My Issue With “A Star is Born”

My issue with Lady Gaga’s initial rise to fame in “A Star is Born.”

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED (BY MYSELF) ON MEDIUM

If there’s one takeaway from the first 30 minutes of A Star is Born, it’s that Bradley Cooper’s character, Jackson Maine, knows the ins and outs of fame. I mean, the dude is playing gigantic venues, has his own personal driver, and is constantly chased by the paparazzi. To think otherwise would mean you didn’t actually see the film or were making out with your date from the jump.

So when Jackson Maine falls in love with Lady Gaga’s character, Ally, and begins grooming her for fame, you’d think he would be the one guiding her on the proper path. Instead, Ally is approached after a gig by an image-conscious manager from Interscope Records, throwing her into a complete tizzy. At this point, it seems like Maine, though drunk as hell, isn’t totally pumped about the idea of her joining Interscope.

And this is my problem: Ally does join forces with Interscope rather than remain under the tutelage of Maine.

Think about it…in today’s musical climate, it doesn’t matter if you’re independent or with a gigantic label. If your work is poppin’ off, which Ally’s is (ie: viral YouTube video), you’re well on your way to stardom.

Why doesn’t Ally slow-play her rise and sign with whatever label Maine is on? I mean, it’s the logical thing to do. Put yourself in her shoes: this guy found me, this guy knows fame, and this guy cares about me — so why jump ship and go with a group of complete strangers? Maine’s label would be happy to have the talent, and with Maine co-signing, it’s pretty much guaranteed that she’ll get a deal.

You know this is what Maine wants, yet he’s pushed to the side in favor of Interscope. It’s not featured in the film but I’m sure this is a conversation they had. Still, she opts to go the other way for a quicker rise to fame.

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The film has a surprise ending but is very compelling and entertaining. But if you leave the film thinking Ally/Lady Gaga isn’t a little at fault for the way things played out, I’d say you’re forgetting her initial pop. Simply put, she should have stayed under Maine’s wing just a little longer until she knew a little more about the business. Had that happened, I believe things would have played out differently.