The title of Bradley Cooper’s impressive directorial debut (co-written with Will Fetters and the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Forest Gump Eric Roth) is misleading. At least, the last word is. For in place of born should be torn on account of the fact that the bulk of the latter half is more about the demise of Jackson Maine (Cooper), a famous country musician on the slide who in addition to juggling the twin demons of alcoholism and drug addiction is struggling to keep the balls in the air having been diagnosed with both hearing loss and tinnitus.

However, when the story about his star’s implosion takes centre stage over that of his protege and shooting star Ally Campana (played by the sensational Lady Gaga), a waitress and aspiring singer-songwriter who earns a crust camping it up as Edith Piaf in a drag bar, the film’s structural tightness and dramatic edge flattens to the point of fly-on-the-wall documentary which is further weakened by what appears to be improvisational rather than scripted dialogue.

Thankfully, with performers of the calibre of Cooper and Gaga (she really is sensational, both as an actor and musician), and with tremendous support from the gravel-voiced Sam Elliot as Jackson’s older brother and long-term manager Bobby (cue best supporting actor nominations), the fourth remake of David O. Selznick’s rags to riches film of the same name is of the same high standard as its predecessors. And the subtle nods to Garland and Streisand are incredibly poignant.

Director: Bradley Cooper
Writers: Eric Roth (screenplay by), Bradley Cooper (screenplay by)
Stars: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott
Peter Callaghan
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