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The Rewatchables ·

A Star Is Born

year 2018decade 10sdirector Bradley Coopergenre Musicalgenre Romancegenre Drama
host Bill Simmonshost Amanda Dobbinshost Sean Fennessey format New Release Exception
All 16 categories

Most Rewatchable Scene · 26:58

The live performance of “Shallow”

Bill Simmons: The panel calls the live “Shallow” performance the clear winner and one of the century’s best seven-minute sequences.

Bill Simmons: The drag-bar introduction works through Bradley Cooper watching Lady Gaga and then singing “Maybe It’s Time.”

The film

A Star Is Born (2018)

Directed by Bradley Cooper · Musical

136 minutes

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Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Bradley Cooper Jackson "Jack" Maine
Lady Gaga Ally Maine
Dave Chappelle George "Noodles" Stone
Sam Elliott Bobby Maine
Rafi Gavron Rez Gavron
Drena De Niro Paulette Stone

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

26:58

Most Rewatchable Scene

The live performance of “Shallow”

The live performance of “Shallow”

In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:58Read transcript
  • The panel calls the live “Shallow” performance the clear winner and one of the century’s best seven-minute sequences. — Bill Simmons
  • The drag-bar introduction works through Bradley Cooper watching Lady Gaga and then singing “Maybe It’s Time.” — Bill Simmons
  • The grocery-store parking lot is praised as an intimate songwriting and courtship scene.
  • The Bradley Cooper and Sam Elliott fight is praised as an amazing compact scene. — Bill Simmons
  • “Always Remember Us This Way” is treated as Gaga’s last great musical moment before the pop-star turn.
  • The Grammys sequence becomes darkly comic on repeat viewing even though its humiliation remains difficult to watch. — Bill Simmons
  • The final Cooper and Elliott scene became a durable meme and emotional payoff. — Bill Simmons
  • The cop-bar conversation is praised as an unusually specific and believable flirting scene. — Sean Fennessey
  • The supermarket sequence sustains the early romance through mundane details and the leads’ chemistry. — Sean Fennessey
  • Dice and the drivers watching the viral video provide a charming family-comedy interlude. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The parking-lot scene is the preferred runner-up because Bradley Cooper recognizes Gaga writing a song in real time.
  • The opening concert introduces Jackson’s addiction, charisma, and physical mess without dialogue. — Sean Fennessey
  • Ally’s bathroom introduction establishes a separate crisis and character with equal economy. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The “Shallow” scene is praised for every checkpoint Lady Gaga crosses before stepping onto the stage. — Bill Simmons
  • Bradley Cooper’s supportive reactions communicate love, belief, and encouragement, making that support a major part of his performance. — Amanda Dobbins
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42:23

What’s Aged the Best?

Sam Elliott’s driveway reaction, Jackson’s speech about truth and having legs, the inherited franchise line, the endi...

Sam Elliott’s driveway reaction, Jackson’s speech about truth and having legs, the inherited franchise line, the ending, and the soundtrack

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:42:23Read transcript
  • Sam Elliott’s silent tear and the brothers’ inability to speak directly are expected to remain a durable meme and emotional truth.
  • Jackson’s “dig deep in your soul” speech to Lady Gaga about truth and having legs is treated as inspirational. — Bill Simmons
  • The ending improved on rewatch because Gaga’s performance cuts back to Bradley Cooper creating the song.
  • The soundtrack is expected to endure because its two musical personas both have convincing songs. — Sean Fennessey
  • “I just wanted to take another look at you” moved from punchline to sincere and memorable franchise line.
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47:14

What’s Aged the Worst?

The second hour, the Dave Chappelle detour, the abrupt marriage, the weak SNL pop song, and the movie’s confused pop-...

The second hour, the Dave Chappelle detour, the abrupt marriage, the weak SNL pop song, and the movie’s confused pop-music argument

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:14Read transcript
  • The second hour is harder to rewatch than the first and begins to grind around the Dave Chappelle section.
  • Chappelle performs well, but the material does not explain why his character and the sudden marriage are necessary. — Bill Simmons
  • The SNL scene supplies cool backstage access, but the song itself is judged poor. — Bill Simmons
  • Jackson’s suicide is defended as necessary tragedy and the culmination of earlier addiction and depression signals. — Sean Fennessey
  • “Why Did You Do That?” is criticized as neither a plausible hit nor a clear intentional parody. — Bill Simmons
  • The movie appears to condemn pop music without showing why Gaga’s character loses agency or why Jackson Maine’s style is more authentic. — Sean Fennessey
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58:34

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Andrew Dice Clay

Andrew Dice Clay

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:34Read transcript
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1:08:51

Apex Mountain

This is Bradley Cooper’s career apex; Lady Gaga is debated and receives only a tentative yes unless an acting win fol...

This is Bradley Cooper’s career apex; Lady Gaga is debated and receives only a tentative yes unless an acting win follows.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:51Read transcript
  • The film is called Cooper’s unquestioned career apex. — Bill Simmons
  • Gaga had already achieved exceptional global pop fame before the film. — Sean Fennessey
  • Her fan base is credited with much of the movie’s worldwide commercial reach. — Sean Fennessey
  • The panel gives Gaga a tentative apex verdict, becoming certain only if she wins Best Actress. — Sean Fennessey
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1:10:33

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Ron Rifkin and Greg Grunberg are co-winners over Anthony Ramos.

Ron Rifkin and Greg Grunberg are co-winners over Anthony Ramos.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:33Read transcript
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1:11:08

Is This Movie Better With…?

Michael K. Williams is the preferred addition at Chappelle’s house; Danny Trejo and Steve Buscemi are also offered.

Michael K. Williams is the preferred addition at Chappelle’s house; Danny Trejo and Steve Buscemi are also offered.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:08Read transcript
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1:11:47

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Rafi Gavron’s manager Rez

Rafi Gavron’s manager Rez

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:47Read transcript
  • The panel finds no obvious signature overacting performance. — Bill Simmons
  • Rez is criticized as a weak link and receives the award as reverse acclaim. — Bill Simmons
  • The similarity between the character name Rez Gavron and actor name Rafi Gavron is questioned. — Sean Fennessey
  • The manager reads as an insidious Billy Zane type until the final confrontation becomes overtly villainous.
  • With the right actor, the panelist says he would have bought the career-ending confrontation. — Amanda Dobbins
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1:22:02

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

No; a ten-episode version would be fundamentally different

No; a ten-episode version would be fundamentally different

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:02Read transcript
  • The panel answers no to a ten-episode streaming remake. — Sean Fennessey
  • The panel says a ten-episode Netflix version would be weird. — Sean Fennessey
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1:24:46

Who Won the Movie?

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:46Read transcript
  • Cooper is the immediate winner despite the episode’s expectation that the Oscars may not reward him. — Bill Simmons
  • His acting is considered equal to Gaga’s, with directing and authorship making the difference. — Bill Simmons
  • The star-director combination makes this one of the clearest winners across the podcast to that point. — Bill Simmons
  • Directing while staying in character, remembering lines, and playing off scene partners is emphasized as extremely difficult. — Bill Simmons
  • The gamble’s success completes the case for Cooper.
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Bradley Cooper
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Bradley Cooper
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