My 2 Cents… A Star Is Born (2018)

Would you prefer to watch the video review, instead of reading it? CLICK HERE

2018Title: A Star Is Born
Director: Bradley Cooper
Writers: Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, and Will Fetters
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, and Sam Elliott

Based on the 1954 Screenplay by: Moss Hart
Based on the 1976 Screenplay by: john Gregory Dunne, Joan Didion, and Frank Pierson
Based on a story by: William Wellman and Robert Carson

 

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Cinematography: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Singing: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

STORYLINE:
Seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers-and falls in love with-struggling artist Ally (Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer – until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. Written by Warner Bros.

AWARDS:

  • Winner of the 2019 Oscar for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
  • Nominated in the categories of Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Bradley Cooper), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Lady Gaga), Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Sam Elliott), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Achievement in Cinematography.

MY 2 CENTS:

I honestly didn’t know what to expect with this movie… I’m not a big fan of movies where singers, athletes, and wrestlers decided to be actors. I know, that probably sounds bad. However, in most cases it is my opinion that they should just leave the acting to the actors.

With that said, I think this movie really worked. I wasn’t expecting much of a performance from Lady Gaga, but she was really impressive. I’ve always liked her music and although I can’t sing to save my life, I can recognize that talent in others. She is such an awesome performer – bigger than life – that I just couldn’t imagine her bringing her performance down to life-size on the big screen. Then I saw A Star Is Born… Watching her act in A Star Is Born was like seeing her for the first time. She was raw, open, emotional, and beautiful. Her talent not only extends to her musical performances but she is a natural actress. I don’t say that often when it comes to musicians, but she really was a wonder in this film.

Bradley Cooper, who I’ve always enjoyed watching, gave 110% percent with this one. His performance was so real… so raw… and completely heartbreaking. I’m not going to lie, I cried. How could you not. If you didn’t cry during his last scene, then you clearly don’t have a heart.

I was surprised to find out that he not only stared in the film, he helped write the screenplay, and he directed it. BRAVO!!!

Sam Elliott played Bradley Cooper’s older brother, although I didn’t get that connection until well into the film. His performance as great. I’m a huge fan. I loved him in everything from Tombstone to The Big Lebowski, to, most recently, the TV series The Ranch.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Unless you get out there and try to do it, you’ll never know. That’s just the truth. If there’s one reason we’re supposed to be here is to say somethin’ so people wanna hear it. So you gotta grab it and you don’t apologize. You don’t worry about why they’re listenin’ or how long they’re gonna be listening for. You just tell em what you wanna say.” Jackson Maine ~ A Star is Born (2018)

“You know it’s like, I dunno you… you float out… float out at sea then one day you find a port say, “I’m gonna stay here a few days.” Few days ‘comes a few years. Then you forgot where you’re going in the first place. Then you realize you don’t really give a sh*t about where you was goin’, cause you like where you at.” Noodles ~ A Star is Born (2018)

“Music is essentially twelve notes between any octave. Twelve notes and the octave repeats. It’s the same story told over and over. All the artist can offer the world is how they see those twelve notes.” Bobby ~ A Star is Born (2018)

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

https://youtu.be/mtWzWzZILSU

You can watch the official trailer here:

https://youtu.be/nSbzyEJ8X9E

See the 1976 and 2018 movie posters below:

My 2 Cents… Free Solo

Would you prefer to watch the video review, instead of reading it? CLICK HERE

MV5BMjMwYjcwNWQtNTQ5YS00MzVlLTkxYzMtNDIwZWIxZTE4Zjg2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,666,1000_AL_Title: Free Solo
Genre: Documentary (2019 Academy Award Winner for best documentary feature)
Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Stars: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Dierdre Wolownick, and Sanni McCandless

SHOW RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: N/A
Cinematography: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Acting: N/A
Overall: ★★★★★ (5)

STORYLINE:
Follow Alex Honnold as he becomes the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite’s 3,000 ft high El Capitan wall. With no ropes or safety gear, he completed arguably the greatest feat in rock climbing history.

MY 2 CENTS:
WOW!!! This beautifully filmed documentary is filled with breathtaking views, shocking athletic feats, sadly emotional admissions, and a love not truly reciprocated.

free solo

“Free Solo” Nat Geo

Through simply stunning visuals directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi were able to capture the substantial life-threatening risk this climb entails. Although going in, I already knew Alex Honnold’s climb was a success, I was on the edge of my seat worried he would get injured, fearful he wouldn’t make it, and wondering what kind of stress it was putting on his friends to watch him risk so much.

Alex Honnold is a truly amazing athlete, accomplishing something no one else has even dared to try. The amount of training, not to mention self-confidence, it must have taken to not only say, ‘Yeah, I think I’ll try that,” but then to do it and complete the climb in just four hours is incredible. This film gives you a look inside the man… not only at his physical challenges but also the mental challenges he endured throughout this process.

I felt bad for Sanni, Alex’s girlfriend. She seems to truly love him, but unfortunately, he will always put climbing before her. Climbing is his passion and he was very upfront and clear with her that she does not mean as much to him as climbing. I hope that one day, she will learn what it means to be that passionate about something… that she will also look at her life and decide if she wants to continue to be placed second… third… or even forth. Alex doesn’t deserve a girlfriend like her, I hope she realizes that someday.

free solo

Directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin on location for “Free Solo” National Geographic/Chris Figens

With all that said, I am amazed… and awe inspired by this film. I do wish the footage of the actual climb had been longer, but what they did give the viewers was nothing less than astonishing.

MY FAVORITE QUOTE:
“I think it’s the best thing in life to be able to take the one thing you love the most and have it, like, work out that you can make a living that way.”

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

https://youtu.be/jRqtmfowbeI

You can watch the official trailers and video clips here: