(Most know about the three U.S. films from 1937, 1954 and 1976, but the fourth is a rather cheesy 2013 Bollywood cover, Aashiqui 2 -- but then, to me at least, cheesy is a requisite ingredient for Bollywood.)

And while Bradley Cooper turns in a decent performance as Jack, the country singer whose life and career is caught in the designated throes of that storyline's obligatory downward spiral, where he does show some real promise is as a film director.

But I've no doubt that had anyone other that Lady Gaga been cast in that role, the movie would've likely been circling the box office drain within a week. She deserves an Oscar nomination for best actress, in addition to the Golden Globe nomination she received. Given her well-known and high-glitz onstage and public persona, she was cast against type and pulled it off with aplomb.