Music from A Star Is Born

[trickg]

I took the missus to "A Star is Born" this weekend. I thought the film was very good, even though there were no major plot surprises. Anyone who knows the premise of the original is going to have a good idea of what this new envisioning will be.

In any case, I was very encouraged by the music from the soundtrack. Although there are a few forumulaic "pop-worthy" tracks from the part of the plot where she's getting wrapped up in her success and getting away from the heart of the music, the overarching theme is that music should be from the heart and a story you want to tell, and there area number of songs that (IMO) reflect that idea.

On a side note, I thought that Stephanie Germanotta/Lady Gaga did a heck of a job in her debut role as an actress. She held her own alongside of the rest of the cast.

Anyone else have any comments or observations? If you disagree with my assessment, that's perfectly ok - I'd like to hear other points of view.

 

[Destroyer772]

I took the missus to "A Star is Born" this weekend. I thought the film was very good, even though there were no major plot surprises. Anyone who knows the premise of the original is going to have a good idea of what this new envisioning will be.

In any case, I was very encouraged by the music from the soundtrack. Although there are a few forumulaic "pop-worthy" tracks from the part of the plot where she's getting wrapped up in her success and getting away from the heart of the music, the overarching theme is that music should be from the heart and a story you want to tell, and there area number of songs that (IMO) reflect that idea.

On a side note, I thought that Stephanie Germanotta/Lady Gaga did a heck of a job in her debut role as an actress. She held her own alongside of the rest of the cast.

Anyone else have any comments or observations? If you disagree with my assessment, that's perfectly ok - I'd like to hear other points of view.

The previews have me wanting to to take the wife out as well, and we have not went to the movies in year's. Lady Gaga has all kinds of talent.

 

[GetAgrippa]

I'd like to hear a comparison of the 50's vs 70s vs present version. Garland, Streisand and Gaga. Gaga's two predecessors are tough acts to follow.

 

[JohnnyG]

I thought the book was better.

 

[GetAgrippa]

I thought the book was better.

ROFL................................. I always liked the first 70s movie they abandoned and brought in some hack actor to replace me. They said it looked like dueling schnozes. Bunch of nose bigots. They told me my acting was phenomenal just no one would believe the drummer would get the girl. Kris well he plays guitar and sings. I'm like WTF the singer does always get the girl.

 

[Macarina]

I feel the movie is in Uber hype mode. People loving it because it’s the cool thing to do with Cooper and GaGa. I was bored silly. It’s very slow and long.

I found the music nothing to write home about... maybe the last number might have some legs.

 

[rummy]

I didn't know the premise going in, and it was a surprise for sure. It was a good movie, but I didn't think it was amazing like many made it out to be.

 

[Woolwich]

Going off the topic here, fooled by the hype my wife went to see it on Monday night with a friend. Stupidly I hadn’t checked the “Parents Guide” on IMDB, if I had I would have recommended she stayed at home, instead she spent a very uncomfortable 2+ hours being bombarded by the 73 recorded F words. At the risk of sounding old fashioned is there any need to shoehorn an F word into a 15 rated musical film every two minutes? Did it add to the plot?
And two ironies attached to the night, I stayed home and watched the incredibly sweary Goodfellas (an 18 rated gangster film in which the swearing “fits”) because knowing how offended she gets by this type of language I knew it’s not a film we’ll watch together . And last night I discovered that the Streisand/Kristofferson A Star Is Born is on Netflix! Hindsight is a wonderful thing but she could have avoided the offence and saved £11 by staying home. Oh, and swearing aside she didn’t think the film was that good anyway, she was impressed with Lady Gaga’s singing though and like Macarina thought the final song was “the best part of the film” for more than one reason, I won’t say why because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who’s going to see the film.

 

[rebonn]

I feel the movie is in Uber hype mode. People loving it because it’s the cool thing to do with Cooper and GaGa. I was bored silly. It’s very slow and long.

I found the music nothing to write home about... maybe the last number might have some legs.

I found it to be the complete opposite of your assessment.

 

[trickg]

Woolwich, I don't know about you, but in the world I live in, F-bomb is dropped all the time. There are people and places where I hear it more, and some places where I don't hear it much at all, but in certain circles, particularly within the community of musicians I know, the F-bomb is just a regular part of speech.

Possibly that the writers of the film simply wanted it to be realistic to life? To each their own though - if that kind of thing offends some people, then it is what it is.

As for the thought that it may have been over-hyped, that's possible. Dunno - I was impressed with the movie, and being a bit of a movie buff, there's not much in films that really impresses me anymore, although another movie that also happens to be a Bradley Cooper film, "The Silver Linings Playbook," is another movie that impressed me.

Regarding the comparison with the 1976 version with Kristofferson and Streisand, I felt this new version was markedly better - I made a point to watch the 1976 version so that I could maybe draw a comparison. They are two completely different stories, although they do follow somewhat parallel plot-lines. Let's just say that we've learned a lot about movie making in the last 42 years - it's really hard to compare a film of that age against today's offerings and have the older flick come out ahead. IMO.

 

[MrInsanePolack]

Woolwich, I don't know about you, but in the world I live in, F-bomb is dropped all the time. There are people and places where I hear it more, and some places where I don't hear it much at all, but in certain circles, particularly within the community of musicians I know, the F-bomb is just a regular part of speech.


Regarding the comparison with the 1976 version with Kristofferson and Streisand, I felt this new version was markedly better - I made a point to watch the 1976 version so that I could maybe draw a comparison. They are two completely different stories, although they do follow somewhat parallel plot-lines. Let's just say that we've learned a lot about movie making in the last 42 years - it's really hard to compare a film of that age against today's offerings and have the older flick come out ahead. IMO.

Regarding the f-word: first and foremost I think words are just words, but when and where to use certain ones is the problem. People seem to think that it's okay to curse any and all times, regardless of situation, context, recipient, etc. This is the degredation of the English language at it's finest. There are enough words available to allow the imagry to get across without being crass. I use them, but only if the situation calls for it or I am speaking with someone who uses them also. It's about respect for the recipient.

78 times is more than Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan, and Hacksaw Ridge. War movies, where vulgarity is more than expected.

As for new movies being better than old, all I need to say is Ghostbusters and The Shining.

 

[J-Boogie]

Regarding the f-word: first and foremost I think words are just words, but when and where to use certain ones is the problem. People seem to think that it's okay to curse any and all times, regardless of situation, context, recipient, etc. This is the degredation of the English language at it's finest. There are enough words available to allow the imagry to get across without being crass. I use them, but only if the situation calls for it or I am speaking with someone who uses them also. It's about respect for the recipient.

78 times is more than Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan, and Hacksaw Ridge. War movies, where vulgarity is more than expected.

As for new movies being better than old, all I need to say is Ghostbusters and The Shining.

They redid The Shining?? How could they!?

 

[trickg]

78 times is more than Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan, and Hacksaw Ridge. War movies, where vulgarity is more than expected.

But is it more than Pulp Fiction, Casino, or The Wolf of Wall Street?

Again, to each their own - it's kind of like nudity. It bothers some people more than others. When I first saw the movie Showgirls back in the day, one of the things that was talked about in the news was the amount of nudity, (bare female breasts) and at first it seemed like a lot, but eventually it was such a common thing that it was barely even noticeable.

As for remakes vs the original, it IS possible IMO to have a remake that is better than the original. Cases in point: (These are all my opinion - your opinions may vary)

A Star Is Born
True Grit (Seriously - by today's standards John Wayne is a TERRIBLE actor)
Scarface (The Pacino version is a remake)
Oceans 11
Casino Royale
Dredd (Blows Judge Dredd out of the water)
It
Cape Fear
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (I've seen both - the American remake is better.)
3:10 to Yuma

 

[MrInsanePolack]

But is it more than Pulp Fiction, Casino, or The Wolf of Wall Street?

Again, to each their own - it's kind of like nudity. It bothers some people more than others. When I first saw the movie Showgirls back in the day, one of the things that was talked about in the news was the amount of nudity, (bare female breasts) and at first it seemed like a lot, but eventually it was such a common thing that it was barely even noticeable.

As for remakes vs the original, it IS possible IMO to have a remake that is better than the original. Cases in point: (These are all my opinion - your opinions may vary)

A Star Is Born
True Grit (Seriously - by today's standards John Wayne is a TERRIBLE actor)
Scarface (The Pacino version is a remake)
Oceans 11
Casino Royale
Dredd (Blows Judge Dredd out of the water)
It
Cape Fear
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (I've seen both - the American remake is better.)
3:10 to Yuma

Definitely not more than Pull Fiction of Casino. Never seen The Wolf of Wall Street.

Of the movies you listed, I've only seen 3. The only one I really liked was 3:10 to Yuma.

I'm really picky about movies. Anymore it seems they are just big CGI fests with really thin, almost non-existent plots. We (my wife and I) mostly watch horror and war. Some of those moronic comidies (Step Brothers et al. ["I'm gonna put my nuts on your drum set!"]) are alright too.

 

[trickg]

I'm really picky about movies. Anymore it seems they are just big CGI fests with really thin, almost non-existent plots. We (my wife and I) mostly watch horror and war. Some of those moronic comidies (Step Brothers et al. ["I'm gonna put my nuts on your drum set!"]) are alright too.

I've been into movies since I was a kid, and I agree with you - these days it seems like movie makers are more intent on bludgeoning us with loads of CGI special effects, and they are all too often short on plot or character development.

I think that's part of the reason why I've gotten more and more into TV. These days the production value of many TV shows rivals that of movies, and they aren't limited to a 2-hour block of time to develop characters or story lines. Watching some TV is like watching an extended movie.

But I still stand by my thoughts on "A Star is Born," although having had a chance to listen to the soundtrack quite a bit, I've come to the conclusion that it sounds like Bradley Cooper is trying a bit too hard to play the role of the veteran, whiskey soaked, jaded rock star. He does a good job, but for those of us who are musicians, it sounds like what it is - a non-musician who has worked really hard in a short amount of time to sound like more than he really is.

 

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

If anyone is offended by swearing, then I’m afraid much sought-after social occasions with me are right out. Sorry to disappoint.