The big problem with A Star Is Born is that it has a major story flaw that ultimately makes it ponderous and virtually pointless.
The first part of the story (Act 1, if you will) is terrific. You have megastar Norman, a hostile, entitled, indulgent star with little to offer anyone other than "who he is," meeting young, fresh-faced Esther. The one thing that makes Norman human is his love and affection for Esther. He sees the potential, and he helps her every way he can. And we watch her star rise, and his fall. And it's a very compelling story, because we can see what's coming. She's going to make it big-time, and he's going to crash and burn. This part of the plot is classic. It works. It's great drama.
The second half (Act II, if you will) is where the major flaw comes in. Norman is at rock bottom. He can no longer help Esther, because he is physically incapable of it. And Esther doesn't need his help anymore. She's a huge star herself. So you have these two people feeling sorry for themselves. It's a giant, self-indulgent, bloated mess. She's weepy, he's morose and suicidal. And it goes on, and on, and on, ultimately undermining everything that came before it. At the end you have dead Norman and weepy Esther, holding her head high. It's a tepid ending to what started out as a very strong, powerful story. There is no moral, no glimmer of hope, no poetic perspective, no lesson to be learned. It's just people (privileged people, at that) feeling hugely sorry for themselves. Boo--Friggin'--Hoo.
The only version that ever stomped on this a bit and "woke it up" was the Gaynor/March adaptation in the '30s. The character of the grandma, played by May Robson (who is excellent). We see her at the beginning of the story, when Esther is poor and dreams of being a big star. Her family all laughs at her, except for Grandma. She believes in Esther. She gives her the money for a bus ticket to Hollywood to give it a shot. Then we have the classic tale unfold, and at the end---after Norman has died and Esther is crying for the 300th time (enough already!)---Grandma shows up again and slaps some sense into her. She "wakes her up" and puts things into perspective about life, love, career, and what is really important in the world. THAT's the perspective that is sorely lacking from the other self-indulgent, morose, bloated messy versions of this story.
I love the Garland adaptation, but even Judy and an excellent James Mason can't overcome the flaws in the plot and character development (or lack thereof in the second half). Too much crying and feeling sorry for oneself kills it, and trivializes everything that comes before.
Bring "Grandma" back into the mix, or a character that serves the same purpose. There has to be perspective and focus on this story, or it just doesn't work well at all.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
