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A Star is Born...Ga Gab et al.

28 replies

LucilleBluth · 07/01/2019 21:44

I've just watched it (late to the game I know). Is it just me who thought it was a bit crap. Cheesy, trying to be edgy but failing. I've heard so many rave reviews but I'm not having it.

Bradley Cooper was trying wayyyyyy to hard. Maybe it's because I have seen the 70s version but he was rehashing the Kris Kristofferson version of the washed up singer imo. Ga Ga may be a great artist but I wasn't feeling her either.

Maybe it's just me but I was expecting to be blown away.

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enjoyingscience · 07/01/2019 21:49

I couldn’t stand it. I thought she was pretty good in it, but he was just such an enormous prick - I hated that whole tortured soul schtick, it’s old and a weirdly patriarchal way of excusing poor behaviour.

Went with a mate who loved it though - bit awkward at the end, when she was weeping and I was scowling...

SamBaileys · 07/01/2019 21:52

I loved the film but I didn't cry at the ending. I think I was the only one who wasn't mind, there was mass hysteria around me!

WeCameToDance · 07/01/2019 22:10

I just watched it. Really didnt like it very much but I can see why other people do. Im glad that im not the only one though as all the people around me had brought packs of tissues and were howling by the end. I worried that I was void of emotions!

SPOILERS!!!
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Bradley Coopers character was a complete arse. An egotistical arse who couldnt stand anyone getting more successful than him. I also really didnt get her dad. He seemed to value his daughter being famous more than her safety or happiness. She told him at the begining that he was an alcoholic and yet he encouraged her to go with him. Also with as big a musician they were making him out to be you could probably find out he had drug problems with a quick google. Her dad seemed to be able to work youtube alright so surely he would have had an inkling... Didnt really grow to like any of the characters. Its a shame. I really wanted to like this film.

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Dubbadubbadumdum · 07/01/2019 22:17

Same. I was so excited to watch this, but at the end I felt very flat and unimpressed. Gaga was amazing, but I felt like her role was cut in half in order to allow Bradley Cooper to shine. Being that he was also the director, his role felt very self indulgent, his character was dislikeable. Comparing it to the Streisand/Kristofferson version, it was pretty poor, but the music was amazing!

Calvinsmam · 07/01/2019 22:22

I HATED it.

But I’m a huge fan of the Streisand version.

It was not A Star Is Born it was all about him not her!

It’s supposed to be a film about a relationship when the power dynamic changes and how masculinity reacts to strong femininity.
Instead it was just a film about an alcoholic battling his demons.

I think both actors were too frightened to come across as unlikeble so the film suffered.

Calvinsmam · 07/01/2019 22:23

Also they removed the black female characters in the Streisand version and replaced hem with gay men.

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LucilleBluth · 07/01/2019 22:24

There was too much hype around it. This is the fourth remake but to hear BC talk it's like he's a genius.

The bit in the car park was dire. I'm a huge gig going rock/indie fan but I can appreciate Ga Ga as an excellent live performer yet they stripped her of everything that makes her unique. Cooper was attracted to her after that drag show, really.....in real life he would have a 19 year old hanging off him.

Just total crap with shit songs. I can see why the flawed Bohemian Rhapsody won the Golden Globe last night.

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Calvinsmam · 07/01/2019 22:24

And I love Gaga normally.
Seen her live and think she’s amazing.

She should have been allowed to direct it.

nowifi · 07/01/2019 22:27

I've not seen it, I did see an interview where Bradley Cooper was talking about it and he seemed really serious. Didn't realise it was a remake!

Willbeatjanuaryblues · 07/01/2019 22:31

Only seen Judy garland version, then kristofferson version.

Kk was amazing in that film.

Not watched it yet but wonder if it affects people's enjoyment..

CrispbuttyNo1 · 07/01/2019 22:38

Well I loved it. I thought both Bradley and gaga played their roles brilliantly. I love the soundtrack, and I’m hoping it will do well at the oscars.

southeastdweller · 07/01/2019 22:40

Thought it was awful. Terrible acting from the two leads and there was no emotional impact at all. Worst film of 2018 for me.

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LucilleBluth · 07/01/2019 22:51

I agree. Possibly the worst film of the last five years that promised so much. I totally agree that his vanity made him focus on the Jackson character rather than Ga Ga, so unexpectedly shite.

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peoplearepeople · 07/01/2019 22:53

I wasn't a huge fan of this version either. I just struggled to believe their romance and actually didn't bother to listen to all of her song at the end. Blush I did actually think Bradley Cooper was ok though.
The only bit that I felt moved by was his poor dog outside the garage distressed and waiting for him near the end. Sad

Bonbonchance · 07/01/2019 23:06

I didn’t like it either, felt too forced & predictable, songs didn’t really do anything for me. The dog bit was the only bit I felt sad at too!

Girlsnightin · 07/01/2019 23:33

It was so slooooooow. Christ alive, such a vanity project for BC. I could tell he'd directed it while watching. Long Moody shots of him. As an audience we were made to feel sympathetic for an alcoholic who would have been such a pain in the arse in real life.

Truly awful. But GG can sing beautifully so kudos to her.

Vinotinto78 · 07/01/2019 23:36

Thought it was shite. Vanity project for BC.

Drogosnextwife · 07/01/2019 23:48

My dp keeps going on about seeing it. I have no interest in it, I did think it just looked like a BC, look how great I am, show. Now I want to watch it just to prove I was right and that it is shit.

ginghambox · 07/01/2019 23:53

Agree BC was shite Lady Gaga was good but not great.

Davros · 07/01/2019 23:58

You can't beat Judy Garland and James Mason. Or even Frederic March and Janet Gaynor before that. It's a lot older than Streisand etc

CrispbuttyNo1 · 08/01/2019 07:54

I watched the kris kristofferson/Streisand version on Netflix last night and can honestly say I preferred the Cooper/gaga one. I found Streisand’s character really annoying and her looks and mannerisms reminded me of the late comedienne Victoria wood.

ShatnersWig · 08/01/2019 08:11

You can't beat Judy Garland and James Mason

THIS is all that needs to be said about A Star Is Born.

VetOnCall · 08/01/2019 08:40

Lady Gaga's voice was the only thing I liked about the film. I haven't seen the older versions but this one was so hyped and I had friends posting on Facebook about sobbing in the cinema etc. so I was expecting great things and then I watched it and was distinctly underwhelmed and unmoved by everything except her singing. I absolutely loved Bohemian Rhapsody though and was totally caught up in the emotion from start to finish.

EmmaStone · 08/01/2019 09:18

I thought it was good, although agree about a vanity project for BC. Thought the music was good though. Watched the Streisand version on Netflix after, and thought it was AWFUL. Terrible music. I was embarrassed for Barbra Streisand.

Calvinsmam · 08/01/2019 09:23

I watched the kris kristofferson/Streisand version on Netflix last night and can honestly say I preferred the Cooper/gaga one.

I think it depends which one you’ve seen first. I used to watch the Streisand version all the time growing up, I know it like the back of my hand (I know the other older versions as well but it’s fhe Streisand version I like best).
I’m a huge Streisand fan, yes she’s annoying, yes she’s camp and over the top and completely unbelievable but that’s the point. She is a woman working in a mans world who doesn’t compromise, plays it exactly as she wants and couldn’t give a fuck what anyone thinks. I love her.
Gaga is obviously a huge Streisand fan, she has stolen so much imagery off her in her career and yet never cites her the way she does Bowie or Mercury, and I think it’s because Streisand is very unfashionable.
If a man behaved like Streisand he’d be considered a genius, she’s one of the greatest talents of the last 50 years, but she’s been relegated to the ridiculous diva and woman above her station box.
I think Gaga is amazing but I don’t think she has the balls of Streisand, she wants to be liked too much.