Hats off. A regular girl, who worked as a waitress, turned into a world-class star. Some of the movie scenes are literally legendary. It’s a shame, then, that the finale wasn’t as epic. Other than that, I must add that if you like music and follow the behind the scenes, you’ll be able to find a whole array of seemingly inconspicuous moments, which will however say a lot about the given scene. That’s what I really liked about it. After viewing I debated, pondered, and debated once again. Bradley and Lady Gaga blowed that cinematic universe into such dimmensions as if they were real music stars. Beautiful. (26.10.2018)

Surprisingly mature filmmaking. Bradley Cooper manages to sell both the big concert scenes and the small intimate ones where two people talk with complete ease. He gives quite possibly the best performance of his career, and Lady Gaga definitely deserves all the awards she picks up. Even the songs can move or tear you up and it's awfully good to watch. The only major complaint might be a certain predictability and schematicism, but on the other hand, in this case it would be unfair to the film to criticize it. This is exactly what it promised and delivered and in a highly superior performance. A film that is honest, functional and superbly shot and acted, and moving. (04.10.2018)

The melodrama, which works as long as the two of them are searching for the way to each other, are inseparable, partying backstage and sing duets. However, as soon as Ally leaves the civilian image and embarks on a horrible pop-solo career (although this is an intention, but the fact that it is hardly watchable does not change anything), it stops working, because suddenly as if Cooper did not know whether to focus more on Jack or Ally. As a result, he doesn't pay much attention to either one. Many touched topics (Jack's brother, Ally's victims, etc.) lead nowhere; which is the most striking in the case of the motif of gradual deafness. It was supposed to be the centerpiece and not a topic that you don't even know if she even knew / think of. The other half is fragmented and without pace, when you know exactly what it is aiming for, but it stretches through too many unnecessary scenes that are completely the same. And so even the final emotional overflowing song tribute will not shake disappointing impressions. (21.01.2019)

I was skeptical about this film, but it ended up being enjoyable, touching, and Bradley Cooper deserves much admiration for his acting, directing, writing and singing. Lady Gaga has already shown in American Horror Story that she can act too and here she just strongly confirms it and I hope she gets a well-deserved Oscar. The highlight for me was Ally's first appearance on stage, she literally brings the whole stadium down with her voice. I also praise the well-chosen songs. A solid film for the genre, but I'm not the target audience. 75%. (30.12.2018)

Full force in all directions. Jack and Ally manage to be grandiose, majestic, melodramatic, and in love. And that's why I'm so glad that Bradley Cooper, despite his maximum scale, can afford such swagger in the director's chair that he stops at all the key plot points. He knows that everyone is waiting for intersections where they have a few seconds to think, and deep down, he knows that this burning moment will decide the direction the rest of his life will take. That's why even the audience, along with the main duo, gladly pauses at such crossroads a little longer, to let every choice resonate, to let every correct decision spread warmth throughout the body, and every wrong one cut decently deep. Both participants give outstanding tour-de-force performances and provide a well-deserved ride for the film, which will first demolish box offices and then the various awards ceremonies before quickly becoming a golden classic. We're far from the shallow now. (09.10.2018)

I can't get it out of my head, I just can't. Lady Gaga's smile and movements and Bradley's lovestruck and drunken look. That moment when they stand on stage together or sit at the piano and let the music and love completely take over. The way they sing and harmonize together, and it has incredible power. if I can manage it, I don't cry when I’m in a movie theater. Here I couldn't manage it. Biggest surprise of the year so far. (22.10.2018)

A weak effort. It is much praised, but it is absolutely about nothing. The previous versions always copied the same situations, only the musical taste changed gradually. We can expect a film similar to this again in a few years. (01.02.2020)

The beginning is awesome, the kind of hit parade that Bradley Cooper "the rockstar" sets off in front of packed stands is a cinematic opening that's unmatched by the best ever in filmmaking. It's lively, personal, authentic and with incredible energy. Actually, the whole first half of the film could be characterised in a similar way, because even in the intimate passages it doesn't lose its sparkle and fantastic atmosphere, let alone the performances of the leading duo. A film with a heavy dose of music, which paradoxically often goes sensationally acapella, because when the two main characters interact you feel that you only perceive their voices and otherwise there is silence, nothing else around. That’s to be expected with Cooper, because he's talented, and when a director tells him he'll have to learn a booming rock baritone, he will. But Lady Gaga, a non-actress, delivers a first-rate acting and emotional performance, if she does get the Oscar, nobody will be surprised. Unfortunately, the bar set by the first half does not last into the second half. The final transformation doesn't have enough pull and it's just too much to take in. Rather, it seems to me that Cooper and Libatique are subtly chasing awards with it, but it has a rather digressive effect on the viewer. It's still damn good filmmaking, though, spontaneous, full of energy and fantastic songs and performances, but it's a bit short of a full score. (04.11.2018)

The story may be all cliche, but if it captivates me so much, should I mind? Why would I? A Star Is Born is a great film with great performances (excellent actor Bradley Cooper sings excellently and excellent singer Lady Gaga acts excellently), shot with a familiar sure hand (perhaps producer Clint Eastwood gave a bit of advice?) and with a great soundtrack composed from original songs, each of which could be a hit. I'm just happy enough to give it five stars. (30.11.2018)

I knew I was getting into rather unfriendly waters as a viewer, but the mostly enthusiastic responses and the Oscar buzz were too strong – if only I could have resisted. A nicely made and very well acted cloying flick with great story potential, but somehow drowning in booze like Bradley’s character. The beginning and the introduction of the characters are good, the first joint stage scene is heart-warming thanks to the beautiful songs, but the rest goes on a motivationally shaky narrative mode that taps on a lot of themes, but none to the extent they would deserve. It seems as if nobody had time to ponder what this story should be about: the rise of an “ugly duckling” into the music industry elite, or the complicated relationship of two talented people with a focus on the alcoholism and the health problems of one of them; in the end, the script aims somewhere between both and never delivers the longed-for catharsis. It’s a pity, because the music and the distinctive characters alone deserved a better movie. (21.01.2019)

A film about two stars – one freshly ignited and the other slowly fading away. That being said, A Star is Born offers nothing new in terms of story, but it is still a believable and heartfelt film that offers a number of strong songs and compelling performances. Bradley Cooper as a tough and life-worn "cowboy" with inner demons made a great counterpoint to the seemingly fragile, insecure and inexperienced Lady Gaga and you can really feel the chemistry between them. Sam Elliott as a kind of moral compass was also convincing. At some point you begin to suspect how the whole thing will conclude, but I was still tense until the end. Personally, the sequence in the sanitarium got me the most. In the end, weaker, but still four stars! (26.04.2020)

Lady Gaga on erinomainen laulaja ja Cooper myöskin yllättävän hyvä. Kaikki kunnia Cooperille kaikesta hänen tälle elokuvalle antamastaan. Päivänselvä renesanssinero. Valitettavasti elokuva käy hieman tylsäksi Lady Gagan laskeuduttua ensimmäistä kertaa lavalta… (01.11.2018)

It was a great experience just to see Lady Gaga in civilian status alone, without all the outlandish costumes and tons of makeup. Indeed, the strength of this film is in the presentation of her character as a perfectly ordinary "woman of the people" who has talent and finds herself in the right place at the right time. Bradley Cooper's character is, of course, a walking advertisement for clichés (a boozed-up artist with a tortured soul who finds inspiration in a young tadpole, along with the healing of the wounds in his soul), but thanks to his endearing performance and a very strong finish, this version of A Star is Born paradoxically breaks free of the clichés. A huge part of this is the wonderful music (the Oscar for "Shallow" is well deserved), which here makes up a good fifty percent of the overall experience. (13.03.2019)

A Start Is Born, although by that it means the character of Ally, for me personally two stars were born. Lady Gaga as an actress and Bradley Cooper as a singer. Specially him, who would have thought this guy can sing so bloody well? In my eyes, the surprise of the year. Although the film didn't surprise me much with the script, it completely won me over with the execution. I never thought Lady Gaga and Bradley would be such a great match, the chemistry between them is palpable. Lady Gaga as Ally is amazingly natural and so approachable that you will relate to her right away, and the same goes for the character of Jack. They are just both so endearing that you take an instant liking to them. I have to praise the music too, because it played exactly to my tune, a bit of rock, a bit of folk, and I was tapping my foot contentedly the whole time. Bradley's directorial debut couldn't have turned out better, so I hope he continues to complement his acting career with directing. A few days after the screening I still can't get the film out of my head and I had to wipe a lot of tears in the cinema, something no film has managed to do this year... (03.11.2018)

If I were to find a category for this movie, then "falling apart in your hands" would be a fitting one. But seriously, the beginning is excellent, the concert and small dramatic scenes work wonderfully, but then comes the turning point. A turning point not only in the story but mainly in terms of direction. It felt like Bradley Cooper had no idea which way to go next. Putting aside the development of the supporting characters, who were mostly irrelevant to the story, ever since the start of Ally's solo career, it isn’t clear where the protagonist couple's story is going, and there are more questions than answers. Towards the end, it really starts falling apart like a house of cards, and the musically romantic and dramatic flow of the movie turns into fading chaos (for example, did Ally know about her husband's going deaf? etc.). At the end of the day, however, I must admit that despite the bitter taste left by the ending, the positives slightly outweigh the negatives. Lady Gaga isn’t a brilliant actress and probably never will be, but she sure is an excellent singer/songwriter. (28.01.2019)