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“A Star is Born” (R)

A big screen star truly is born in the new remake of the classic romantic tragedy “A Star is Born,” featuring the electrifying feature film debut of pop superstar Lady Gaga under the expert filmmaking sensibilities of first time director Bradley Cooper. Even though you know the story inside and out from its previous film incarnations, “A Star is Born” still feels incredibly fresh; and by the time it is all said and done, it will leave you feeling energized and an emotional wreck at the same time.

The story of “A Star is Born,” of course, is almost as old as Hollywood itself. The tale involving the meteoric rise of an ingenue juxtaposed by the fall of a matinee idol amid their romance debuted in 1937 with Janet Gaynor and Frederic March with “A Star is Born,” and was remade as musical in 1954 starring Judy Garland and James Mason. The last time “A Star is Born” was made for the big screen was in 1976, where the setting was changed from the world of film to music, starring Barbra Streisand as a singing star-in-the-making and Kris Kristofferson as a fading musician.

Cooper keeps the musical background intact for the new version of “A Star is Born” as Jackson Maine (an ode to the original film’s male lead, Norman Maine), a country rock superstar who finds solace in the bottle as he enters the twilight of his career. Looking for liquor after one of his gigs, Jackson happens upon a burlesque bar, where he is taken by the singing talents of Ally (Lady Gaga), who earns most of her keep as a restaurant server. After spending the rest of the night together talking about the pitfalls of Jackson’s fame and Ally’s hopes and dreams, Jackson invites Ally to his concert the next night.

Reluctant at first, Ally is whisked away in a private jet to Jackson’s concert destination, where she finds the musician has not only provided her with a backstage pass, but a full arrangement of the song she composed the night before. Inviting her on stage to sing it for the crowd, Ally becomes an instant smash with limitless opportunities, while Jackson’s career and personal life, beset with family-related demons, quickly spirals downward, challenging their love and life together.

The key to the success of Gaga’s performance is her subtlety and simplicity. She’s not playing one of the many characters, effectively, that she’s appeared as in public in recent years – and ultra-glam wardrobe she wore early on would definitely qualify her as characters. Here, she’s the T-shirt and jeans Gaga with a natural beauty and talent, which explains why her performance in the film feels relatable. Gaga’s Ally is destined to be a star, but at her heart she’s like every person who has dared to dream big and is awestruck by the highs – and lows – of it all.

Even though it’s the fourth rendition of the time-honored “A Star is Born,” Cooper and Gaga’s version obviously feels fresh because of its contemporary setting, but brilliantly infuses Gaga’s immense talents as a singer and musician, and showcases Cooper’s ability to not only direct, but sing and write both dialogue and songs. We already knew Cooper could act, and after the film you can’t help but ask yourself, “Where’s the rest of him been all these years?”

Flanked by the talents of Sam Elliott as Jackson’s brother, Dave Chappelle in a semi-dramatic turn as Jackson’s longtime friend and Andrew Dice Clay as Ally’s doting father, Cooper and Gaga – and their undeniable chemistry – create a deep impact with “A Star is Born.” While ultimately heartbreaking as a film, “A Star is Born” leaves the viewer with tremendous hope over the rebirth of two already well-established performers who are destined to be a major film star and director.

Lammometer: 9.5 (out of 10)

Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for The KQ92 Morning Show,” “KARE 11 News at 11” (NBC), WCCO Radio, WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere.

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