In Maestro, Bradley Cooper endeavours to narrate the life of Leonard Bernstein, an artistic luminary of his generation, conventionally adhering to the well-worn path of a standard biopic with familiar tropes and a linear narrative that has Cooper’s directorial lens that elevates this film, creating something extraordinary and unforgettable in the 2023 cinematic landscape.
While Cooper, directing and starring as Bernstein, delivers a technically dazzling film. The script, co-written with Josh Singer, follows a predictable, episodic structure, chronicling events in a chronological sequence. This allows for the specific moments in Bernstein’s career and life to breathe and resonate before moving onto the next.
Following this sterotypical structure, Maestro merits attention. The film consistently captivates from an aesthetic standpoint, showcasing remarkable cinematography, costumes, and production design that evolved over the 40-plus years of Bernstein’s life. Behind the camera, Cooper skillfully creates a cinematic experience that seamlessly transports audiences through different eras, employing techniques like shooting in high-contrast black and white and Academy ratio. The meet-cute between Bernstein and Felicia feels like a scene straight out of Casablanca.
The attention to detail is evident, with Cooper dedicating six years to perfecting his conducting skills for the climax of the movie —a six-plus minute recreation of Bernstein leading the London Symphony Orchestra. The film’s visual and auditory elements and inspired transitions by editor Michelle Tesoro make it a must-see on the biggest screen possible. The score and audio mixing here are incredible. Provided by the London Symphony Orchestra, the score and performance pieces soar over the visuals, while it is best seen in a cinema, a home theatre and soundbar will be more than up to the task of making these moments extremely impactful.
While Bernstein’s music is an integral part of the narrative, the film falls short in providing a deep understanding of him as both a musician and a man. The performative nature of his existence, influenced by his closeted homosexuality, keeps the audience at a distance. The complex relationship with Felicia, played by Carey Mulligan, is explored on the surface, unfulfilled quality to the characterisation here. That’s not to say it doesn’t work, there is just not enough shown from Felicia’s side of how she dealt with this and what the ramifications of this were (it could easily be another movie!)
Mulligan’s performance is noteworthy, showcasing genuine chemistry with Cooper. Yet, Felicia often finds herself in Bernstein’s shadow, a poignant metaphor depicted visually. As the years progress and Felicia finds herself at odds with this, you can really feel the tension in their relationship, but they still share a deep love for each other. Cooper and Mulligan have crafted one of the most interesting on-screen couples this year, with performances that will be long remembered and potentially career-defining for both actors.
The decision to use elaborate prosthetics on Cooper has been a point of discussion, but the makeup work by Kazu Hiro is convincing, especially in portraying Bernstein’s older age. Cooper fully envelopes the role which is really exentuated with the wild hair and sweating as he gets older and the stress of his work and double life start to take its toll.
Despite its flaws, Maestro deserves recognition for its daring portrayal of Bernstein’s life. The film’s emphasis on queer themes and content, though not fully explored, adds an inspiring dimension to the narrative. While it doesn’t dive too deep into the complexity of this double life, it does offer a glance into By taking risks akin to Bernstein’s own artistic endeavors, Maestro stands ahead of the pack when it comes to biopics which is excelled by Cooper’s work in front of and behind the camera. His dedication to completely enveloping this character while exploring Bernstein’s life and acheivements. With its technical brilliance and captivating visuals, the film earns a commendable five stars.
Maestro is streaming on Netflix from December 20.
