Blu-ray Review: A Star is Born (2018)

Synopsis: ​In "A Star Is Born," Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga fuse their considerable talents to depict the raw and passionate tale of Jack and Ally, two artistic souls coming together, on stage and in life. Theirs is a complex journey through the beauty and heartbreak of a relationship struggling to survive.

Main Feature: I still marvel at how much I love the latest incarnation of "A Star is Born." I am not a music guy. Movies move me. And this one, with it's music, truly left me in a new place, shifting me with his passion and love for the material. Each element, from top to bottom, is exquisite. Script, music, acting, directing. This is about as perfect as you can get. Bradley Cooper shines in a directing-acting dual obligation. Lady Gaga dazzles, as she is always prone to doing. Sam Elliot gives a career performance. And even Andrew Dice Clay and Dave Chappelle adapt themselves to the material and give dynamic, inspiring performances. And, yes, "Shallow" remains stuck in my head at all times. 

Special Features: This is where the release drops the ball. There are supposed extended music scenes around. There are dozens of interviews and a full expanded, bonus-layered home entertainment release that is warranted, but Warner Bros. either ignored that or are saving it up for a huge, collectible edition (count me in on the latter, if so). Until then, we get jam sessions with gaga, music videos, and all the music scenes in one place. Its an average batch of extras. There is a nice half-hour making-of featurette that does cover some great stuff and is the highlight of the extras (not to discount the musical selections and abilities of the others). 

Final Call: This Blu-ray release of the new "A Star is Born" is shallow on extras but still strikes an emotional depth like no other.