A Star Is Born

The problem with a story that has been told several times before is that the later retelling may lack suspense. This was clearly going to be an issue with Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born. It is a difficulty that the film overcomes by the weight of the underlying performances. Lady Gaga is terrific as the neophyte Ally. Her star turn should not however take anything away from Cooper's own effort as the fading, catastrophic rock star who falls in love with her and passes her rising star on his own way down. I found Cooper affecting, almost too much so - he captures the raw self-loathing and self-destructiveness that characterises the addict.

Worth watching. 7.5/10.