“A Star is Born,” Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, is a grandiose feat of dazzling cinematography and emotional acting, yet intimately personal in the depiction of a tragic love story.

This is the fourth remake of “A Star is Born.” While the first two iterations in 1937 and 1954 tell the story of two lovesick actors, the later version in 1976 transformed the leads into star crossed singers. Clearly, audiences never tire of tragic romance.

Lady Gaga stars as Ally, a struggling musician who has a chance meeting with rockstar Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) at a drag bar. Both characters are immediately introduced as damaged — Ally by societal expectations of gender and Maine by alcohol and drug dependency.

The pair fall in love at first sight. Ally joins Jackson to embark on an epic tour, writing and performing music together across the country. While Maine’s alcoholism and drug abuse dismantle his success, Ally’s fame grows as she develops into a musical icon.

Cooper’s deep exploration into characterization — most likely guided by his accomplished acting experience — results in stunningly subtle, authentic performances by the leads.

Gaga’s Ally is piercingly real, hardened by the outside world’s expectations of how a woman should look and act. She constantly self-deprecates due to prior rejection by music executives based on her appearance. Ally only receives recognition of her musical abilities after discovery by Maine, a man who she constantly looks to for approval.

Gaga is gorgeous and the casting of such a well-known pop star brings forth the idea that it is impossible for anyone to adhere to the unrealistic societal expectations of womanhood.

Maine is also unpalatable to the general public as a washed up rockstar consumed by his disease.

The film utilizes these characterizations to highlight the enormous pressure placed on celebrities to conform to a larger-than-life image, when in reality they are susceptible to the same downfalls as everyday people.

Cooper’s nuanced representation of gender roles and the effects of fame should be applauded and are extremely relevant in the wake of increasing awareness of gender inequality.

Cooper’s performance as the grizzled Maine is possibly the best of his career. With skyscraper highs and rock-bottom lows, Maine doesn’t fall to the stereotypical slurred behavior of a drunk. Instead, Cooper portrays a genius who uses his addiction to not only escape past anxieties, but fully envelop himself into the transformative power of his music.

Even the way Cooper looks at Gaga is achingly complex. Ally’s beauty as well as Maine’s pain and self-loathing are illuminated through his gaze. Maine doesn’t believe someone as flawed as him deserves true love.

Gaga and Cooper’s passionate musical performances should also be lauded. Both actors aided in writing the soundtrack, with the main song, “Shallow,” most likely to be nominated for an Oscar.

The musical montages of the couple at Maine’s concerts are extravagant, with huge crowds and flashy, music video style cinematography. However, the utilization of close ups and the couple’s sparse, honest acting contrast the flamboyance of these scenes and allow the sentimentality of the relationship to shine through.  

“A Star is Born” tugs at the heartstrings, revamping a simple love story into a gorgeous, multifaceted emotional rollercoaster.

Bring a box of tissues.

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