A STAR IS BORN : Tuesday 15th January 2019.

After three months of being on general release and still showing at selected cinemas across Sydney, I finally saw 'A STAR IS BORN' earlier this week. This much hyped musical romantic drama film is Directed by first timer Bradley Cooper who also Co-Produced, Co-Wrote and stars alongside Lady Gaga in her big screen debut. This is the fourth version of the original 1937 film production of the same name and starred Janet Gaynor and Frederic March, with remakes coming in 1954 by Director George Cukor with Judy Garland and James Mason in the lead roles, and then again in 1976 Directed by Frank Pierson and starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. The 1976 version of the film made US$80M from its US$6M Production Budget and won one Oscar and was nominated for three others, collected five Golden Globe wins and two BAFTA nominations amongst others. This film Premiered at the Venice Film Festival in late August, went on general release in the US in early October, cost US$36M, and has received widespread Critical acclaim with particular praise for Cooper's and Gaga's performances and the chemistry between the pairing, the cinematography, the musical score and Cooper's Direction. Box Office receipts currently stand at US$406M, and to date the film has picked up 42 award wins and further 154 nominations including four Golden Globe nods and a win for Best Original Song with 'Shallow', as sung by Lady Gaga; and eight still outstanding BAFTA nominations; five AACTA International nominations; and four also outstanding SAG Award nods too.

Here seasoned and successful country music singer and songwriter Jackson 'Jack' Maine (Bradley Cooper) opens the show with a stirring live concert gig in front of a capacity crowd strumming his guitar and belting out a tune. He has the audience eating out of his hand. After the show, Jack is bundled into the back of a car and instantly takes a big swig from a bottle of whiskey. It is night-time and he orders his driver to find a bar somewhere, anywhere.

Jack randomly tells his driver to hang a right at an intersection, and stumbles across a bar, where the doorman instantly recognises him and permits him entry like he is royalty. As it turns out it's a drag bar, it's a Friday night, and selected drag queens are belting out tunes on the stage. Then on to the stage comes Ally (Lady Gaga), a waitress and the only 'real' female singer allowed to preform at this drag bar, because she has talent and has a following. She belts out 'La Vie en Rose' and Jack is amazed at this woman's talent.

Backstage, Jack introduces himself to a coy Ally, and then asks her if he can buy her a drink. After she has stripped off her make up and showered, she emerges. They drink, and then both get into the car where their driver takes them to an all nights store. The sit on the pavement outside until sun rises, sharing stories. Ally speaks of her frustration with being overlooked musically by the male dominated industry Exec's who tell her she has a great voice, but a face made for radio, and she'll never make in the industry with a nose the like of which she possesses.

The couple clearly share a chemistry and hit it off. The next morning the Driver drops Ally off at her home where she lives with her father, Lorenzo Campana (Andrew Dice Clay), who owns a fleet of hire cars and had been entertaining his Italian buddies the night before, so the kitchen looks like a train wreck. Before Jack bids Ally farewell, he invites her to his next gig, which she laughs off stating that she needs to work.

Later that day Jack's driver turns up at Ally's place saying that he is waiting to take her to the concert. She refuses. She goes into work and is berated by her boss for being late again. She quits on the spot, and goes outside to the waiting driver who has followed her to her place of work. She is whisked off to the airport where she boards a private jet that takes her to Jack's concert where she is given a pass to view the gig from the side of the stage.

Whilst on stage, and at the end of his set, Jack invites Ally to join him on stage and sing a song that she had partially sung for him the night before, and for which he has quickly written a musical arrangement. At first very reluctant, she soon enough teases herself on to the stage and sings. She's an instant success and is applauded by the audience. After this initial burst of success, they become romantically involved and Jack invites Ally to tour with him through his home State of Arizona.

Whilst in Arizona,  Jack takes Ally to visit the ranch where Jack grew up and where his father is buried, only to discover that Bobby (Sam Elliott), Jack's older brother and Manager, sold the land for oil exploration. Seething with anger over his betrayal, Jack punches Bobby, who instantly quits as his Manager, but not before Bobby tells Jack that in fact he did inform him about the sale, but that he was too drunk to take any notice.

While on tour and with Ally's popularity and success on the incline, she meet with Rez Gavron (Rafi Gavron) a Music Promoter. He tells her as she is coming off stage that the world is her oyster and he can give her anything she wants. She has all the ingredients to become a huge success. Jack is slightly put out by Ally's sudden rush of attention although outwardly appears supportive and encouraging. Rez however, tries to steer Ally in a different direction musically and with her image too - more towards main stream pop, rather than country style that she had been singing recently with Jackson.

Jack misses one of Ally's shows after he passes out drunk in public and comes around in the garden of his close friend and retired musician George 'Noodles' Stone (Dave Chapelle). He is invited in and crashes out in bed, only to be stirred by Ally later in the day. Over a meal, Jack proposes to Ally with a makeshift engagement ring made out of twisted guitar string. Noodles suggests that they should get married straight away on the spur of the moment, and so they marry later in the day in a Chapel owned by a good friend of Noodles and Jack.

Later Ally performs on 'Saturday Night Live' hosted by Alec Baldwin, at which Bobby is in attendance. The pair make good on their previous altercation, and Jack asks his older brother to return as his Manager, at which Bobby responds that he needs to see the year out with another artist he has since committed to, but the pair are on good terms once again. Shortly after it is announced by Rez, that Ally has been nominated for three Grammy Awards including Best New Artist. That same night, Jack berates Ally for her new image and the style of music she is now performing. Jack is drunk once again, and the pair argue. Sometime later, at the Grammy Awards ceremony, Jack rocks up to sit beside Ally during her proudest moment. He is once again visibly drunk. Ally is announced as Best New Artist, and she walks up on stage to collect her Award. An intoxicated Jack follows her and can barely make the stairs. In front of a room filled with the Who's Who of the music industry, Jack embarrasses himself, and his wife, and collapses on stage unconscious. Soon after this event, Jack checks himself into AA and a period of three months of rehabilitation in a specialist Clinic.

Jack has been in rehab for about two months and seemingly is making solid progress. He admits to his counsellor that when he was just thirteen years of age he tried to hang himself, but his attempt failed miserably. He also indicates that he has tinnitus, which has been getting worse in recent years and whilst a specialist has offered treatment, he has largely ignored it for fear of it interrupting his music and disconnecting him from his audience. At about the same time, Ally pays a visit. He tearfully apologises to her for his behaviour, the things he said and for embarrassing her so at the Grammy's. Ally is sympathetic and forgives him unconditionally. He returns home later on with Ally.

Subsequently in conversation with Rez, Ally states that she wants Jack to perform with her on the European leg of her tour. Rez, is both surprised and shocked and blankly refuses saying that he can't be trusted and he will be too much of a (bad) distraction. In retaliation for his immediate and forthright response Ally cancels the remainder of the tour so she can take care of Jack. Later on with Ally out of the house, Rez pays Jack a visit. Jack is welcoming and friendly towards Rez and thanks him for looking out for Ally while he was away. Rez responds and comes straight to the point. He says that he is dragging Ally down, holding her back and his actions speak louder than words and that he's washed up, nobody cares and that he should let her go - it would be best for the both of them. This cuts through Jack like a knife, as a result of which he takes his own life at home on a night that Ally is performing a live gig. Ally takes a song that Jack had written but never performed other than to her in the confines of their own home, and sings it at a tribute concert, after introducing herself as Ally Maine.

Well what a revelation - an Actor who can sing, and a Singer who can act. Two outstanding performances both musically and for their acting chemistry that is clearly evident on screen. Bradley Cooper here shines as the fractured and tortured Country Singer, and Lady Gaga reveals her screen prowess as a dramatic actress who can also belt out a tune as a wannabe singer on the world stage. The pair give authentic, believable performances aided and abetted by a strong support cast all wrapped up in Cooper 's deft touch as first time Director. 'A Star Is Born' is the complete package - a solid story updated and remade for the present day, stirring performances, memorable soundtrack and key messages that include alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide, the perils of fame, and the power of forgiveness, all interwoven into a tragic love story. If I had to pick fault, it would be in Ally's Manager Rez who is predictably depicted as a cookie cutter overbearing and demanding type, and further, how Ally seems to hang on his every word and abandons her musical style that Jackson fell in love with for mainstream pop super stardom. Nonetheless, if you can still catch it on the big screen, I recommend that you do, otherwise its out pretty soon for you to watch in the comfort of your home or your mobile device of choice. 

'A Star Is Born' warrants five claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-