Gaga: Five Foot Two

It's like she's a 70 year old career woman in a 30 year old body with the humility of a 20 year old. Confusing, I know.

I would have liked to seen the aftermath of her super bowl performance. I think the film really missed an opportunity there, unless Gaga didn't sign off on it. Does she maintain her "I don't give a f*** about what people think of me." mentality?

At the end of this film you will come to see how lonely she is and not okay with herself. I actually drew inspiration from that fact alone.

She's meticulous, she's usually in pain, she DOES care for her craft and has passion. If she didn't have fans and people to perform for she would likely shrivel up.

This film showed me that performing really is her calling card and she's going to have to be comfortable with being lonely at the end of the day---for a while. I have a different kind of respect for Gaga but I haven't quite figured out what that may be.

Lady Gaga is quite simply known everywhere. From the tiniest of countries to the most desolate of wastelands. She has made a name for herself through her unconventional provocative work and visual experimentation. But more importantly, she is a talented musician who (despite us all forgetting) is actually still a human being. This documentary chronicles the conception of her fifth album 'Joanne', a devoted production delving into the death of Gaga's aunt. Pressure was an understatement for the singer. Deterring away from the memorably eccentric albums that were predominantly dance-pop, to a stripped back vocally charged album that reminded us all how talented of a musician she really is. Powering this production though, is a sense of emotional distress. Tackling themes of family, love and life, this lesser documentary acts as a small window peering into a large life. Is this part-biopic entirely necessary? Not at all. With a lack of genuine emotional heft and/or an inevitable tragedy, it does negate its very purpose. However, it's still not without sentimentality. Moukarbel's focus on the struggles and immense pressure of an album release is prevalent, particularly Gaga's chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia. You feel every inch of her personality burst through the screen as she balances music with acting and other performances. The style to the documentary was ever so haphazard to begin with, lacking coherence and structure. Not to mention the lack of performance footage, I wanted to see that Superbowl performance! But picks things up when Gaga works on 'Joanne'. Showcasing her meltdowns and fan interactions only emphasises her humanity. Her formidable exterior that the media present is torn down by this intimate film, where her compassion is enhanced gently. Radiating benevolence and decency, a whole new side to Gaga is explored and presented captivatingly which both fans and casual audiences will enjoy. Although, I've heard she's actually five foot one...

I knew unbelievably little about Lady Gaga before seeing this documentary.

I knew that she wears elaborate costumes that sometimes make her look equal parts regal and ridiculous and that she has a gorgeous singing voice. I did not even know that she is an American (from New York City) and an earthy person in her private life. The first scene in this movie shows her as she looks when she gets out of bed and feeds her dogs. She is more how I would have imagined that her personal assistant might look.

Basically, a camera crew follows her around for possibly longer than we know. It is a good thing not to feel as if we are with her in real time because this doc may have followed her for many months.

The word exhibitionist might be a bit strong, but little of Gaga's anatomy is left to the viewer's imagination. We also meet the inner Lady Gaga (nee Stefani Germanotta) learning that she is affectionate with her friends, generous with her fans, and lonely at the end of every day. She is often insecure and is perhaps something of a snowflake. Her combination of provocativeness yet wariness about men is not explained, but is presented as is.

Gaga is conscious that she has turned thirty. The fact that her latest boyfriend has not worked out is only part of her misery. We learn that Gaga has an old pain in her hip that contributes to her worries. Keeping up with her backup dancers requires frequent sessions with physical therapists. She would like to have children, but she anticipates that her hip could make that prohibitively painful.

In one scene, her mother (?) suggests that she not be maudlin. It is a suggestion made in kindness, but might profitably be taken in a firmer sense. The heart of the movie – if there is a plot to this slice of life – is that Gaga is putting together an album (ultimately a successful one) dedicated to her aunt Joanne who died at age 19. This is not difficult to understand. Joanne was a promising writer and artist. Gaga clearly identifies with her almost as if she herself had died at a younger age. (Joanne is one of Gaga's middle names, I have since learned.)

For technical reasons, we do not get to see much of her concerts. This is not a filmed concert. We get to hear her sing, but not enough. The movie cuts away at the beginning of huge concerts. It is a little like being left on the launch pad at the end of "The Right Stuff," just as Gordo Cooper is about to take off on one of the most exciting and harrowing flights of the entire Mercury Space Program, but we don't get to see it.

Therein lies the problem that most viewers might have. If you want to see the diva, warts and all, then this is the documentary for you, but if you want to see her in action – or more importantly hear her – then you should hold out for one of her concert films.

So here's the deal. I haven't ever really been a huge Lady Gaga fan. I grew up listening to her music but I never really felt like she was ever in it for anything but shock value. I just never really understood the appeal .... until I watched a star is born. That movie was one of, if not my favorite movies of the year and I very much enjoyed Gaga's role in it and her acting abilities. The only problem was : now I wanted to like lady Gaga but I felt like she was exactly who her character ended up being in the end of a star is born and I wanted the down to earth woman from the beginning.

I watched Gaga: five foot two after the shallow Oscar performance because I wanted to see who Gaga really is and I feel like this movie really does that. It was very cool to see her at that point in her life emotionally and physically dealing with a lot. It takes place when she performed at the super bowl halftime show and shows her signing off to star in a star is born. She struggles with so much in this movie but she also has some break throughs, amazing performances, and people who pick her up when she's down.

Overall I felt like she gave a raw and real look into her life and I finally feel like I'm beginning to like Lady Gaga. Not for the pop star version of what she's expected to be like but for the actual person she is.

Gaga, "Five Foot Two" My Review, There was great anticipation for this Netflix release, and for those that understand & appreciate Gaga's path over the last decade, it was an inviting hour & 40 minutes as it took you deeper than behind the scenes, sharing more than just Gaga performances, Numerous occasions totally unplugged, at home with family, sharing the emotion of special moments, inclusive with family hugs looking back to whom they have lost & the warmth of a baptism, There was lots of footage with her family, especially her dad, this capturing many of Gaga's emotional highs & lows, it took you beyond her celebrity & fame, it brought you to her struggles & pain, & the discomfort inclusively through health & relationships. There were many scenes capturing her warmth & sensitivity ( as expected) as well as her exhaustion & dedication in rehearsal & to her fans. Gaga shared her fears & insecurities, and showed that the life of a superstar is very much like the common woman. We all cry, we all hurt, and we all need time alone... I laughed a few times & cried as well, there was an amazing piano rendition of 'Bad Romance' which was performed at Tony Bennett's 90th birthday party, that simply gave me goose bumps It was ridiculously awesome.... I found the scenes at Wall Mart to be crazy funny as Gaga herself asked a clerk "Where can i find the Lady Gaga CD's" and the guy didn't even know who she was, nor did the security guy. Ha! Many people do not understand that Gaga's latest album "Joanne" was a full track of emotion & change, and significantly different from all the songs she had written on the previous 4 albums. It's about growth, learning, healing, being you & true to your emotions. This documentary takes you through a decade of Gaga's growth, up close & into her dressing rooms, her personal care & her travels. Her tattoos & showing her often not wearing any makeup. Oh and there's a scene where she's poolside speaking with fashion consultants, and yeah topless....that was interesting... In closing, for obvious reasons, an absolute must for those that appreciate Gaga, but then again, if you do, you've seen countless clips of Gaga's path over the years, and pretty much have a great understanding of her passion, energy & ridiculous gift to the music industry, and as always, the sensitive warmth that exudes out of her skin, straight from her heart. & for those that have never had any interest, perhaps they will find it interesting to see how 'Real' a superstar can actually be.... Have a great day, Peace to all ~Geo