Another Star is Born

Unless you’re a diehard aficionado of vintage Hollywood cinema, chances are you probably didn’t know that Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut ‘A Star is Born,’ starring himself and Lady Gaga, marks the third remake of the 1937 Oscar-winning original directed by William A. Wellman featuring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March.  I certainly didn’t, since the only previous version I’ve seen was the middling second remake from 1976 starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.  While I typically don’t go out of my way for remakes, the film’s interesting trailer, Stefani Germanotta’s powerful vocals and rave critical reviews sold me on what had to be another clear example of Hollywood’s lack of imagination and daring.

 

If you’ve seen any version of ASIB (1937, 1954, 1976 or perhaps even this one), you’re already familiar with this well-tread tale of a young Hollywood starlet (or singer) who meets a somewhat older star in his prime.  They fall madly in love and, with his help, the girl rises to meteoric success and realizes her dreams while her benefactor’s star power wanes, ending in despair and tragedy.  In the 1937 original and the 1954 remake (starring Judy Garland), the man ultimately dies by some drowning incident, while in the 1976 remake he dies in an auto accident and in this updated version Bradley Cooper’s grizzled country-rock star Jackson Maine ended up hanging himself (Spoiler?  C’mon now, does it really matter how they end up six feet under?).  All of them lost their bouts with that greatest of vices called Alcoholism because, as the mournful song goes, “The only time he’s satisfied is when he’s on a drunk.”

 

Whether ASIB is merely a cautionary parable of the price of success or simply illustrates the Ying Yang facts of life, this latest remake is a well-acted and finely crafted piece of work.  The original songs in the film are earthy and engaging, with a timeless quality that will likely appeal to generations to come.  And while we all know that Lady Gaga has some serious pipes, I’m also pleasantly surprised that the underrated Bradley Cooper has the chops to lead in any band.

Grade: A-