Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer until Jackson coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jackson fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
Review
- Lady Gaga is turning out to be a triple threat; solid actors (+1/2)
- Good story (+1/2)
- Good music/cinematography (+1/2)
- Average expectations, surpassed (+1/2)
- Ambivalent feelings about the ending (+0)
I’ve never seen the original 1976 version, but I was not bored by this one. This is the story of a rising star and a falling one, and it’s very well told. The ending, while somewhat predictable, was done well. It kind of felt like it was going through the mandatory checklist of “must-haves” in an ending of that type, though it did have a tiny moment that I thought was fairly well crafted—just not enough to earn a higher score. But Lady Gaga keeps earning my respect. I used to think she was just a no-talent clown with a great wardrobe, but she’s turning out to have far more talent than I gave her credit for.
Score: 7/10