Babs is Born
This entry was posted on 1/8/2012 12:46 PM and is filed under Movies.
I watched the final version of A Star is Born last night. The 1976 version stars Barbra Streisand as Esther Blodgett Hoffman and Kris Kristofferson as Norman Maine John Norman Whatsisname. Instead of a charming, alcoholic, self destructive movie star on the down side of his career, he plays a charming, coke addled, alcoholic, self destructive rock star who seems to hate the life, the fans and himself.
And he's smokin' hot in the role.
Barbra Streisand was awful. Yes, she can sing but my GOD, she couldn't act her way out of an elementary school production. Through most of the movie it doesn't matter but I've never seen a less convincing portrayal of a broken heart than the scene in which she catches her husband cheating. The depth of emotion and the feeling of betrayal she displayed was more appropriate to someone sitting in your spot in the lunch room than walking in on your husband and some chick in your bed together.
I have to admit; I'd rather listen to Kris K. with an acoustic guitar than Barbra with a full orchestra seven days a week. The final scene, rather than introduce herself to the world as "Mrs. Norman Maine", like both Janet and Judy did, Babs sings a tribute to him in concert. Not only does she sing the last song he wrote, she turns it into an all out homage to him by segueing into his biggest hit.
Watching Babs try to rock out was not only painful, it was embarrassing.
But I liked this version much better than the Judy Garland/James Mason film. Mostly because the music was better and Kris K was awesome.
I do love me some Kris Kristofferson.
