This is an impressive film, but not entirely in good ways.
It’s impressive for its performances, full stop. Cooper and Lady Gaga are both fantastic as both singers and actors. The sets, costumes and cinematography are all stupendous. Some of the songs are even very impressively written.
It’s also just really impressive that a film that gets so much right is so damned boring, predictable and preachy. The film talks a big game about having something to say and “reaching deep into your soul” and yet can’t do the same thing itself. It feels like a film without a soul. What are the start-to-end goals of either of these characters? Why do we want to root for them? The film retreads familiar tropes of alcoholism and the rock star life but neither gives the viewer little stake in the issues at hand nor a coherent message to take away beyond the cycle of drug and alcohol abuse and a thin parallel to music. I’m sorry, but it’s just...weak.
But in all honesty, despite these glaring gaps in its emotive intent, the film is very well put together. Like a pop song though, it’s an impressive package that pretends emotion, but is cavernously hollow beneath the surface.
7/10
Remake of classics from 1937, 1954 and 1976. The latest of so far 4 movies on the same theme with the same name. The first two are about movie stars, the last two are about music stars. It becomes, I think, somewhat more touching when it comes to music - where it is possible to express emotions in a better way. Fantastic music (by Cooper to)! Something long can happen. Great acting by the leads (by Gaga too)!
(Sep 2020, Popcorn Time)
I was so scared of watching this because I didn't want anything to tarnish Streisand's version of the film for me. Now, I'm so damn glad that I decided to watch it because I truly fell in love with it. Lady Gaga's acting is phenomenal in this, it's hard to imagine that this is her first film role. Bradley Cooper can sing! and this is easily his best film role to date. And the chemistry between the two stars is unquestionably present, so present that you'll instantly find yourself so immersed in the events of the film and its wonderfully built ambiance. i never really liked Bradley Cooper, but now I have so much respect for his artistry and craft. What an impeccable first directional debut!
If the second half weren't so spotty this would easily have gotten 5 stars from me.
I really loved this movie though. Everything about it. No seriously, just name any aspect of filmmaking and I can praise it nonstop. Gaga and Cooper are quite fantastic. News flash: Gaga can sing. But actual news flash: Cooper can sing. It's his best performance easily, but I think Gaga has a better shot at the Oscar and deserves it more.
"Shallow" is my favorite song, and the scene when they first sang it together is the scene in which I cried. But that ending... I was close again there.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 20
frankqb
This is an impressive film, but not entirely in good ways.It’s impressive for its performances, full stop. Cooper and Lady Gaga are both fantastic as both singers and actors. The sets, costumes and cinematography are all stupendous. Some of the songs are even very impressively written.
It’s also just really impressive that a film that gets so much right is so damned boring, predictable and preachy. The film talks a big game about having something to say and “reaching deep into your soul” and yet can’t do the same thing itself. It feels like a film without a soul. What are the start-to-end goals of either of these characters? Why do we want to root for them? The film retreads familiar tropes of alcoholism and the rock star life but neither gives the viewer little stake in the issues at hand nor a coherent message to take away beyond the cycle of drug and alcohol abuse and a thin parallel to music. I’m sorry, but it’s just...weak.
But in all honesty, despite these glaring gaps in its emotive intent, the film is very well put together. Like a pop song though, it’s an impressive package that pretends emotion, but is cavernously hollow beneath the surface.
Two and a half stars out of five.
satisfythecrave
*Bradley Cooper voice* I just wanna take another look at the first act.Emiam
7/10Remake of classics from 1937, 1954 and 1976. The latest of so far 4 movies on the same theme with the same name. The first two are about movie stars, the last two are about music stars. It becomes, I think, somewhat more touching when it comes to music - where it is possible to express emotions in a better way. Fantastic music (by Cooper to)! Something long can happen. Great acting by the leads (by Gaga too)!
(Sep 2020, Popcorn Time)
chunkylefunga
Ok but very paint by numbers and a sloppy ending.Adrian B AWESOME
The Emperor's New Clothes of 2018 films.NourNasreldin
I was so scared of watching this because I didn't want anything to tarnish Streisand's version of the film for me. Now, I'm so damn glad that I decided to watch it because I truly fell in love with it. Lady Gaga's acting is phenomenal in this, it's hard to imagine that this is her first film role. Bradley Cooper can sing! and this is easily his best film role to date. And the chemistry between the two stars is unquestionably present, so present that you'll instantly find yourself so immersed in the events of the film and its wonderfully built ambiance. i never really liked Bradley Cooper, but now I have so much respect for his artistry and craft. What an impeccable first directional debut!Gustavomz88
i never saw a movie nominated for "best picture" that was so boring until i saw this movieZov
Not that bad, but I can't believe this movie was nominated for best picture.kurisu1974
Not my tempo.leilazekri
boringboring
boring
McNozes
What frankqb said. Boring and predictablentan
If the second half weren't so spotty this would easily have gotten 5 stars from me.I really loved this movie though. Everything about it. No seriously, just name any aspect of filmmaking and I can praise it nonstop. Gaga and Cooper are quite fantastic. News flash: Gaga can sing. But actual news flash: Cooper can sing. It's his best performance easily, but I think Gaga has a better shot at the Oscar and deserves it more.
"Shallow" is my favorite song, and the scene when they first sang it together is the scene in which I cried. But that ending... I was close again there.
4.5/5
masoko
The "star" Ally was barely in it. Should've just titled it something else as they made it all about his adiction rather than her rise.Bradley Cooper's vanity project.
junegoon
Satisfactory flickb4rdum
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