A Star is Born (2018), directed by Bradley Cooper

When a film has been overhyped and you see it late in its run it can often be a disappointment. Not so with this fourth iteration of A Star is Born, which is engaging and moving despite its familiarity. Lady Gaga is a revelation as Ally, a budding singer-songwriter discovered and nurtured by rock star Jackson Maine. Pretty boy Cooper is attractively weather-beaten as the alcoholic Jack, who is suffering from career-threatening tinnitus. He also sings really well. The music is strong; the largely anonymous supporting cast is solid; the central relationship is mostly believable. There are a few negatives: some of Cooper’s dialogue is mumbled and lost; except for Ally there is a striking lack of female characters and the film therefore doesn’t pass the Bechdel test, which is a pity; Ally’s total devotion to Jack occasionally strains credulity. In the end Gaga carries the day. She was born to play the role, so it will be interesting to see what she does next.