Film Review - "A Star Is Born"

A Star Is Born
Directed by Bradley Cooper
Starring Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, & Sam Elliot

This is the time of year when studios start releasing the films they believe can win Oscar Gold, and achieve awards season glory. These are the films you'll be hearing audiences and critics talk a lot about for the next few months. One of those films is sure to be A Star Is Born.
The third remake of the 1937 film starring Janet Gaynor,  A Star Is Born tells a timeless tale anew that is sure to leave a lasting emotional impression on a new generation of movie-theater audiences.

The film tells the story of Jackson Maine (Cooper, also in his directorial debut) a famous country singer battling tinnitus, as well as drug and alcohol addiction. While on tour, Jack drops into a drag-bar for a drink, where he discovers waitress and singer-songwriter Ally (Gaga). They soon strike up a relationship, and at one concert Jack brings her on stage to sing with him. From there her star starts to rise, while Jack's starts to fall…

The film does a wonderful job illustrating the themes of fame and the affects it has not just on a person, but their loved ones and their own creative aspirations. Like I said before, it's a timeless message, and you can understand why this film has been remade over and over. I've never seen the other versions of A Star Is Born, but this story is beautifully, masterfully told.

Part of that lies in the undeniable chemistry between our two leads. Bradley Cooper has always been one of my favorite actors, and it's nice to see him back on the screen, and not just hearing his voice come out of Rocket Raccoon. As far as a directorial debut, he knocks it out of the park. He has a great understanding of how to to bring a story to life through the camera. As far as acting, this is probably one of his greatest performances. It is both heartfelt and heartbreaking.

What more can be said about Lady Gaga? She is amazing. Her performance is incredible. Obviously we all knew she can sing, but as Ally she is clever and passionate, commanding every moment she's on screen. Together, her and Cooper make a wonderful pair. You feel the love their characters have for each other, the pain that they go through, and the joy that they share in.

Legendary Sam Elliot plays a Jack's older brother/manager Bobby. He is both loving and stern in this supporting role while maintaining his iconic suaveness. Andrew Dice Clay is literally unrecognizable as Ally's father, and adds some nice little moments of levity. Dave Chapelle makes a brief appearance as an old friend of Jack's. It's not a major part of the film, but it's a poignant performance.

This is a musical so we got to talk about some of the music. It's awesome. You won't be walking out of the theater humming a lot of these songs but they will definitely leave an impact. "Shallow" is definitely the best of the songs, followed closely by the final number, where Gaga brings down the house. Again, we all knew Lady Gaga can sing like nobody's business, but  Cooper is also a great singer in his own right.

Expect A Star Is Born to bring home plenty of trophies in the coming months, most likely for Gaga and Cooper. It is easily one of the best films of the year. A resonating tale of fame, love, and sacrifice, brought to life by two of (in my opinion) the most talented artists working in Hollywood right now. Even though it's the fourth version of A Star Is Born, the response it has has gotten makes it hard to believe anyone will attempt a fifth for the foreseeable future. One might say, this film's star isn't going to fade anytime soon…

Film Review - "Venom"

Venom
Directed by Ruben Fleischer
Starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, and Riz Ahmed

Hey all you 21+ readers out there. You ever been at a party, and see someone completely plastered, making a total, trashy spectacle of themselves? You ever get the feeling to step in and put a stop to it, but you can't because what you're watching is somewhat entertaining? That's Venom.

The first film in an Anti-Marvel Cinematic Universe from Sony, Venom tells the origin of one of Spider-Man's most infamous foes (Just without Spider-Man, because of the whole shared custody thing. That's okay, you know Venom's origin is only like, totally linked to Spider-Man..).

Genius-but-sinister millionaire Carlton Drake (Ahmed) is searching for new habitable planets for humanity out in space. One of his rockets returns to Earth in a fiery wreck, with alien symbiotes for testing. Drake begins less than humane-tests to merge symbiotes with humans. Meanwhile, disgraced journalist Eddie Brock (Hardy) investigates Drake and his company. While breaking into Drake's laboratory with concerned scientist Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate), Eddie merges with one of the symbiotes.

The symbiote begins to manipulate Eddie, but soon they realize they will both need each other to get what they want, and to survive. Together, they will become Venom.

Venom is hot trash. There's no disputing that. The script is rushed and as flimsy as the paper it was probably printed on. The film blows through key plot points in the beginning to get Eddie to hit rock bottom and into a position where he will break into the lab to expose Carlton Drake and bond with Venom. But at the same time, the actual Venom doesn't show up until halfway through the film. So pacing's a bit of an issue.

There's no emotional investment to have in what any of the characters are doing, because there's no time left for real plot or character development. We don't fret about what Carlton Drake is doing because we don't really know him or his motivations. We don't worry over Eddie and Anne (Michelle Williams)'s relationship because we hardly see them together as a couple.

If you're a character in this film and your name is not Eddie Brock or Venom you're pretty much a plot device and nothing more. Michelle Williams gives a nice performance, but it's undeserving of a generic "concerned ex-girlfriend" role. Riz Ahmed, also a very talented actor, is just playing the bland, CEO villain. Poor Jenny Slate is all but wasted in her small and insignificant role.

The saving grace of Venom…is Venom. Tom Hardy gives an amazing performance both as Eddie Brock and Venom. The relationship dynamic between human and symbiote characters is truly a delight to watch, and the CGI on Venom is great (Not so much on his nemesis Riot, but that's beside the point). It probably wasn't the intention of the filmmakers, but Eddie & Venom's relationship provide a lot of laugh out loud moments. It turns the film into a very awkward buddy-comedy. Again, probably not what they wanted, but I'd be more than willing to see Hardy reprise this role in a much better film.

Venom houses a truly great performance from its lead actor. Unfortunately it's trapped within the center of a poorly made and poorly written film. Sort of like Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, I'd like to see Hardy's Venom back in a film more worthy of his time and effort. The box office returns suggests a Venom 2 will happen, but with Sony at the wheel, the quality is in question.

Then there's the whole question of "Is this connected to the MCU?" The answer changes depends on who you ask, and wether it's a question of film quality or profit. Then you also have to wonder if the success of Venom will give Sony the hubris to say to Marvel, "You know what? We don't need you to make Spider-Man films anymore."…

…Hey let's review A Star Is Born next!