2018’s ‘A Star Is Born’ Won My Heart

Poster of ‘A Star is Born’, taken by William Beavers. Copyright 2018, Warner Bros. Pictures.

From The Hangover to Avengers: Infinity War, the majority of Bradley Cooper's performances I’ve seen have been humorous. But his directorial debut proved he knows how to sing and direct while demonstrating the hardships of a musician's personal life. A Star Is Born is a starstruck drama with an impassioned chemistry between Cooper and Grammy Award-winning Lady Gaga. The duo were as dynamic in romance and music as Johnny and June Carter Cash in Walk the Line.

Another remake of the 1937 classic, alcoholic and crowd-pleasing country singer Jackson Maine (Cooper) and gifted yet underappreciated Ally (Gaga) form a romantic bond as the two begin touring across the United States. The hindrances between them are Maine's addictions and Ally's singing drawing the attention of major record companies. Despite this, the two stay together and prove how special they truly are, not to the corrupt businesses or cheering audiences, but each other.

The make-up and costume designing for Gaga's character made her as glamorous in the film as she displays in her regular EDM career. Cooper used the right kind of dramatic elements in his direction. Some of those elements include learning not to let fear prevent your ambitions from happening or escaping the demons of your troubled childhood upbringings. The quintessential parts of A Star Is Born were the allurement between Cooper and Gaga's characters and the soundtrack.  Gaga's voice sounded like a soprano in contrast to her usual contralto. While I cannot decide what voice Cooper was using, he sang marvelously in his part. He also proved to be aggressive with the guitar on stage.  My favorite songs from A Star Is Born's soundtrack are "Black Eyes" and "Shallow". 

Ultimately, Bradley Cooper's direction and co-starring with Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born won my heart. While portraying a stereotypical troubled rocker, his presentation of a thriving attraction with Gaga made it all the better to watch. Also starring are hilarious Dave Chappelle and the legendary Western typecast Sam Elliott. This film has the prospect to win a Grammy, Golden Globe, or maybe another Academy Award nomination for Cooper. If you wish to see Bradley Cooper reach a new level in the romantic drama genre, and watch Lady Gaga act as phenomenal on the big screen as she does in "Poker Face", then A Star Is Born is the film to see. It may leave a song stuck in your mind or move you to tears, but it will be worth it.