A Star is Born is a 2018 romantic drama film that is an emotional rollercoaster as the film reels. The movie is directed by Bradley Cooper, and the screenplay is by Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, and Will Fetters. The movie is based on the story of the same name by William Wellman and Robert Carson and is also inspired by Moss Hart’s screenplay “A Star Is Born (1954) and the 1976 screenplay of the same title by Joan Didion and Frank Pierson.
The movie was produced by Bill Gerber, Bradley Cooper, Jon Peters, Todd Philips, and Lynette Howell Taylor. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle, and Sam Elliot. This was Cooper’s directorial debut, and the movie premiered on August 31st, 2018, at the 75th Venice International Film Festival. The film was critically praised for its cinematography and direction, along with the commendable work of the cast.
The film went on to receive more achievements and was also nominated eight times for the 91st Academy Awards, among which Cooper won Best Actor, and Gaga won acclaim for Best Actress. The soundtrack “Shallow” went on to win awards for “Best Original Soundtrack,” The soundtrack also won four Grammys out of seven nominations, two of which were for Song of The Year for two years straight.
A Star Is Born: Brief Recap
The story begins with the introduction of a famous forty-three-year-old country rock singer named Jackson “Jack” Maine. Jack is struggling with alcoholism and drug addiction privately but between that manages to play for shows and maintain his lifestyle. One day after a show, he visits a drag bar where he meets Ally, a waitress, and singer-songwriter, for the first time as she sings a tribute to Edith Piaf. In doing so, he finds her voice alluring, and they spend the whole night talking and telling each other about their lives and careers and sharing the lyrics written by her.
He invites her to one of his shows, and reluctantly she goes there, and they both perform the song “Shallow” together on stage. As he further invites her to tour with her, they form a romantic relationship and share a happy and blissful time.
While on tour, Ally receives an opportunity to sing as a producer named Rez offers her a contract which she accepts hence, kickstarting her career despite Jack’s reluctance. Rez refocuses Ally’s singing from country to pop as she continues to make a name for herself in the world. Later, a drinking mishap lands Jack in a bad state of health which is handled by his friend, Noodles. He proposes to Ally with an impromptu ring loop made out of a guitar string. The couple proceeds to get married in a church that was ministered by a relative of Jack’s friend, Noodles.
The story follows the plot of the turbulent relationship shared by the couple as Ally reaches the heights of her success and the decline in popularity of Jack, which leads him to be intoxicated and drunk most of the time. A drunk Jack creates chaos when Ally goes on to be nominated for three awards for the Grammys, where she wins “Best New Artist”. Jack’s behavior further strains their relationship as he doesn’t like Ally’s fame and image, leaving Ally in an emotional spiral.
He joins a rehabilitation center in the hopes of improving himself. He also opens up about his difficult childhood with his counselor. He returns home two months later, apologizes to Ally for his behavior, and tells Bobby that he was his role model, not his father. Rez confronts Jack for almost ruining Ally’s career and says that he will most probably relapse again. Ally cancels the rest of her tour to care for Jack lying to him that her record canceled her tour to focus on her second Album.
He promises Ally that he will be present at her concert that night, but he commits suicide by hanging himself. A mourning and grief-stricken Ally is filled with immense guilt and sadness when Bobby comes to console her and tells her that his death was his fault and not hers. Ally later sings a song that Jack was writing for her but couldn’t complete, and the movie closes with Ally introducing herself as Ally Maine for the first time.
Also Read: A Star Is Born Ending Explained. What Happened In The End
Is ‘A Star Is Born’ Based On A True Story?
Sadly, the movie is not based on a true story but is a creation of a writer’s imagination. The story has been re-told for the fourth time in the world of Hollywood and has been one of the most loved tragic love romances that we have witnessed.
Even though there have been many rumors that the movie was based upon an actual relationship between singers Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Fay, but sadly these theories were only rumors and had no reality that could be testified. Whether the movie was influenced by real events or not, it is still a heartwarming and heartwrenching watch at the same time.
