Cinema Wednesdays - Virginia Eufemi
Bradley Cooper, whom we met in the trilogy Very Bad Trip or in American Sniper, takes on the role of director for the first time in his latest film, A Star Is Born. And it suits her.
A Star Is Born, the title may sound familiar to your ears. Three other films tell the same story, that of a young woman who becomes famous in film or music thanks to an artist who takes her under his wing - and under his comforter. But we're not going to look at the latter. opus as a simple remake; A Star Is Born is a work in its own right, distinguished by its quality. First and foremost, its filmic quality. The very tight shots that accompany the characters allow the viewer to plunge into the intimacy of these «stars», usually so distant and inaccessible. The close-ups emphasize their looks, but also their imperfections, making them human.
Human frailty is at the heart of the story. Jackson Maine (played by Bradley Cooper) is a country rock singer consumed by alcohol and drugs. Even when he meets his My Fair Lady, With the young and talented Ally (wonderfully played by Lady Gaga), his demons don't abandon him. A Star Is Born gives us access to the backstage, He shows us the dark side of the music industry and criticizes its superficiality and hypocrisy.
Ally, who used to sing only in a bar in drag queens after her job as a waitress, soon finds herself in the hands of a manager who dominates his or her image. At the moment when the icon is born, the person risks disappearing behind the rhinestones and glitter. Ally's loss of identity, behind relics that look more like Britney Spears than Lady Gaga, will be at the heart of this artist couple whose hierarchy is gradually toppled. For A Star Is Born is above all a beautiful, complex, touching and rich love story.
While we discover Bradley Cooper's talent as a director, the film also reveals Lady Gaga's qualities as an actress. The viewer is confronted with complete artists, reminiscent of the good old days of Broadway musicals. Like Fred Astaire, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are actors, singers, musicians and dancers.
And the musical quality of A Star Is Born. The songs, composed expressly for the film, enter the viewer's head after a few seconds and leave it a few days later. The lyrics are very touching, and the performance of the two singers sometimes gives you goose bumps. A Star Is Born is a bitter critique of business the story of a love affair grappling with the vulnerability of the human condition. stars, but also to men.
Write to the author: virginia.eufemi@leregardlibre.com
Photo credit: © Warner Bros.
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