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Post by evilbliss on Oct 11, 2018 20:14:00 GMT
I don't mean to be a bitch, but I don't know what are you guys smoking because this was such a BASIC movie. BAAAAASSSSIIICCCC I'm very keen to see how this film ages in three months' time. I will write a proper review. I was loving the beginning of the film but then it turned out to be just as basic as Crazy Heart. Bradley made me laugh in scenes that I wasn't suppose to laugh.
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Post by evilbliss on Oct 11, 2018 20:40:08 GMT
I can't believe I'm gonna say this but I was more interested in Ally than him. She was kinda wasted and I wish I could see more of Gaga's acting abilities, because she was quite good with what she had.
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Post by notacrook on Oct 11, 2018 22:39:42 GMT
Really, really liked it - wayyyy more than I thought I would. Never been a big Cooper fan, but he was sensational here (as actor and director), and Gaga deserved all the praise that's come her way. Threatens to lose its way halfway through after a fantastic first half, but brings it all back in the end for a sensational ending. 9/10Full review: letterboxd.com/g_stephenson/film/a-star-is-born-2018/
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Post by DeepArcher on Oct 12, 2018 1:06:56 GMT
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Post by pacinoyes on Oct 12, 2018 1:18:49 GMT
I think of course that's vaguely preposterous since not every story can be read on gender terms or combative terms and should be read in human terms, a man's tragedy is still a tragedy which is more interesting in general so fnck her and her hit songs anyway (how's that for being politically incorrect, lol)
Now having said that, the story was looking creaky/sexist by the 50s, a novel twist would have been to do it with two females actually, and is this the only version that doesn't feature the man outright becoming physically abusive? I'm shocked by how many people think Cooper's performance digs deep - I liked it, best film performance he's given but not like I heard......he could confront that article by confronting the sexism in the piece in ways that don't have as much to do with career.
I'm not advocating physical abuse in film but in this film in this time I am because you could make a lot of deeper thematic points if you did.
It's like a 7.2/10 ...........
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Post by The_Cake_of_Roth on Oct 12, 2018 1:32:35 GMT
That article is the epitome of try-hard.
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Post by stephen on Oct 12, 2018 1:49:36 GMT
I think of course that's vaguely preposterous since not every story can be read on gender terms or combative terms and should be read in human terms, a man's tragedy is still a tragedy which is more interesting so fnck her and her hit songs anyway (how's that for being politically incorrect, lol) Now having said that, the story was looking creaky/sexist by the 50s, a novel twist would have been to do it with two females actually, and is this the only version that doesn't feature the man outright becoming physically abusive? I'm shocked by how many people think Cooper's performance digs deep - I liked it, best film performance he's given but not like I heard......he could confront that article by confronting the sexism in the piece in ways that don't have as much to do with career. I'm not advocating physical abuse in film but in this film in this time I am because you could make a lot of deeper thematic points if you did. It's like a 7.2/10 ........... Eh, I think that the general spirit of the article is on to something. There is something to be said about how A Star Is Born fails to give much perspective and focus to its titular character after the end of the first act. We see Ally's rise to fame and stardom through Jackson's eyes, and yet she is kinda shunted to one side in favor of exploring his self-destructive alcoholic tendencies. It comes off as a bit egotistical on Cooper's part (and we can blame him for this as the writer/director), as it feels like it not only diminishes Ally as a character with any real agency, as every decision she tries to make is routinely balked at, but it comes off as almost a glorification of a rather toxic relationship.
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Post by pacinoyes on Oct 12, 2018 2:01:13 GMT
I dunno man, wouldn't that exact same article apply if you had never seen this film but just knew the 4th version was being made - you can guess this film and article. Like everyone thought this was a bad idea when announced because the world (and world of celebrity) has outpaced this story and its arc. The only way to tell it freshly really would not be to make it less sexist but rather to make it more uncomfortably odd and peculiar - ie. two females where one then assumes the de facto male persona or make it a dual arc of spiraling abuse and enabling (ie a Whitney Houston/Bobby Brown story). That of course wouldn't fly, wouldn't be as slick and Jackson's eyes wouldn't be so dreamy but it would actually justify this version thematically and in its time. I'm getting kind of tired of more thought and creativity going into my posts on the alternative versions of current screenplays than actual screenwriters put into theirs.
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Post by DeepArcher on Oct 12, 2018 2:05:40 GMT
That article is the epitome of try-hard. I mean, I guess you can say that's true of its headline in a "vying for attention" sort of way (though it's also far from inaccurate), but nearly every point the writer raises is extremely valid.
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Post by Pittsnogle_Goggins on Oct 12, 2018 2:08:15 GMT
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Post by notacrook on Oct 12, 2018 17:38:54 GMT
It was interesting that the one moment I kind of found there to be an issue of consent was probably my favourite scene of the film - the first live 'Shallow' performance. It's a soaring and ultimately empowering scene for Ally, but the way Jackson pretty much forces her into it did make me slightly uncomfortable. If she'd said no, it would've resulted in some pretty crushing humiliation for her, from Jackson and likely the audience. The scene itself ultimately proved amazing of course, but it did strike me as problematic. However, I don't think it's at all an issue elsewhere. Jackson does take over the narrative to a certain extent, but I'd argue he was always the main character. Also, Jackson is clearly presented as being in the wrong throughout much of the second half in particular, so when he (as well as Ally's godawful manager) try to undermine Ally and put her down, it's hardly as though the film is doing the same.
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Post by stephen on Oct 12, 2018 18:00:10 GMT
It was interesting that the one moment I kind of found there to be an issue of consent was probably my favourite scene of the film - the first live 'Shallow' performance. It's a soaring and ultimately empowering scene for Ally, but the way Jackson pretty much forces her into it did make me slightly uncomfortable. If she'd said no, it would've resulted in some pretty crushing humiliation for her, from Jackson and likely the audience. The scene itself ultimately proved amazing of course, but it did strike me as problematic. However, I don't think it's at all an issue elsewhere. Jackson does take over the narrative to a certain extent, but I'd argue he was always the main character. Also, Jackson is clearly presented as being in the wrong throughout much of the second half in particular, so when he (as well as Ally's godawful manager) try to undermine Ally and put her down, it's hardly as though the film is doing the same. But that's kinda the inherent problem with the film. It shouldn't be about Jackson. Jackson's collapse should always be mirrored in equal measure (if not more so!) by Ally's rise. The point of Jackson's character is to be a counterbalance, to show that stardom has its costs, but it should always be seen from Ally's perspective. Jackson comes in and changes her life so irrevocably, but any change that she undergoes throughout the film (which are quite major when you think about it) are never given the proper focus, instead being used to highlight Jack's flaws more than anything else. That is absolutely the wrong tack to take for a story like this, especially in 2018. The previous films highlight the Norman Maine character more than they really should, but in 1937/1954, it's at least understandable because of the era. What winds up happening is that Cooper decides that his character's journey is more interesting and tries to squeeze a full two-hour film about a self-destructive boozer into an existing film about a woman's rise to stardom, and in doing so undercuts both stories by gifting the shortest of shrifts to both of them. Jackson's backstories are barely sketches, his fights with both the bottle and his brother come off as necessary plot hurdles rather than natural, and the resentment he feels lacks any sort of real nuance and comes off very mean-spirited because they don't delve deep enough into it. If Bradley Cooper wanted to make Crazy Heart 2.0, fine. But he winds up usurping the important plot thread of A Star Is Born in favor of his own Oscar reel and relegating Gaga to being a supporting character for much of the back half of the movie.
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Post by Pavan on Oct 13, 2018 12:45:57 GMT
This is the first film where i really liked Bradley Cooper's acting but the pleasant surprise here is Lady Gaga who brought a really good character to life and had great chemistry with him. I wish we got more of her scenes. She was giving it her all but the film didn't catch up with her. I blame Bradley Cooper's direction and editing. The film has all the ingredients of a powerful romantic drama but lacks rhythm and doesn't feel wholesome. It's very choppily edited. How could they could expect me to get all emotional when they were jumping randomly from scene to scene without any flow. But the girl who sat beside me was weeping by the end of the film. Oh what do i know about emotions anyway!
The soundtrack is pretty good btw. Gaga was terrific when she was singing that last song.
It's fine if Cooper wins best actor but if he goes anywhere near the best director trophy, i'm gonna be pissed off- 7/10
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Post by Johnny_Hellzapoppin on Oct 15, 2018 20:23:58 GMT
My expectations for this were so low, that it was always likely to surpass them and it did, although that isn't saying much. I think there was one stretch of the film of about 20 - 30 minutes, which stopped right when Ally visits Jackson in rehab, when I was actually quite enjoying it. The problem is, everything before that was weak, and for the most part everything after it was horrible. Those last twenty minutes or so really didn't play genuine for me, it was all too quick and easy. Then that last scene, and the choice to keep cutting away from what was a potentially stirring and moving last few minutes...well kinda stunk of ego on someones part.
The original songs themselves were decent, although the deliberately horrible pop song, was the hilarious highlight of the film. Perhaps that would be the one Oscar nomination for this film that I could get behind.
Lady Gaga was mostly decent outside of the singing parts, although she stood out as weakish on occasion. Sam Elliot was horrible, and I mean HORRIBLE!! Cooper was decent, and didn't ring completely false with me like he usually does. He had some depth on occasion, but still, I remain far from convinced that Cooper is anything more than a tolerable actor and on the basis of this debut, I don't have much expectations from him as a director either.
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Post by stephen on Oct 15, 2018 20:28:44 GMT
My expectations for this were so low, that it was always likely to surpass them and it did, although that isn't saying much. I think there was one stretch of the film of about 20 - 30 minutes, which stopped right when Ally visits Jackson in rehab, when I was actually quite enjoying it. The problem is, everything before that was weak, and for the most part everything after it was horrible. Those last twenty minutes or so really didn't play genuine for me, it was all too quick and easy. Then that last scene, and the choice to keep cutting away from what was a potentially stirring and moving last few minuted, well kinda stunk of ego on someones part. The original songs themselves were decent, although the deliberately horrible pop song, was the hilarious highlight of the film. Perhaps that would be the one Oscar nomination for this film that I could get behind. Lady Gaga was mostly decent outside of the singing parts, although she stood out as weakish on occasion. Sam Elliot was horrible, and I mean HORRIBLE!! Cooper was decent, and didn't ring completely false with me like he usually does. He had some depth on occasion, but still, I remain far from convinced that Cooper is anything more than a tolerable actor and on the basis of this debut, I don't have much expectations from him as a director either. Fun fact: the pop song wasn't deliberately horrible per Diane Warren, who wrote it. It's kinda hilarious that people are shitting on it as being intentionally bad, but it wasn't designed that way. This film really hasn't aged well for me. I still think Gaga is the most praiseworthy thing about it aside from the songs, but some of her early scenes really don't register well with me (her scene in the bathroom, any confrontation with her boss, the bar fight). Makes me wonder if Cooper took a leaf from Eastwood's director playbook and only did one or two takes with her while he focused more on himself. I can't agree more about the ego issue. I don't think I've ever seen a director go to such lengths to make his own Oscar demo reel. What good there is in Cooper's performance (and there is good in it) is largely tainted by it. Costner, Gibson, Eastwood, Washington . . . those guys knew that they couldn't let themselves get in their own way, but Cooper is his own biggest roadblock.
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Post by Johnny_Hellzapoppin on Oct 15, 2018 20:37:19 GMT
My expectations for this were so low, that it was always likely to surpass them and it did, although that isn't saying much. I think there was one stretch of the film of about 20 - 30 minutes, which stopped right when Ally visits Jackson in rehab, when I was actually quite enjoying it. The problem is, everything before that was weak, and for the most part everything after it was horrible. Those last twenty minutes or so really didn't play genuine for me, it was all too quick and easy. Then that last scene, and the choice to keep cutting away from what was a potentially stirring and moving last few minuted, well kinda stunk of ego on someones part. The original songs themselves were decent, although the deliberately horrible pop song, was the hilarious highlight of the film. Perhaps that would be the one Oscar nomination for this film that I could get behind. Lady Gaga was mostly decent outside of the singing parts, although she stood out as weakish on occasion. Sam Elliot was horrible, and I mean HORRIBLE!! Cooper was decent, and didn't ring completely false with me like he usually does. He had some depth on occasion, but still, I remain far from convinced that Cooper is anything more than a tolerable actor and on the basis of this debut, I don't have much expectations from him as a director either. Fun fact: the pop song wasn't deliberately horrible per Diane Warren, who wrote it. It's kinda hilarious that people are shitting on it as being intentionally bad, but it wasn't designed that way. This film really hasn't aged well for me. I still think Gaga is the most praiseworthy thing about it aside from the songs, but some of her early scenes really don't register well with me (her scene in the bathroom, any confrontation with her boss, the bar fight). Makes me wonder if Cooper took a leaf from Eastwood's director playbook and only did one or two takes with her while he focused more on himself. I can't agree more about the ego issue. I don't think I've ever seen a director go to such lengths to make his own Oscar demo reel. What good there is in Cooper's performance (and there is good in it) is largely tainted by it. Costner, Gibson, Eastwood, Washington . . . those guys knew that they couldn't let themselves get in their own way, but Cooper is his own biggest roadblock. Part of me still wants to refuse to accept that that song wasn't designed to be bad, but I'll go with it. That bathroom scene at the start was mostly what I was thinking of in regard to my issues with Gaga. I remember thinking, oh god I'm going to hate her, then she'd actually be quite good for a while, and then she'd slip, expose he limits and then get back on track. It was a cycle of sorts. Agreed on Cooper, it was pretty shameless, but then I guess it's his prerogative and seems to be paying off in spades so far. Fair play to him I suppose.
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Post by Johnny_Hellzapoppin on Oct 16, 2018 13:02:37 GMT
Also, just to add, whatever the hell Cooper was doing with his mumbling accent was so ridiculous at times that I could have done with subtitles.
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Post by bob-coppola on Oct 16, 2018 22:20:30 GMT
The first act is so beautiful and the third one is heartbreaking. It sucks that, to get there, we have to go through a boring, overlong second act. But other than that, it's a very fine movie. It's beautifully-shot, and Cooper shows a lot of potential in the direction. I was surprised to see how visual Cooper's filmmaking is: some of the compositions were outstanding.
Cooper's acting is equally good. He's very hit-or-miss, but this is one of his best performances. I still think Gaga outshined him, though. I had below zero expectations towards her acting, since she was goddawful in American Horror Story, and I'm still shocked (a few days later) about how natural and intense she was. Gaga is so laid-back here, functioning as a perfect counterpart to Cooper's coleric role.
Some of the songs are a bit generic, but the ones intended to stand out really, trully stand out. Shallow is a showstopper, so so beautiful, and the way that scene was shot, acted and edited was breathtaking. I'll Never Love Again is also very good.
I'd give it a 7/10.
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Post by ingmarhepburn on Oct 16, 2018 22:37:51 GMT
Just came back from seeing it. It really is a wonderful film. I have some minor issues with the script, but the good things definitely outshine the bad ones. It's everything that La La Land wanted to be, but couldn't. Loved the songs and the performances. Gaga is a revelation, and if she doesn't get nominated for an Oscar for this, I'll riot.
8/10
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Post by Allenism on Oct 17, 2018 15:23:54 GMT
Pretty perplexed by how heavily this one landed.
It’s...fine? Cooper shows a slick hand as a director (and his performance hits some impressive dramatic notes), but on the downside he also refuses to let important scenes breathe and the entire proceeding feels frustratingly glib and rushed as a result. There just isn’t enough for the viewer to hang onto to genuinely care about Jackson and Ally’s relationship and the forces which tear it apart. Gaga is quite good throughout. Aside from obviously excelling in the performance scenes, she’s also handily carries her weight in the intimate, dialogue-driven moments between her and Cooper. It’s just too bad that the film loses focus on her in the second half. What’s worse is how artificially-injected Jackson’s Big Decision at the end feels, especially when the follow-through on how it impacts Ally feels scant at best.
Yeah, so basically it’s technically well-made-and-acted, and the tune/concert scenes are groovy, but the storytelling could’ve used some serious re-tooling. This is 7/10 material at best, guys.
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Film Socialism
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Post by Film Socialism on Oct 21, 2018 2:40:53 GMT
should have been about soundcloud rappers
5/10
maybe more thoughts later
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Post by moonman157 on Oct 21, 2018 12:43:49 GMT
Pretty perplexed by how heavily this one landed. It’s...fine? Cooper shows a slick hand as a director (and his performance hits some impressive dramatic notes), but on the downside he also refuses to let important scenes breathe and the entire proceeding feels frustratingly glib and rushed as a result. There just isn’t enough for the viewer to hang onto to genuinely care about Jackson and Ally’s relationship and the forces which tear it apart. Gaga is quite good throughout. Aside from obviously excelling in the performance scenes, she’s also handily carries her weight in the intimate, dialogue-driven moments between her and Cooper. It’s just too bad that the film loses focus on her in the second half. What’s worse is how artificially-injected Jackson’s Big Decision at the end feels, especially when the follow-through on how it impacts Ally feels scant at best. Yeah, so basically it’s technically well-made-and-acted, and the tune/concert scenes are groovy, but the storytelling could’ve used some serious re-tooling. This is 7/10 material at best, guys. I mean this has been one of the worst years ever in terms of movies that have received a general, wide release in North America so a new movie being a 7/10 feels pretty miraculous.
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Post by Viced on Oct 28, 2018 20:33:21 GMT
Sam Elliot was horrible, and I mean HORRIBLE!! This is an absolutely abysmal opinion. Sam Elliott does more with his eyes in less than 10 seconds while he's backing out of the driveway than a lot of actors do in a whole movie. Outside of that... I liked the movie. It definitely lags in the middle but there are enough strong scenes throughout to make that forgivable. Cooper is pretty amazing... probably his best performance. Gaga was great too. Music was really good... seemed like everyone in the theater except for me was weeping by the end. 7ish/10
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Post by stephen on Oct 28, 2018 22:25:37 GMT
Sam Elliot was horrible, and I mean HORRIBLE!! This is an absolutely abysmal opinion. Sam Elliott does more with his eyes in less than 10 seconds while he's backing out of the driveway than a lot of actors do in a whole movie. Outside of that... I liked the movie. It definitely lags in the middle but there are enough strong scenes throughout to make that forgivable. Cooper is pretty amazing... probably his best performance. Gaga was great too. Music was really good... seemed like everyone in the theater except for me was weeping by the end. 7ish/10 That moment is perhaps the best emotional scene of the film (and full marks for it being done with very little dialogue), but what irks me so much is that the film largely undercuts Elliott for the rest of the movie. His scenes demand to be longer, as they end just when they feel like they're ramping up. Cooper is so interested to get to the next scene and the next stage in Ally's rise/Jack's fall that the film misses out on some necessary breathing room, which Elliott's character and performance would've greatly benefited from.
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Post by thomasjerome on Oct 29, 2018 0:31:01 GMT
This is an absolutely abysmal opinion. Sam Elliott does more with his eyes in less than 10 seconds while he's backing out of the driveway than a lot of actors do in a whole movie. Outside of that... I liked the movie. It definitely lags in the middle but there are enough strong scenes throughout to make that forgivable. Cooper is pretty amazing... probably his best performance. Gaga was great too. Music was really good... seemed like everyone in the theater except for me was weeping by the end. 7ish/10 That moment is perhaps the best emotional scene of the film (and full marks for it being done with very little dialogue), but what irks me so much is that the film largely undercuts Elliott for the rest of the movie. His scenes demand to be longer, as they end just when they feel like they're ramping up. Cooper is so interested to get to the next scene and the next stage in Ally's rise/Jack's fall that the film misses out on some necessary breathing room, which Elliott's character and performance would've greatly benefited from. This all may be true but that's actually what made his performance so impressive for me. Yes, I kept feeling like there was more to explore in their relationship but Elliott is such a strong force in every single moment he gets (that car scene is something else but then there's also fight scene and that ending monologue), he doesn't overplay it but he leaves a strong impact with very little he's given.
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