Fall Movie Reviews: A Star is Born

Okay, it's that time of year when the "Oscar bait" (as my daughter calls it) is rolled out by the studios and "grown up" movies are coming out.  So, since it seems I will probably be going to the movies regularly in the next few weeks (I've been twice in the last week), I thought I'd put some of my views of the movies down on blog (and share via Twitter -- and fwd to THE Dbrolaw, to annoy him :)). 

First up is the Bradley Cooper joint A Star is Born.

I have to start with this admission: I was not thrilled to go see this.  I know the story.  I'm not in love with Bradley Cooper (ICYMI :)) & even the previews looked...okay, let's say "hokie." 

It's a hokie kind of story.  Bring kleenexes. 

Let's make sure we all know that this is the fourth remake of this story: in the 30s with Janet Gaynor, in the 50s with Julie Garland (there are several allusions to her and that movie in this one), and in the 70s with Barbara Streisand.  And Kris Kristofferson, who played, not too far out of type, the alcohol-soaked, nearly over-the-hill male lead.

So, this is old news.

I was pleasantly surprised by both Cooper and Lady Gaga's performances.  Cooper is quite good as Jack; he's weather-beaten, vaguely sweaty and dirty, like the not-neat drunk he is in the movie, and he does a good job of getting us into his pain in the movie. 

I'm not sure Gaga can act.  I'm just saying.  But the best parts of the movie, period, are when she's on stage singing, from her opening reveal in the drag bar to her scenes using her big voice in the fake concert scenes.   She's enthralling then.  A lot less so when she's trying to be...whatever she's trying to be with Jack.

The movie seems long.  At 2 hours, 16 minutes, it's not a short comedy.  I looked at my watch repeatedly.   This is probably because I know the story: it's not going to end well.  They meet, he likes her, he gets her career going, she becomes a star (thus the title), he doesn't know how to handle her fame and his deterioration, and...I'll leave it this way on this version: shit happens.

And I'll say this: the songs aren't good.  Gaga can perform the hell out of them, but if I listened to the lyrics I was like "that's the dumbest metaphor I've heard in a long time."

So, should you go see it?  If you have one movie to see this weekend, no.  Unless you HAVE to see Gaga and/or Brad.  But if you are a regular movie goer, yes. 

As to the Oscar bait question: yes, Gaga and Cooper deserve nominations. 

One down.  More to come.