[The following review contains spoilers for A Star Is Born. Please watch the film first before reading.]
Bradley Cooper's directorial debut, A Star Is Born, is an emotional tearjerker, that examines fame and addiction. The film follows Cooper's famed singer-songwriter Jackson Maine meets a rising star in Lady Gaga's Ally in a chance encounter. In a typical Hollywood fashion, Ally is also a talented singer-songwriter, and her musical career takes off when she co-writes song and sings in Jackson's band. What makes this fourth remake different and not dated comes midway through the film, when Jackson is admitted to rehab for his alcoholic and narcotic addictions, we catch some clue about his suicidal intention, but that does not prepare us for what ultimately be his demise.
Both Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga deliver raw and powerful performance here, and together with a great soundtrack with touching songs, A Star Is Born is going to break your heart and leave you in tears.