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Starts: 19:30
In A Star Is Born Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga fuse their considerable talents to depict the raw and passionate tale of Jack and Ally, two artistic souls coming together, on stage and in life
FILM NIGHT: A STAR IS BORN
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.
Shown in collaboration with SMHAFF (Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival)
Certificate 15, run time 2 hours 16 minutes.
Start time 7:30pm, tickets £5 (under 18s £3) at the door
A PURE WINNING STORY
A Star is Born tells the story of a country and western singer in the twilight of his career who helps a young artist find her voice. But as her star soars, his continues to fade…
It’s a cracking premise as we’re sure you’ll agree, which probably explains why they’ve already made it three times. A Star Is Born first hit the silver screen in 1937 with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March taking centre stage, followed by a Judy Garland and James Mason remake in 1954. A second remake burst onto screens in 1976, this time with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson hitting the high notes.
With three well-received versions already out there, a fourth take was always going to be a risk, but first-time director Bradley Cooper has created a musical drama to treasure. Much to his relief as much as anyone else’s it would seem.
“I just knew this could be the end of everything if it [didn’t] work,” Cooper told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s like, ‘Who’s this guy making the fourth [version] of this movie? Shut up already.’ But I still could not deny what I felt deep down.”
LADY GAGA: AN INCREDIBLE REVELATION
Although she’s acted before (in the likes of TV’s American Horror Story), A Star is Born is singer-songwriter Lady Gaga’s first leading role and she’s absolutely sensational. Gone is the flamboyant make-up, outrageous clothing (the meat suit anyone?) and confident personality she’s famed for, and in their place a shy, natural-faced young woman suffering from long-held insecurities and a serious case of stage-fright.
As young singer Ally, Gaga not only holds her own against screen veterans such as Cooper and Sam Elliott, she steals every scene she’s in. The Best Song Oscar is almost certainly in the bag , but could she win Best Actress too?
BRADLEY COOPER: A MAN OF MANY TALENTS
Not only does Bradley Cooper act and sing in A Star is Born, he’s behind the camera too – making his directing debut. It’s quite the triple act, and he carries each element off with confidence and in style.
We always knew he was a brilliant actor, of course – his three Academy Award nominations are testament to that – but his singing (especially when you consider he’s playing opposite Lady Gaga) really is a revelation; his throaty vocals will send shivers down your spine. As for his choices as director, they’re pretty much perfect, generously allowing Gaga’s star to soar.
SHOWSTOPPERS SONGS
A musical is only as good as its songs, and A Star is Born was always onto a winner. The six-time Grammy award victor provides several original tracks for the film including the goosebump-inducing Shallow; the scene where Jackson invites Ally onto the stage to sing this with him is arguably the film’s most triumphant moment.
Other contributors include Cooper himself, and acclaimed British musician Mark Ronson (producer of Amy Winehouse’s seminal album Back to Black).
Certificate 15, run time 2 hours 16 minutes.
Start time 7:30pm, tickets £5 (under 18s £3) at the door