**/**** Image B+ Sound A- Extras B+
starring Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson, Gary Busey, Oliver Clark
screenplay by John Gregory Dunne & Joan Didion and Frank Pierson
directed by Frank Pierson
by Travis Mackenzie Hoover It was no doubt celestially preordained that Barbra Streisand would unleash herself on some cherished Old Hollywood warhorse. But while the Janet Gaynor/Judy Garland hand-me-downs that ultimately felt her musical wrath were nobody's idea of untouchable masterpieces, they at least played their cards right in terms of credulity towards celebrity and damaged spouses. The Streisand/Kristofferson A Star is Born lacks genuine investment in its central relationship between alcoholic rock star John Norman Howard (Kris Kristofferson) and his protégé/lover Esther Hoffmann (Streisand). We're supposed to take their epic love on faith, to say nothing of the burned-out cynicism of the descendant rocker; there's a lot of talk about disaffection and anguish, but Frank Pierson's camera never catches it and the actors never quite express it.
Addicted to various substances, John is the cliché washed-up music legend. We first see him fluffing his cues and goading the audience on a tour that's becoming (in)famous for these onstage antics. After one particularly unpleasant concert, he blows off his manager Bobbie Ritchie (Gary Busey–and you know you're in trouble when Gary Busey is the voice of reason) and catches a late gig of The Oreos. Said group consists of two black women flanking Streisand; "two black women," as it turns out, is the extent of our perception of her bandmates, as Streisand hogs the spotlight, earning herself a place in Howard's heart in the process. She tries to help him stay off the bottle while he helps her career, using a charity gig to launch her voice into the public eye (ear?). And wouldn't you know it, she rises and he falls. Though she's there to catch him, it eventually isn't enough.
A perfectly serviceable plot, to be sure–but by 1976, it would take a little more than plot to make A Star is Born soar: one would have to be unflinching in rendering the male star's Pink Floyd The Wall-ish plunge into depravity. Although hard-boiled novelists John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion share screenwriting credit, the cynicism with which celebrity begs to be viewed simply isn't there; co-writer/director Frank Pierson pulls every punch. Howard's bad behaviour earns him an indulgent wag of the finger, while Esther's histrionics are not so much anguished as adorable. That Pierson isn't skilled enough to catch inner states is quite obvious: the décor is lackadaisical and the camera style point-and-shoot. Everything is taken at face value, and as a result, the personal angst the movie needs to sell the characters' pain is nowhere in evidence.
Of course, Barbra Streisand has rarely been credible as anything other than Barbra Streisand. I suppose her striving to reach the top AND stand by her man should thrill her many fans, but not me: I've never found her anything less than comical when trying to feign emotion. She's a compelling performer but not an especially realistic one, and her turn as Esther doesn't exactly enhance her acting rep. Still, she's trying, which is more than one can say for the opaque Kristofferson: his idea of a complex and tormented characterization is to stare blankly, in the hopes that we'll take his stunned expression for soul-sickness and confusion. He further damns the production to the hell of the lightweight when it should be gunning for the heavy-duty.
THE DVD
Warner's DVD of A Star is Born faintly reeks of mothballs after being announced as a 2004 release and delayed again in 2005. The studio's recent track record has ruined us for less-than-perfect remasters, which, in the grand scheme of things, this is: the 1.85:1, 16×9-enhanced image looks ineffably mildewed, though the dated colours are well-separated and saturation is kept to a dull roar. A new Dolby Digital 5.1 remix sounds pretty good, even and round with nice subwoofer punch during Howard's/Kristofferson's arena rock. That said, it's nothing that desperately requires the rear speakers and mostly just amplifies the volume.
Extras begin with a feature-length yak-track from Streisand herself that almost completely does away with the presence of director Pierson: it's all about her choices as executive producer, from the details of the milieu to incorporating experiences from her relationship with producer/former hairdresser Jon Peters to the orange "halo" effect that stage lights evoke. It's an X-ray into her head, if nothing else. Also included are wardrobe tests (3 mins.) with optional Streisand commentary. Her comments basically extend to a trip down memory lane, with remarks on how good-looking Kristofferson was and that one shirt was way too bright. 12 deleted scenes ensue with more elective editorializing from Babs; there's a hilarious elision in which Esther tries to bake bread and a more touching one where John meets the singer who's just replaced him in his band, but aside from the throwaways and extensions of existing material there remains a singing Streisand flailing her arms with such abandon that she seems less like herself and more like Andrea Martin imitating her. Trailers for all three versions of A Star is Born round out the disc.
140 minutes; R; 1.78:1 (16×9-enhanced); English DD 5.1, French DD 1.0; CC; English, French, Spanish subtitles; DVD-9; Region One; Warner
