D @ vA Have an idea for a story? M arts@theotherpress.ca ¢ The Vancouver Writers Fest preview ¢ ‘Memoir of War’ VIFF film review e ‘Trench’ by Twenty One Pilots album review ..and more! Rebirth of a classic musical movie > ‘A Star Is Born’ film review Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist wee K KY WwW awards season happening right now there are a lot of films being released that could win awards. One of the most highly-anticipated films this fall is the new version of A Star is Born. This modernization of the 1954 Judy Garland classic (which was itself adapted froma 1937 film) starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper is also Cooper’s first film as a director. Even though I have not seen the original version of the film yet, this remake was like an entirely different film and it is as great as the original by today’s standards. Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) is one of the biggest musicians in the world but also a heavy drinker and a drug addict. After a concert, he goes to a drag club and is mesmerized by Ally (Lady Gaga), who also works as a server and writes her own songs. When Jackson repeatedly asks Ally to go with him to a gig, she quits her job, attends the gig and shows herself on the big stage. As Ally gets more popular and goes through the music industry machine, Jackson and Ally’s collaboration gets more magical. The film seems like an accurate depiction of the music industry and shows the many problems that a musician has to go through. When Ally makes her first album, her producer, Rez (Rafi Gavron), tells her that she has to make some changes, like change her hair colour and have backup dancers. Ally resents these changes, especially in comparison to Jackson’s approach, which allowed her to be herself. It shows that music producers should give musicians more creative freedom. This message affected the end of the film, which is a bit disappointing. The songs in the film are great, especially since there have not been many great songs in the last few months until this film was released. The tracks were written by both Lady Gaga and Cooper. Jackson’s songs reminded me of the songs in the Robert Altman film Nashville. Any of them could be nominated for Best Original Song in the Academy Awards next year, including the song Jackson and Ally sing when she shows her musical talent for the first time, “Shallow”. In my opinion, A Star is Born is the best soundtrack of this year. Cooper’s directing style involves handheld camera movements and close- ups in slow motion, with characters looking at the camera with beautiful images. When he plays Jackson, it is as if he is impersonating Sam Elliott who plays his brother and manager, Bobby. The scene where the brothers fight is as interesting as the scene in Precious when Precious argues with her mother. In.A Star is Born we see Gross, honest, and so relatable » ‘Big Mouth: season 2’ review Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor B’ Mouth is disgusting, and | highly recommend not watching this during dinner, to say the least. I learned that the hard way. However, I do recommend watching it at some point. The show features a boy named Andrew, his friends Jessi, Nick, Jay, and a multitude of other young people going through the blossomings of puberty. Although Big Mouth is geared towards adult viewers, it would do good for young teens to watch the show because it addresses many stigmatized topics that may not always be open for discussion. The heart of the show is based in raunchy humour, and there is no holding back. The humour is utilized extremely well and does its job in helping to recreate those awkward pubescent years far too realistically. Looking back on them now, they are horrifying—but since we've all had our slew of embarrassment, Big Mouth serves to shed a light on those years, so we can all laugh together, and suddenly some of our worst memories don’t seem that bad. The series deals with a broad range of topics that may not be discussed by... well, anyone, really. However, the way it deals with said topics is remarkable in the sense that it is never preachy. The main messages are almost always in parables. This happens to be one of the best ways to ‘Big Mouth’ still tackle topics like these, since telling stories and voicing the main messages indirectly is a soft approach to opening viewers up to social issues, allowing them to explore their own thoughts and feelings on a subject ina non-judgemental way. Another way the show keeps a judgement-free atmosphere is through the character development. The show doesn't preach a right or wrong directly, but it’s still made obvious enough which is which. Every lovable character is always in the wrong about something, which helps keep the viewer from feeling alienated about their own beliefs. Some of the topics include the objectification of women, feminism, body image issues, relationships, and family issues. The show’s main character, Andrew, and his male friends succumb to falling for a girl simply because her chest begins developing. The girls in their grade who are not developing at the same rate begin feeling self-conscious (which later translates into a musical number about loving your body). The animation of the series goes very into detail on everything from bile to bodies, letting us visually appreciate how terrible it all really is. While humorous and gross, the show provides tremendous bouts of advice on just about everything, for young teens and adults alike. The characters are all getting acquainted with relationships and they derive their knowledge from many places, including the ghost of Duke Ellington ‘A Star is Born’ still Dave Chappelle in a dramatic role—instead of his usual stand-up comedy routines—as Jackson’s best friend George. There is also a nod to the original version in the beginning of the film when Ally walks outside of the parking lot in her workplace. The new version of A Star is Born is an instant classic and it’s great both visually and musically. in Nick’s attic. Nick asks Ellington for relationship advice and Ellington responds by telling him to simply listen to women, who he says, “just want to be treated like human beings.” A large aspect of the characters, and the entire show, is the involvement of all the teenagers’ parents. Andrew’s parents often harbour a negative outlook on everything Andrew likes, yet show compassion through involvement in his life regardless. Jay’s family is extremely dysfunctional: His mother is psychotic and an alcoholic, his father constantly cheats on his mother, and his brothers bully him. Honestly though, Jay’s entire life is dysfunctional (he has sexual relationships with personified pillows—it’s a mess). Jessi’s parents are going through a divorce, so a lot of screen time is dedicated to how Jessi is coping (or in this case, lashing out and rebelling). A lot of the smaller details from pubescent years are thrown in for kicks, such as how their sex-ed teacher has never had sex and knows nothing about the subject whatsoever. From my own experience regarding sex education in public school, that is oh-so-relatable. Luckily for the teenagers, they are surrounded by strong characters, whether it be their friends, siblings, or parents, who take opportunities like these to broaden the horizons of characters and viewers alike, allowing everyone to learn and grow as a person.