The other night I was home alone, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to watch a film that wouldn’t be up my husband’s street. We are currently between streaming subscriptions (aren’t there just too many now?), so I trawled BBC iPlayer to see what I could find, and came across A Star Is Born.
In 2018 (those heady, pre-Covid times), when this romantic film starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper was released, I worked in an open-plan office which was perpetually accompanied by the radio station Heart. Heart was obsessed with the soundtrack to this film, and didn’t set great store by variety, so I must have heard “Shallow” several times a day for weeks on end. Familiarity bred boredom (not quite contempt!), so I’m glad I waited a few years before experiencing this film with fresh ears.
The film is the fourth cinematic telling of the story of an aspiring singer boosted to stardom by a famous musician. The dynamic of their relationship changes as she develops as an artist and goes from strength to strength, while he battles against hearing loss and alcoholism.
The most important thing to convey about this film is that the musicianship is sublime. The passion and energy of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s performances (which were genuinely live) is incredible – they are both extraordinarily talented. I had assumed that Bradley Cooper took up this film in order to exhibit his skills as a vocalist and guitarist, but I was interested to read afterwards that in fact lots of actors/musicians were considered for the role before he agreed to star as well as direct. I also discovered that both Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga wrote songs during filming, and found their sound evolving with the story. I can only admire their creative commitment and mastery.
In spite of this, I have to say that I didn’t enjoy the film. I can see that the plot was satisfyingly balanced, with her rise and his decline, and I think well concluded. I just hadn’t expected it to be quite so… bleak. I seem to make this criticism of many of the books/films I consume – so perhaps I just have a rather delicate emotional constitution! I found myself talking to the cat, diverting my attention from the raw pain playing out before me (clearly the acting skills were to be commended).
I think I understood what the film was about. I think it was about the difficult interplay of love and addiction, complicated further by the highs and lows of fame. But the quintessential fame element, a concept naturally so familiar to Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, made it hard for me to truly understand and empathise with these characters. I cannot comprehend what it is like to be exalted or humiliated in front of thousands of people. Maybe A Star Is Born gave me a glimpse of it, but I don’t know what to do with that limited insight.
I came to this film knowing how adored it had been, greeted by awards and popular acclaim. I left it somewhat baffled as to why everyone had been so bowled over by a dispiriting tale of the rich and famous. I think I’ve answered my own question, and will reiterate: the musicianship was superb. I’m not knocking that. I just think it could have been applied to a more enlightening story.
Cryptic Meg 