GAGA. Will she live up to extremely high expectations? AP
Before they greenlight a movie project, savvy producers who want their film to stand out take a lot of time and care to cast its top roles.
“Star value” is a given in terms of plus factors to interest and excite viewers, but many films with big stars end up laying a big, fat, flatulent egg at the box office—as the lamentable flops of luminaries like Julia Roberts, John Travolta and many others have sadly indicated.
Another persuasive ploy is to secure the services of a popular or controversial star, but to cast him or her in an “unexpected” role. That’s the tack that the producers of the latest remake of “A Star Is Born” have opted to take, tapping Lady Gaga for its titular character!
Casting coup
The casting coup is deemed extremely risky due to her lack of acting experience. —But, that seeming liability could turn out to be a huge plus factor—if she does well in the new production.
Since that hopeful outcome is still up to the fickle finger of fate at this time, film people are heatedly discussing the pros and cons of the unexpected casting decision:
On the plus side, aside from its key “surprise” and even “shock” factor, which is great for generating special viewer curiosity and interest, Gaga’s involvement in the project is deemed auspicious, because it caps her year-long campaign to “legitimize” her career and stellar “K.”
When she started performing, the pragmatic singer knew that her relative lack of beauty and exceptional singing chops were major drawbacks.
So, she and her handlers created a cocoon of “controversial distractions” around her involving an outre and shocking look and image, which highlighted bizarre “antifashions,” face-covering hairstyles and props—and even a gown stitched out of—meat!
After Gaga did become controversially popular, however, she more normally “beefed up” her singing, cleared up her look, left the raw meat in the freezer, clinched attention-calling guest performance spots in awards shows viewed by millions—etc.!
Amazingly, these and other savvy moves did drastically improve her stellar image and clout, proving that she may be Gaga, but she’s no Bobita!
The “A Star Is Born” casting coup is the best proof of her “transformation” campaign’s effectivity.
On the other hand, there are many film people who believe that Gaga is “fated to flop” in the remake, due to a basic disconnect involving extremely high expectations that she can’t possibly live up to.
The film’s title role is dauntingly demanding and complex on its own—but, compounding and confounding its rigors and terrors is the fact that it’s previously been essayed by the likes of iconic singer-actors Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. How could Gaga possibly match their prismatic portrayals, her “advance dissers” wail and flail?
—Well, the Lady certainly aims to give the challenge her very best try—for the sweet satisfaction of proving them dead-wrong!