‘A Star Is Born’ With Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, and Sean Fennessey
February 11, 2019 · A Star Is Born (2018) · Drama · Music · Romance · 1:32:48 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
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Most Rewatchable Scene
Amanda DobbinsAgrees with the discussion, particularly endorses 'I'll Always Remember Us This Way' song and shares anecdote about Instagram engagement from posting the Super A grocery store location▶ 28:34
Bill SimmonsAgrees 'Shallow' performance is the clear winner ('one of the best seven minutes of this century'), then discusses multiple runner-ups: drag bar scene, 'Maybe It's Time' performance, parking lot scene, Gaga's first song on stage, Cooper-Elliott fight, 'I'll Always Remember Us This Way', Grammy scene, and final Cooper-Elliott scene▶ 27:22
Sean FennesseyThe performance of 'Shallow' by far is the most rewatchable scene, also highlights the cop bar flirting scene as 'one of the great flirting scenes in the history of movies'▶ 27:18
What's Aged the Worst
Amanda DobbinsAgrees on Dave Chappelle scene problems and the pop transformation issues, noting both the bad song and visual transformation from piano-based musician to generic pop star with choreography▶ 50:54
Bill SimmonsThe second hour being a grind compared to the first hour, the Dave Chappelle scene feeling unmotivated despite good performance, the bad pop song 'Why Did You Do That', and questioning whether Jackson had to kill himself in such an explicit way▶ 47:33
Sean FennesseyAgrees on the Dave Chappelle scene issues and discusses how the movie doesn't show Ally's artistic transformation convincingly - cuts from good songs to the bad pop performance without showing the sellout process▶ 52:21
Casting What-Ifs
Amanda DobbinsTom Cruise — Discusses Tom Cruise could work as washed up pop star if music aspect figured out, questions clarity of film's music orthodoxy decisions▶ 55:52
Bill SimmonsTom Cruise — Discusses various casting alternatives including Tom Cruise as 'biggest travesty' for Jackson Maine role, Cooper-Beyonce pairing, and Andrew Dice Clay being selected over De Niro/Turturro/Travolta▶ 55:22
Sean FennesseyBeyoncé — Beyonce can't act - cites Dreamgirls, Carmen hip hopper, Austin Powers 3 as evidence she would have been naturally stilted in the role▶ 56:56
Half-Assed Internet Research
Amanda DobbinsCorrected the 'no makeup' claim, explaining Lady Gaga used 'no makeup makeup' technique with basic foundation for filming under lights, not truly barefaced▶ 1:01:49
Bill SimmonsProvided filming locations: Coachella for opening scenes, The Virgil for Blue Blue drag bar, Super A Foods in Glassville Park for supermarket scene, The Greek for Ally's debut song, Jackson Maine's home in Montanito/Calabasas sold for $2M▶ 59:31
Bill SimmonsBradley Cooper had full body spray tan daily and menthol around eyes to look bloodshot; Lady Gaga remained barefaced with only lip balm and moisturizer; Cooper spent a year learning to lower his voice by a full octave▶ 1:00:20
Sean FennesseyThe Shortstop was the cop bar location; Cooper says '11 elegant elephants' 100 times before performing as vocal exercise from The Elephant Man training▶ 59:50
Apex Mountain
Amanda DobbinsStarted to say it was personal apex mountain but was corrected that apex mountain is objective, then didn't give a clear position▶ 1:10:01
Bill SimmonsBradley Cooper — Yes for Bradley Cooper - 'It's the apex of his crowd. I would say a thousand percent.' For Lady Gaga, tentative yes if she wins Best Actress, otherwise probably earlier in her career▶ 1:08:55
Sean FennesseyLady Gaga — Tentative yes for Lady Gaga - credits her with the movie's success and international appeal, mobilizing her fan base. '1000% yes' if she wins the Oscar▶ 1:09:56
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsAnthony Ramos — Anthony Ramos (Gaga's gay friend who comes to the concert with her)▶ 1:10:44
Sean FennesseyRon Rifkin — Ron Rifkin (the old guy that Bradley Cooper talks to when he goes into rehab)▶ 1:11:23
Best Quote
Amanda DobbinsJust want to take another look at you (acknowledges it's from the franchise but used nicely)▶ 1:21:28
Bill SimmonsIf I was no good, then why'd you steal my fucking voice? You have nothing to fucking say.▶ 1:21:14
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Amanda DobbinsDetailed how the Grammy urination incident would play out over multiple days - internet meltdown, biggest Twitter moment ever, followed by substance abuse discussion backlash, patriarchy angles, and month-long media saga▶ 1:23:00
Bill SimmonsWhy didn't Bradley Cooper ever admit that he's doing an Eddie Vedder impersonation?▶ 1:22:14
Bill SimmonsHow big of a deal would it have been in real life if Jackson Maine pissed all over himself on stage at the Grammys?▶ 1:22:42
Sean FennesseyDiscussed the hypothetical impact at The Ringer if Jackson Maine urinated himself at the Grammys - would require emergency podcast coverage▶ 1:22:50
Who Won the Movie
Amanda DobbinsBradley Cooper — Agrees with Cooper choice, emphasizing the difficulty and risk of the star-director combination that paid off▶ 1:26:01
Bill SimmonsBradley Cooper — Bradley Cooper - 'I also vote for Cooper cause I think as actors, I think it's equal, but then the fact that he also directed it and conceived it and fought for Lady Gaga and all that stuff. This is a pretty easy one for me.'▶ 1:25:24
Sean FennesseyBradley Cooper — Bradley Cooper - 'I've been saying Cooper forever. It's Cooper. I mean, who now has a more anticipated follow up on his next movie than Bradley Cooper?'▶ 1:25:17
Movies Referenced (32)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sing (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 0:52 |
| The Hangover (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 14:41 |
| American Sniper (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 15:56 |
| Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:08 |
| Dances with Wolves (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:26:31 |
| He's Just Not That Into You (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 14:41 |
| Limitless (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 15:06 |
| Black Panther (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:36 |
| Green Book (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 2:14 |
| Phantom Thread (2017) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:30:15 |
| Play Misty for Me (1971) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:02 |
| Wedding Crashers (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 14:37 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clint Eastwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven | ▶ 16:14 |
| Todd Phillips | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey | Joker, Due Date, Old School | ▶ 24:46 |
| Gavin O'Connor | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | The Accountant, Pride and Glory | ▶ 1:28:12 |
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 12:03 |
| Cameron Crowe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky | ▶ 24:17 |
| David O. Russell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | American Hustle, Three Kings, Silver Linings Playbook | ▶ 18:13 |
| Alfonso Cuarón | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Children of Men | ▶ 1:32:00 |
| Ruby Stillwater | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 38:55 | |
| Warren Beatty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Heaven Can Wait | ▶ 1:26:23 |
Actors Referenced (49)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Cooper | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 72 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | A Star Is Born, Silver Linings Playbook, American Sniper | ▶ 1:59 |
| Lady Gaga | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 47 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | A Star Is Born, House of Gucci | ▶ 5:14 |
| Dave Chappelle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | A Star Is Born | ▶ 47:44 |
| Eddie Vedder | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Into the Wild, Big Fish | ▶ 11:08 |
| Chris Rock | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Longest Yard | ▶ 9:19 |
| Sam Elliott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | A Star Is Born, Hulk | ▶ 28:55 |
| Andrew Dice Clay | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Blue Jasmine, A Star Is Born | ▶ 35:53 |
| Peg Christopherson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 9:19 | |
| Rami Malek | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons | Bohemian Rhapsody | ▶ 1:54 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 55:34 |
| Robert De Niro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver | ▶ 54:06 |
| Barbra Streisand | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 19:28 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonard Bernstein | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | West Side Story | ▶ 1:28:24 |
| Adam McKay | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Don't Look Up, The Other Guys | ▶ 1:07:40 |
| Joan Didion | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Amanda Dobbins | A Star Is Born | ▶ 8:42 |