Bradley Cooper’s 2018 remake of A Star Is Born brought the classic doomed romantic tale to a grounded human level that previous interpretations never had before. It peeled away the glamour and the melodrama for a truly transformative depiction of how fame can ruin authenticity. The relatable spark between Cooper and co-star Lady Gaga may not have been possible had the legendary Clint Eastwood directed A Star Is Born with a different on-screen pairing.
Outside the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s long career of helming gritty crime dramas, war epics, and tales about aging, Eastwood has often been impressive anytime he steps out of his comfort zone. His genuine passion for jazz music contributed to his success in directing efforts such as Bird and the musical biopic Jersey Boys. Additionally, Eastwood directed and starred in his most emotionally resonant romantic film, opposite Meryl Streep, in The Bridges of Madison County. With credits in critically renowned musicals and romantic dramas, Eastwood had the clout to bring heart and soul to his take on A Star Is Born.
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The original 1937 film, produced by David O. Selznick, revolved around the movie business with Janey Gaynor playing a farm girl whose rise to stardom is aided by Fredric March’s once-celebrated actor-turned-alcoholic. Subsequent remakes of the romantic drama followed in 1951 and 1954. But the one most remembered before Cooper’s remake was the Jon Peters-produced 1976 version featuring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, which took the tale out of Hollywood and into the chaotic world of rock-and-roll music, fitting for the decade of The Eagles, Queen, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, among others.
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Before Eastwood’s short-lived involvement, Warner Bros. had been eying A Star Is Born for a remake as early as the late ‘90s with an ethnic twist. Oliver Stone was eyed to direct with the likes of Jamie Foxx and Will Smith for the male lead, while Lauryn Hill and Mariah Carey were considered for the title role. Eastwood was in the middle of working on J. Edgar in 2011 when he signed on to the project with Cooper and Beyoncé Knowles as the leads. Producer Bill Gerber recounted to The Hollywood Reporter the initial meeting between the cinematic icon and the pop music sensation by saying, “I’m watching something historic about to happen”.
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A new script was developed by Will Fetters in which Cooper’s character was inspired by the tragic life of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. By the time this draft was completed, however, Cooper had second thoughts about the role. At the time, in his mid-30s, The Hangover star deemed himself too young to be playing a rock star on the downward trajectory of his career and opted to work with Eastwood on American Sniper instead. Meanwhile, Beyoncé was pregnant with her child, Blue Ivy Carter. By early 2012, A Star Is Born only had a director and no leads.
Throughout Eastwood’s attachment to the project, jazz superstar Esperanza Spalding was considered as a potential replacement for Beyoncé, while leading men ranged between Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Christian Bale. However, the seasoned director had little time to figure out the right combination of stars as production was frequently delayed. Eastwood had other projects to keep him busy, including the aforementioned Jersey Boys and American Sniper. The latter picture elevated Cooper’s status in Hollywood to that of an Oscar-nominated actor, and by age 40, he had agreed to return to A Star Is Born not only to act but also to direct.
An Eastwood-helmed version of A Star Is Born could have added some emotional grit in addition to musical sequences that emphasized the soul of the music rather than the visual eye candy that most modern musicals feature. Cooper, in essence, filled Eastwood’s shoes by capturing his minimalist cinematic style of storytelling. The musical performance scenes featuring Cooper’s Jack and Gaga’s Ally have a deep, authentic look that never feels slick and polished like many modern pop musicals. Much like Eastwood’s directorial efforts, the best scenes are the ones with a quiet calm to them. In this case, the characters’ closeness in the parking lot scene when Ally first performs “Shallow” a cappella, a moment that reveals how Jack’s depleted energy gets a new jolt of life.
A Star Is Born is streaming on Apple TV in the US.