FREE FOR EVERYONE: A Star Is Born

Honestly, I could make the case to watch this film based on the soundtrack alone – we all knew Lady Gaga was a powerhouse, but with a surprisingly soulful, raspy timbre, Bradley Cooper completes a unexpectedly complimentary leading couple. Following the love story between a semi-washed-up country star (Cooper) and the phenomenal talent he discovers (Gaga), the film navigates the tension between love, ambition, and the discomfort of the private being constantly public. The joys of creative inspiration, conflicts surrounding artistic authenticity, and the struggles of addiction are anchored in the pair’s relationship, played out with painstaking honesty across a number of years. From intense highs to dangerous lows, this film pulls at the heart-strings – made all the more emotive by the how hard the music slaps.

Anna Taylor