A Star is Born (2018)

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... A Star is Born (2018)!

Original image located here. Accessed 27th March 2026

AKA: The one with Lady Gaga in it.

Once again, the question I posed previously persists: Given that there are four versions of this movie, what is it about it that keeps bringing people back to it?
I have mentioned the potency of the source material, the potential for real-life parallels and how easily this movie can adapt to the times. But another reason comes to mind: The role of the female lead is one that any actress can really sink their teeth into - Indeed, it is telling that each remake is defined by who plays the female lead. I guess it's fair to say Judy Garland ended up setting a benchmark that many an actress has sought to match.

Of the four this is the most recent and, without a doubt, the one most people will be familiar with - after all, that's what star power does for you. So, lets bring this little experiment to a close.

Of the three predecessors, this one owes the most to the 1976 version. And it's not just the rock music framework: A lot of the plot points were reiterated quite closely. And that is odd given that each of the previous iteration has something of their own to say. It is telling that Jon Peters, producer of the 1976 version is also credited as producer here too (still no sign of a giant mechanical spider though).
Still, this does have what worked previously: The instance of a first timer with something to prove (director Bradley Cooper and star Lady Gaga) The real-life parallels with Cooper and Gaga showing chemistry both on and off screen and the implication of a rock star being surpassed by a modern form of pop music. 

But does this movie has something of it's own to say? Well yes: Lady Gaga delivers a stellar performance and her afore-mentioned chemistry Cooper does indeed sparkle. But hey, this is tried and tested material so you know it's going to work.