Lonnie Henderson

My 2 cents: 4.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨...🤔Uhm...🧐uhm...well, where do I start? On opening night, If I look at my cell phone at any point during a movie, that's not a good sign. If I glance over and the straight guy of the couple beside me is on his cell phone the entire movie, that's not a good sign. 🥴 The production design/value, style, film colorization, color palette, were as to be expected, kudos. But, those are not the only ingredients for a successful film/narrative. As for the story, there's a lot of disassociation on my part because of the interrupted pacing due to The Gaga "morning voice" concert within a show. At first, a skeletal psychotic Phoenix shuffles around seemingly about to pass out at any moment. His appearance, definitely an attention getter. I felt jerked all over the place, unsettled by their lack of vocal harmony and don't blame their cigarettes. 🙄 Gaga seemed one note the entire film, not even Phoenix could save that sinking ship. Sadly, with all the beautiful color treatments, it was like watching plain white paint dry. 🥴 🤔Who thought that putting every ingredient in the kitchen into the cake would make it taste better? The director? The writers? "I have an idea, let's have Gaga sing another scratchy, minor key (seemingly) song!" ... because she's one of the writers. NOT! But I'm keeping it short, sweet and sane. Are they planning to take home Oscars in the category of best actor(s) in a musical? 🤔🧐... not with those solos and duets. Yes, the effort is there, but "almost doesn't count," right Brandy? IMHO, This film does not showcase neither of them in their best light. Vocally, it's going to be a "no" for me. Acting, Phoenix we've seen it and okay. Gaga, I'm not moved. Song, after song, after raspy song and I've enjoyed Gaga's previous works while being insanely in love with Phoenix's past everything. So I'm very confused, what the hell happened? Who told Phoenix he could sing and dance? We appreciate his confidence but he is proven in his lane and should stay there.  I want to blame the writers' attempt at being "tortured soul" deep, disturbingly dark, and priming the pump to find a love story that's sick but sweet. Or, should I fault the directing of a dramatic, musical that director, Todd Phillips swears is NOT a musical? Too many cooks in the kitchen and someone left the cake out in the rain. 🙁😞 4.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨