"A Star is Born" Review: Hollywood stars shine on the big screen

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper completely transform themselves to become the opposite versions of who they really are for the remake of a classic movie.

By Savannah Simmons, Opinion Editor

Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros.

"A Star is Born" is not only a captivating story but the way Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper play characters outside of their own selves is something that one would call amazing.

Ally, played by Lady Gaga, is a hometown girl with a voice that deserves more recognition while Jackson Maine is a hardcore rock n’ roller with a drinking and substance abuse problem. Watching the trailer or reading the title alone is a pretty big indicator of what is to follow, but as the story goes on, it becomes more than just a girl who is discovered and finds fame. The film dives deep into issues with drinking, dependency, and losing oneself in the form of a tragedy.

Gaga becomes a girl with a beautiful voice but, allegedly, not as beautiful face who has come to accept that she will never amount to more than an act at a drag bar. In real life, this is far from the truth. Gaga worked hard to become the larger-than-life icon she is today with her extravagant outfits and electric performances. Cooper, on the other had, is normally a soft spoken, charmingly handsome man who learned how to be a powerful singer bringing his voice down an entire octave for the role as Jackson Maine.

When Jackson finds Ally singing in a bar, it is love at first sight, and their story continues as he sees everything she has to offer and puts her on a platform to showcase that to the world. As Ally grows as a performer on her own, Jackson never shows jealousy to her career blowing up, but laments the loss of her deeper message as she becomes the popstar her agency wants her to become.

Watching these characters desperately love each other through the highs and lows that are Ally’s rapid-growing success and Jackson’s drinking habits, it is easy to empathize with the pain the characters feel as substance abuse and drinking are such major issues in today’s culture. It is hard not to think about how many people are their own versions of Ally, doing their best to be the cure and fix someone with love or their own Jackson, knowing there’s an issue at play but not being able to fight it.

Although Jackson’s drinking rapidly gets worse throughout the film,  the movie goes on as does his career. It is clear that Ally is not to blame, but the disease itself that cannot be fought.

Looking back after the film was over, foreshadowing that will give you the answers before the story is over are there but the spectacular acting and intense love you see throughout the film takes over and makes you miss or simply look them over.

This movie will leave you with a feeling. What that feeling is exactly is up to you and what you get out of the film but none the less the feeling will be deep and immense. The main song Ally and Jackson sing together will be stuck in our head but you won’t be upset about it and you might even want to cry.