Talk Film Society - Seal of Approval: A Star is Born

The Talk Film Society - Seal of Approval is awarded to those films the staff here deem worthy of your attention.

This week, we highlight the directorial debut of Bradley Cooper. Starring Cooper and Lady Gaga, A Star is Born is the third remake of the 1937 original. They play Jack and Ally, a singer-songwriting couple making their way through the highs and lows of fame. Does it live up to any of its predecessors? Does it give Lady Gaga a starring vehicle worthy of her talent? Does it contain more than just a trendy, flash-in-the-pan meme?

Our answer to all those questions is yes. Absolutely.

Here’s what our writers have to say:

“It’s the kind of project where you can feel the energy of how much genuine love there is for these characters and their story from everyone who was involved in making it.” - Callie Smith, from her review of the film.

“Lady Gaga’s performance, in front of and behind the microphone, is one of the best of year. Cooper’s direction and Matthew Libatique’s cinematography also make it one of the most visually powerful.” - Marcelo Pico

“Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga share an intimacy that is all too rare in modern Hollywood movies. It’s old fashioned, unapologetic romanticism that allows the film to soar above whatever narrative issues one might have.” - Manish Mathur

"The combination of Lady Gaga's soaring vocals and Cooper's attentive directing leads to some of the most emotional music sequences I've seen in years." - Mark Watlington

“A Star is Born is a refreshing, bracing concoction. Instead of looking back, Bradley Cooper's debut peers forward while clinging to the inherent qualities of big-time melodrama, offering a woozy, open-hearted epic drunkenly made out of order and tidiness”. - Will Mai, from his review on Letterboxd.

“Lady Gaga. That’s it.” - Marcus

A Star is Born is now in theaters.