ok stop me if you've heard this one before a has been performance discovers a younger talent and decides to hitch his wagon to her rising star now that's the lot of a star is born a story that's been told and retold throat hollywood history in fact there's been three film versions of a star is born perhaps the most famous being the one from the one nine hundred seventy s. starring barbra streisand and kris kristofferson for the twenty eighteen edition we have instead of kris kristofferson bradley cooper who also directs but the real surprise is his leading lady none other than pop icon lady gaga in her film debut. bradley cooper plays musician jack mayne he used to be successful now he's an alcoholic. is the first time i'm worried about the.