A Star is Born, a new movie remake by Director Bradley Cooper, left me with some concerning thoughts. The movie is great, but also is one of the biggest failures. Why does it fail?

This movie digs back into the sad and unfortunate reality of mental health and suicide. (Spoiler Alert) Why would anyone “in their right mind” commit suicide? When you look at the onslaught of celebrity suicides, over doses and early deaths, it cuts like a razor. When these celebrities seemingly had it all, they needed more from life than life could ever give them. The pain of living was too much that they committed suicide or medicated themselves to a point where their lives were ended in an overdose. This is serious!

This Movie Fails and Fails BIG!

Suicide is Not Entertainment! The bottom line is that suicide, in this movie, was made entertainment. This was not a love story. This was a story of a man that needed real help, but fell through the cracks despite being in AA and going through rehab. In the movie, Jackson Maine, the movie’s main character, alludes to committing suicide through his humored remembrance of his suicide attempt as a 13 year old boy. This is where the “social worker” in the rehab community missed the cue.

I personally have lost 4 friends to suicide or an overdose. Watching this movie, I couldn’t help thinking of them. They were all so bright and full of life and truly loved people, but decided that they weren’t enough or the pain was too much. In the end, they decided that ending their lives could somehow solve their problem and was a real solution for them. However, their suicide, like this movie, only created more heartache. That’s where I find this movie leaving me. I can’t bring my friends back, but we can prevent senseless suicides when the opportunity presents itself. “A Star is Born” failed to stop another suicide.

The Failure of “A Star is Born”

This movie had a present day obligation that went unmet. This was a great opportunity to talk to people that had been contemplating suicide. It failed to direct people to someone that would be willing to listen to them. It failed to make a difference in the world. It failed to stop another suicide! If you are struggling or have struggled with alcohol, drugs or have thought of suicide, please be aware. This movie is riddled with scenes of drunkenness and drugs.

In the midst of what could have been a a clear miss on the part of all involved in the movie “A Star is Born”, Lady Gaga and Tedros Adhanom wrote a letter on the very subject of suicide. They cite the fact that nearly 800,000 people around the globe commit suicide every single year! The article entitled “800,000 people kill themselves every year. What can we do?” addresses many of these issues in an ever stressful world.

“In too many places mental health support services are non-existent and those with treatable conditions are criminalized. Bold action is long overdue”.

You can read more, here.

Suicide | Not An Option

There are people that loved Jackson Maine in the movie, and there is always someone that is hurt more by act of suicide than the issues and problems facing us in life and those facing a mental health issue. Think about that. Suicide breaks love down and will never have a chance to give. Suicide only takes. In this movie, Jackson Maine had much more love to give and by committing suicide took everything away from the people that loved him.

Suicide Hotlines

If you are thinking about suicide or simply need to talk to someone, please call the suicide prevention hotline. Know that there are people that would be devastated by you even thinking of this!

Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline

If you are a Veteran and have thought of suicide or just need someone to talk to, please call the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255

A Star is Born | Movie Information

“A Star is Born” stars four-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper (“American Sniper,” “American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”) and multiple award-winning, Oscar-nominated music superstar Lady Gaga, in her first leading role in a major motion picture. Cooper helms the drama, marking his directorial debut.

In this new take on the tragic love story, he plays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers—and falls in love with—struggling artist Ally (Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer… until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.



The cast of “A Star is Born” also includes Andrew Dice Clay, with Dave Chappelle and Sam Elliott.

In addition to playing Ally, Gaga, who earned her Oscar nod for the song “Til It Happens to You” from “The Hunting Ground,” performs original songs in the film, which she wrote with Cooper and a handful of artists, including Lukas Nelson, Jason Isbell and Mark Ronson. All the music is original and was recorded live.

“A Star is Born” is produced by Bill Gerber, Jon Peters, Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips and Lynette Howell Taylor. Ravi Mehta, Basil Iwanyk, Niija Kuykendall, Sue Kroll, Michael Rapino and Heather Parry serve as executive producers. The screenplay is by Eric Roth and Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters.

Collaborating with Cooper behind the scenes are Oscar-nominated director of photography Matthew Libatique (“Black Swan”), production designer Karen Murphy, three-time Oscar-nominated editor Jay Cassidy (“American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Into the Wild”), and costume designer Erin Benach.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, in Association with Live Nation Productions, in Association with Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures, A Jon Peters/Bill Gerber/Joint Effort Production, “A Star is Born.” Slated for release on October 5, 2018, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It is rated R.

“A Star is Born” stars four-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper (“American Sniper,” “American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”) and multiple award-winning, Oscar-nominated music superstar Lady Gaga, in her first leading role in a major motion picture. Cooper helms the drama, marking his directorial debut.

In this new take on the tragic love story, he plays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers—and falls in love with—struggling artist Ally (Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer… until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.

The cast of “A Star is Born” also includes Andrew Dice Clay, with Dave Chappelle and Sam Elliott.

In addition to playing Ally, Gaga, who earned her Oscar nod for the song “Til It Happens to You” from “The Hunting Ground,” performs original songs in the film, which she wrote with Cooper and a handful of artists, including Lukas Nelson, Jason Isbell and Mark Ronson. All the music is original and was recorded live.

“A Star is Born” is produced by Bill Gerber, Jon Peters, Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips and Lynette Howell Taylor. Ravi Mehta, Basil Iwanyk, Niija Kuykendall, Sue Kroll, Michael Rapino and Heather Parry serve as executive producers. The screenplay is by Eric Roth and Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters.

Collaborating with Cooper behind the scenes are Oscar-nominated director of photography Matthew Libatique (“Black Swan”), production designer Karen Murphy, three-time Oscar-nominated editor Jay Cassidy (“American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Into the Wild”), and costume designer Erin Benach.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, in Association with Live Nation Productions, in Association with Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures, A Jon Peters/Bill Gerber/Joint Effort Production, “A Star is Born.” Slated for release on October 5, 2018, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It is rated R.