A Star is Born
Not going to lie, when my Mom asked me to go see this movie, I was NOT looking forward to it. First, let’s mention that A Star is Born has been remade three different times. The 1954 version starred Judy Garland and James Mason, the 1976 version starred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, and now in 2018 this gem of a movie stars Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
I was deterred not only by the fact that is was the third remake, but I also figured that it would be the same scenario I have seen a million times…rock star turns tragically to drugs and alcohol…something dramatic happens, then BAM! all is right in the world again (because everyone likes a comeback)!
This was not the case.
Yes, there were some of the same elements we typically see incorporated in a rock n’ roll feature film throughout the plot, but this movie was SO MUCH MORE!
Let’s talk about the incredible Lady Gaga. Now, if I’m being honest, I have actually never been a huge Lady Gaga fan. On the flip side, I have never denied that this woman is talented beyond words. And I have actually never thought that her hits songs accurately reflected her sheer amount of diversity and raw ability…this movie, however, definitely showcases her amazing range of musical gifts.
Bradley Cooper…I mean, can this actor “do wrong” on screen? He is a force no matter what role he plays, but this role was made for him. Now…here is the strange part, as I was watching the movie I kept forgetting that it was Bradley Cooper. I kind of felt like I was watching a Hank Williams Jr. documentary.
And the characters’ chemistry…holy cow! Have you ever watched a love story that gets very dramatic while the characters are arguing, and you almost feel like you are looking in on a private conversation and should look away? I felt like that more than once while watching this film!
The love story is poignant, real, and raw, the music is beautifully crafted and emotional, and the ending…well, let’s just say you should get ready for an ugly cry, so have some tissues handy.
Another huge plus for this movie…while it makes a great girls’ night out, men will also appreciate it…if not for the acting talent, then for all of the original music.
Although, I reluctantly went to this movie for my Mom…I have to say, this is on my short list of “must see movies” of the year.
So, grab your friends and family…and a packet of Kleenex, and mark this one on your calendar folks…you will not be disappointed!
My Best, and As Always…
A Simple Favor
Stephanie receives a phone call from her best friend Emily…Emily asks her a simple favor, “Can you pick my son up from school?” Stephanie agrees, and that one simple ask from a best friend turns into a roller coaster of mystery, drama, insanity, and surprisingly, a LOT of humor!
I knew that I wanted to see this movie, because who doesn’t love Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively? So when a good friend agreed to go check it out with me, I was thoroughly excited. I thought that we were about to watch a mysterious thriller…but I have to say, this movie kept surprising me with both plot and character narrative throughout the entire 1hr and 59m showing.
How could this duo disappoint? Putting them together in a motion picture was pure genius. They seem to be in life and in this movie the perfect “ying” to the other’s “yang”. Their characters were cast and scripted flawlessly…one hilarious and quirky, the other mysterious and regal…one dressed in an explosion of Lilly Pulitzer, while the other was trimmed head to toe in couture…one an open book of innocence and honesty, the other troubled and dark.
Throughout all of the strange plot detours and revealing character flaws…there was one underlying factor…these women were Moms (yes, one was the perfect room-mom who made killer Pinterest snacks, while the other was a global corporate force who easily admitted where she lacked in the maternal category), but in the end…their children were their main focus, the reason for their existence and erratic behavior, and the glue that kept this beautifully disastrous friendship together.
And the most shocking thing about this movie…was how much we laughed. Every time it started to get a little too disturbing and serious, Anna Kendrick would light up the screen with her perfect comedic timing or her ability to make any character she plays hilariously endearing.
Ladies, if you are looking for a night out with some friends and you want to go see a movie that is, to put it simply, different than any movie I have ever seen…do yourself A Simple Favor, carve out a couple of hours from that busy life schedule and check out this film!
Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you have a Fabulous Friday!
My Best, and As Always…
xoxo~ Tara Rae
The Book Club I Want to Join
To My Movie-Loving Ladies!
You know all of those MEMEs you send to your friends that say things like, “We’ll be friends until we’re old and senile…and then we’ll be new friends?” Well…this next post is for you and all those incredible friends who you joke about getting older with!
The Book Club is one of those movies, that makes you laugh until you cry, and then actually cry, because the friendships displayed in the film are the perfect depiction of one of the sweetest parts of getting older with your friends…unconditionally love, selfless support, and honesty to a fault. As the characters reacted to certain situations on the screen, I laughed, because I could easily see one of my friends having the same reaction…this made my heart smile (and also made me make a few catch-up phone calls that afternoon).
The other beautiful thing about this film is that you can watch it with your friends, watch it with your sister, or watch it with your Mom (which I did by the way)…because this movie transcends age! It is relatable no matter what stage of life you are currently in. It is refreshingly REAL.
We all try to be young and youthful, but for the first time in a long time, after watching this film…I looked forward to growing older, get wiser in the way that only age can make us, and being able to look back with my friends and say, “Wow…look how far we’ve come and all that we’ve been through?” Don’t get me wrong…I don’t want to wish away our boys’ childhoods by no means, but this film did get me thinking about the “elder” chapter of life and what that might look like. Who knows? It may be the sweetest one yet!
So grab a glass of wine (Better yet…why don’t you just go ahead and grab a bottle?), put on the baggiest sweatpants you own, curl up with your favorite ladies, and enjoy a couple of hours of uninterrupted fun!
(Trailer link below, DVD Release Date: August 28, 2018)
xoxo~ Tara Rae