_A Star Is Born_ is like a rock concert by a group a friend of yours loves. The energy emanating from the music and everything involving the music is gold, but the chatter between the songs goes on too long, is dull and drags down the mood with its predictability.

The first act is definitely the strongest and, not surprisingly, is where we find the most music. There are even moments reminiscent of the extraordinary anti-musical musical _Once_. After that, though, the film becomes too bogged down in a story that holds as many surprises as a Back Street Boys reunion tour.

Lady Gaga acts as well as Bradley Cooper sings, which is to say well enough to pull off this film but the Oscar buzz is from listening to the soundtrack too loud because that's where the real talent is.

Had this film cut about 20 minutes, I could've saved time clamouring for an encore I didn't really want to stay for. As it is, I caught myself checking my watch and wondering how bad the traffic would be on the way home.