‘Gaga: Five Foot Two’ Review: A Star Is Exhausted, Then Reborn, but for How Long?
This doc shows Lady Gaga bouncing back from illness and exhaustion for the Super Bowl, but recent events suggest her pain goes deep
Dan Callahan | September 19, 2017 @ 2:26 PM
Last Updated: September 19, 2017 @ 2:39 PM
Halfway through Chris Moukarbel’s documentary “Gaga: Five Foot Two,” Lady Gaga sits at a piano in the Rainbow Room at a tribute to Tony Bennett. She sings what is still her best song, “Bad Romance,” belting it out slowly and with feeling while Bennett looks on approvingly. Her talent is clear, but her neediness is even clearer.
Director Moukarbel (“Me at the Zoo”) has edited this movie, which charts the lead-up to Gaga’s performance at the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show, to make it look like she spends most of her time either in tears or on the verge. But maybe this is actually a reflection of her life at this point, for even her work has become mournful. She is shown recording her country-tinged 2016 album “Joanne,” a tribute to her late aunt, who died young.
Gaga is seen visiting her grandmother, who looks like an old-lady version of Gaga herself. Considering how often Gaga breaks down in this movie, it looks like we are going to get a new flood of tears when she plays a track off “Joanne” for her grandmother, but Grandma Gaga is a steadying influence in this scene. “Good luck with all this, dear,” she tells her granddaughter while embracing her. “Don’t become maudlin about this,” she cautions, which is very good advice.
What made Lady Gaga so interesting when she first emerged in 2008 was her sense of psychodrama in the midst of increasing fan adulation; there was an element in her performing style that felt truly disturbed. Her need for attention was very raw, and it seems even more so now. But “Gaga: Five Foot Two” suggests that it is time for this woman to open some windows and let some air into her life and her creativity, and to collaborate. (In this sense, her recent attempt at a jazz album with Bennett was a step in the right direction.)
The camera loves Gaga’s dramatic eyebrows and large eyes staring over her long nose and Streisand-ish mouth, but “Five Foot Two” captures her at a down time in her life, in several senses of that term. She talks a great deal to the camera about having more confidence, and yet her speaking voice often sounds tired and keeps trailing off. Gaga is charming when defending herself against Madonna’s charge that her song “Born This Way” was “reductive,” but her manner is often very low-key here.
There are moments in this movie when Gaga has to make her concerns and displeasures known to her collaborators, but these scenes are fairly mild and reasonable. More upsetting are the scenes where we see her deal with medical problems and her persistent pain issues at age 30. (These problems have recently caused her to cancel the European part of her “Joanne” tour, and they might explain her low energy in this movie.) “I sit in an MRI machine for three hours, and then they tell me to take an Advil,” she says. Gaga is expected to work through this pain whenever the adrenaline kicks in for her to perform.
She is fairly open to Moukarbel’s camera and seems to hide nothing from us; she even sits in a chair topless without a trace of self-consciousness. But the director can only provide an audio track of the film’s most painful moment, when Gaga offers an itemized list of how every success she has had professionally is matched by a disappointment in her love life.
After we see a montage of her various outlandish outfits and entrances from the last decade, Gaga tells us that the outsized attention she receives during a given day is often followed by total silence and isolation in her evenings. Given contrasts like this, it becomes clear why so many performers at her level crack; Gaga is indeed sort of a mess in this movie, yet her grandmother’s emotional pragmatism is in there somewhere, too.
Gaga needs to focus on her music, not the glamour and spectacle of her own celebrity — which has exhausted both her and her audience — and she seems to fully know that in “Gaga: Five Foot Two.” For all of her problems here, her ego feels very healthy when she speaks to the camera before going on for her halftime show at the Super Bowl.
Maybe the most revealing moment in this movie is right at the end when Gaga is drilling herself to have fun with this halftime performance. “I look like I want to kill everyone,” she says of her rehearsal footage, and this shows a self-aware performer who will likely survive her own fame.
26 Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ranked, Including Justin Timberlake (Videos)
26. Black Eyed Peas (2011)
Before this show, young 'uns were celebrating the end of the halftime show being owned by the "retirement home." Afterwards, the old folks were smugly smirking. The Peas were absolutely abominable, with stiff choreography and mailed-in vocals that made The Who seem 40 years younger. The absolute worst moment came when Slash arrived to save the day, only for Fergie to commit a cardinal sin against rock by mangling "Sweet Child O' Mine." Later in 2011, the Peas' new album got panned, their motion-sensor video game bombed, and by year's end, they announced they were going on hiatus.
25. Indiana Jones (1995)
If you thought Katy Perry's shark was weird, get a load of this. Disney used this halftime show to promote its new Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, and it featured Indy (not played by Harrison Ford) trying to steal a plastic Vince Lombardi trophy from a temple. Throw in a lip-synching Patti LaBelle and Tony Bennett, and you have a real stinker.
24. The Who (2010)
Let's make something clear: The Who are absolute legends. They are essential not just to rock, but to all of music. But unlike previous classic rock acts, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend really felt past their prime in this performance, and that's the worst thing you can do at a show like this. Some have speculated that since Roger and Pete had never seen an American football game before, they may not have realized just how big this gig was in American culture.
23. James Brown, ZZ Top, and the Blues Brothers (1997)
Another lineup that seemed great on paper and disappointed in reality. The Godfather of Soul was forced to blatantly lip-sync his greatest hits, and Jim Belushi cavorted around the stage doing a weak imitation of his brother John in his iconic role.
22. Phil Collins, Enrique Iglesias, and Christina Aguilera (2000)
Wow! Look at that lineup! By all rights, that should be a smash show. But it ended up being a Disney-produced bore about the "Tapestry of Nations." Instead of thumping out Genesis songs, Collins got stuck doing one of the songs he wrote for "Tarzan." Iglesias and Aguilera did a duet called "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand." Amazingly, Xtina would go on to hit a bigger low at the Super Bowl when she flubbed the National Anthem a decade later.
21. Shania Twain, No Doubt, and Sting (2003)
This one is just forgettable, particularly since after the game, Bon Jovi stole the spotlight by singing "It's My Life" just before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were awarded the trophy. Gwen Stefani teaming up with Sting to do "Message in a Bottle" almost saved this show. Almost.
20. Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds (1994)
Super Bowl XXVIII tapped country music stars for an ultimately unmemorable “Rockin’ Country Sunday” halftime show. Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and Wynonna Judd all performed a few of their hits, with Naomi Judd joining her daughter on stage for the finale, “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
19. Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Savion Glover (1999)
The seemingly random lineup of Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder and swing revivalists Big Bad Voodoo Daddy combined to make 1999's halftime show a high-energy affair. There was even a cameo by E.T. (the extra-terrestrial) to help stump for Progressive auto insurance, who sponsored the show.
18. Justin Timberlake (2018)
Justin went through a serviceable run of his main hits, taking his show from a room inside the U.S. Bank Stadium up into the Super Bowl LII crowd. But the audio was garbled to start off the show, and some didn't appreciate the Prince tribute and the use of "Rock Your Body," the song that triggered the Wardrobe Malfunction.
17. Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations (1998)
In celebration of Motown's 40th anniversary, Boyz II Men led the Super Bowl XXXII halftime show, with assists from legends like Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves and the Temptations. The 40 years of age come through in this one, though. While it's a fun set, it ultimately doesn't strike too lasting a chord.
16. The Rolling Stones (2006)
Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones took a break from the world tour supporting their 24th studio album "A Bigger Bang" in 2006 to perform at the halftime show for Super Bowl XL. The Stones turned in a lot of energy, but the NFL snipped a few of Mick's racier lyrics in the pre-recorded tape, leaving Mick a bit miffed.
15. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (2008)
More concerned with performance than spectacle, Tom Petty opened the Super Bowl XLII halftime show with crowd favorites "American Girl" and "I Won't Back Down." Petty's performance didn't blow any doors off, but it nailed all the hits and gave everyone a solid show.
14. Lady Gaga (2017)
Gaga kicked it off by jumping off the roof of Reliant Stadium, which was incredibly awesome. Everything that came after, by comparison, seemed rather mundane, with no guests artists or anything particularly surprising happening. It was a solid Lady Gaga show, to be sure -- but for the the Super Bowl we need something more.
13. Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers (2014)
Following Beyonce at the Super Bowl must have been a daunting prospect, but Bruno Mars still managed to put on a good show with a little help from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Unfortunately, it came out later the band wasn't actually playing its own instruments, which marred the whole show a bit.
12. Madonna, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., Cee Lo Green (2012)
Madonna's halftime show wound up being a bit chaotic. It featured a slew of guests, including Nicki Minaj and Cee Lo Green, and went all-in on being an over-the-top spectacle. Through it all, the most memorable moment may have been M.I.A. flipping the bird on live TV. NFL sued over the move, in fact, but wound up settling.
11. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (2004)
Ah, yes. Maybe this isn't the best, but it was definitely among the most memorable. Janet and Justin were doing a rendition of "Rock Your Body" that was absolutely smoking ... until the smoke turned into a PTC wildfire. In hindsight, the wardrobe malfunction might have saved this show. Does anyone even remember that Nelly, Diddy, and Kid Rock also performed that night?
10. Diana Ross (1996)
The halftime show went through some growing pains in the 1990s, but Diana Ross' soulful performance at Super Bowl XXX was definitely a high point. Her dramatic exit via helicopter was a precursor for the larger-than-life moments that later performers would pick up.
9. Paul McCartney (2005)
Sir Paul's show marked the beginning of the six-year classic rock era of halftime shows following the backlash from Janet Jackson's notorious wardrobe malfunction in 2004, and what a breath of fresh air it was. McCartney knew exactly what songs from his catalog would fill up a football stadium. Starting with "Drive My Car," pumping through with "Live And Let Die," and finishing with the crowd pleaser "Hey Jude," this show showed how sometimes the old ways are the best.
8. Katy Perry (2015)
This is a halftime show that we'll look back at as emblematic of its time. Katy's show was loud, weird, and specifically tailored to the Internet's tendency to latch onto viral moments and meme the fajezzus out of them. But in terms of actual musical performances, the real star was Missy Elliott, who strutted out in a surprise appearance and blew the crowd away. She didn't steal the spotlight. She commandeered it.
7. Prince (2007)
Super Bowl XLI took place under a torrential Florida downpour, but that played right into Prince's hands. His performance of "Purple Rain" amid raindrops turned purple by stage lights was breathtaking, as was his take on Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower."
6. Beyonce (2013)
Of course she's on this list. It's BEYONCE, for crying out loud. She has a stage presence that is unrivaled by any musician of her generation. But what really made her show unique wasn't just the surprise Destiny's Child reunion. It was also the fact that she actually paid respect to the event by starting her show with a soundbite from legendary football coach Vince Lombardi.
5. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (2009)
Wasn't Super Bowl XLIII amazing? Not only did it have one of the most dramatic championship games ever between the Steelers and Cardinals, but it also had a performance from The Boss that was the apex of the classic rock era. From his order to "put the chicken fingers DOOOOWN" to his knee-slide right into the camera, Springsteen was on a mission to get everyone out of their seats. Mission accomplished, sir.
4. Aerosmith and 'N Sync (2001)
Okay, okay. Some older readers might be annoyed that a show with "Bye Bye Bye" and Britney Spears got ranked above one with "Born to Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," but back in 2001 this lineup was a big deal. After struggling through the '90s, the NFL gave control of the halftime show to MTV, who responded by gathering the biggest Top 40 heavyweights that could be found. The sight of Aerosmith performing "Walk This Way" with Spears, Nelly, Mary J. Blige and the biggest boy band of all time in 'N Sync was the kind of show the NFL had been dreaming of for years.
3. Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars (2016)
Coldplay was the official act, but they turned their show into a tribute to all the halftimes that came before. Bruno returned with "Uptown Funk" under his belt, while Beyonce began her domination of 2016 with a tribute to the Black Panthers. Coldplay, meanwhile, turned out "Viva La Vida" complete with a kid orchestra led by maestro Gustavo Dudamel and a colorful crowd card stunt that showed Up With People how its done.
2. Michael Jackson (1993)
The one that started it all. MJ's reign as the King of Pop was coming to an end at this time ... and the beginning of his creeper reputation began later that year with the first wave of sexual abuse allegations. But he still had enough star power to make the halftime show a must-watch event for the first time ever. The children's choir performance of "We Are the World," followed by Jackson's dramatic finale performance of "Heal the World," became a defining moment of his career, one that would be reenacted 16 years later at his memorial service at the Staples Center.
1. U2 (2002)
There will likely never be a halftime show bigger than this one. Mounted just four months after 9/11, U2's show was a perfect mix of poignant remembrance and breathtaking musicianship. In a beautiful tribute, U2 performed "Where the Streets Have No Name" in front of a scrolling list of those who perished in the terror attack. To this day, the show still draws tears.
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Where does Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl 51 halftime performance chart for mid-game extravaganzas?
26. Black Eyed Peas (2011)
Before this show, young 'uns were celebrating the end of the halftime show being owned by the "retirement home." Afterwards, the old folks were smugly smirking. The Peas were absolutely abominable, with stiff choreography and mailed-in vocals that made The Who seem 40 years younger. The absolute worst moment came when Slash arrived to save the day, only for Fergie to commit a cardinal sin against rock by mangling "Sweet Child O' Mine." Later in 2011, the Peas' new album got panned, their motion-sensor video game bombed, and by year's end, they announced they were going on hiatus.