Maestro

Whilst I have reservations about Bradley Cooper’s fake nose in his representation of youthful Leonard Bernstein and I wish a Latinx actress had been cast as Mrs Bernstein, overall, this is such an impressive biopic. Proper sweeping old school, more impersonations than just a life story, and with big cinematography, much of it in glossy black and white. A movie made for the big screen, this is why you should watch it there!

The performances are sensational. Bradley Cooper learnt to properly conduct — we hear a lot of music throughout, culminating in a beautiful piece of Mahler in a cathedral, with orchestra and singers. Amazing! Carey Mulligan is wonderful as his wife, Felicia — and more than his wife, a talented woman in her own right.

It represents a complex gifted man (Leonard Bernstein), who can do lots of things, fizzes with energy and ideas, always wants to be on the move and can love lots of people. At the same time it shows his conflict, his vulnerability and selfishness in his relationship with his family and wife, and how he doesn’t always respect his wife, bringing his love affairs home and to stay for the weekend. At the same time, they’re both gifted, talented people — and we get to see something of Felicia Montealegre-Cohen’s friendship group and acting career too. She also gets the last word, cinematically speaking. Uniquely the biography of Bernstein wasn’t all about Bernstein, but very much about his wife and his love for his children too. There’s a beautiful scene where the Bernsteins talk to their daughter around her bedtime before going infront of the television cameras, poised and impeccably groomed.

Most of all, it’s about Bernstein trying to work out who he is as he crackles with talents (from musicals and conducting to composition) and desires — who does he want to love and spend his life/time with? How much of himself is he going to reveal to anyone, even his own children? It’s also about his wife Felicia existing alongside such a monumental character and how it impacts her. At one point they separate, only to poignantly and lovingly reunite as Felicia faces terminal illness.

Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan are formidable as Mr and Mrs Bernstein, but also well-supported by a vast array of characters, including their children. The family scenes are tender and really beautifully portrayed, with their eldest daughter Jamie admirably portrayed by Maya Hawke.

You can also enjoy the changing fashions — Mulligan’s Felicia even gets ‘80’s hair at one point. It’s brilliant! (Though noticeably there is an awful lot of smoking compared to today).

To sum up all its parts, it feels like a satisfying old-fashioned big screen movie, with important things to say about social/cultural acceptance, racism and antisemitism, about making your mark regardless, staying authentic and the wonder of music.

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