What To See This Weekend: 'A Star Is Born,' 'Venom' And More

This weekend, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gagawill dazzle on the big screen playing an artistic couple brought together by fate and fame in the remake of "A Star Is Born."

Meanwhile, Marvel fans will be excited to know that the highly-anticipated superhero film "Venom" is also making its debut, starring Tom Hardy in the titular role. In the crime drama world, Amandla Stenberg plays a conflicted teenager in "The Hate U Give."

Here's what to see and what to skip this weekend:

Movies Out This Weekend

“A Star Is Born” — Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, directed by Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut “A Star Is Born” tells the intimate story of two artistic souls intertwined in love, stardom and suffering.

Cooper also stars in the movie, playing the role of country music star Jackson Maine, a man who has lost his appetite for life. One evening, after wandering into a drag bar in search of more numbing alcohol, he unwittingly discovers amateur performer Ally (Lady Gaga).

As the enchanted night progresses, the two artists hit it off. Soon enough, they fall in love as they step out together into the spotlight. But fame has its price— and for both Ally and Jack, it’s enormously heartbreaking!. Ally’s star rises as Jack’s fades, and tragedy looms ahead.

See it. Cooper's deft direction delivers a refreshingly heartfelt and emphatic showcase of Gaga's natural dramatic gravitas.

Watch the trailer:

“Venom”— Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, directed by Ruben Fleischer

One of Marvel's most complex characters comes to life in Ruben Fleischer’s “Venom,” an origin movie about the super anti-hero protagonist.

In the film, Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock, a San Francisco-based journalist who challenges the notorious billionaire Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) and asks him probing questions about his suspicious lab experiments. Feeling insulted and vengeful, Drake ruins Eddie’s career and his relationship with his girlfriend Anne (Michelle Williams).

Eddie is undeterred, and breaks into Drake's lab hoping to gather evidence of foul play. In the process, the alien parasite Venom inhabits Eddie, leaving the investigative reporter wrestling with uncontrollable dangerous abilities. Before long, Venom (Hardy again) and Eddie find themselves in a situation that forces them both to reconcile their differences.

See it. Hardy’s superb comedic chops make this movie enjoyable and entertaining, despite a somewhat lackluster third act.

Watch the trailer:

“The Hate U Give” — Amandla Stenberg, Russell Hornsby, directed by George Tillman Jr.

Self-discovery comes to life in George Tillman Jr.’s crime drama about a teenager who’s suddenly thrust into an unforgiving spotlight.

Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) is an African American teenager who lives two different lives because of fear and self-doubt.

At home, in the impoverished community of Garden Heights, Starr lives with her close-knit family and enjoys the company of childhood friends. At her affluent private school, Williamson Prep, the 16-year-old keeps her upbringing a secret as she tries to fit in with her two white friends (Sabrina Carpenter and Megan Lawless) and her white boyfriend (K.J. Apa).

Starr’s balancing act is under control, until one fateful night, when she becomes the sole witness to the death of her childhood friend (Algee Smith) at the hands of a police officer. As more people learn of Starr’s involvement, her two worlds collide, forcing her to wrestle with the burden of truth.

See it. While the coming-of-age film sounds a bit preachy at times, it nevertheless manages to keep its message incisive and powerful: Being true to yourself is golden. Plus, Stenberg delivers a commanding performance.

Watch the trailer:

Other entertainment news:

• Patch Living: Your October Entertainment Guide
• The Most Anticipated Movies Of Fall 2018
• What's New On Netflix: October 2018
• Reviews of 'The Old Man & The Gun,' 'Night School,' 'Smallfoot' And 'Hell Fest'
• Reviews of 'Colette,' 'Life Itself,' 'The House With A Clock In Its Walls,' And 'The Sisters Brothers'
• Reviews of 'A Simple Favor,' 'White Boy Rick,' 'The Predator,' And 'Unbroken: Path To Redemption'

Top Photo: Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper attend the UK premiere of "A Star Is Born" held at Vue West End on September 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)