Maestro with Bradley Cooper a showcase of his talent

Bradley Cooper's new film Maestro tells the story of Leonard Bernstein in an impressionistic style.

REVIEWS

RicheViews

2/2/20247 min read

The Views:

Bradley Cooper's new film Maestro tells the story of Leonard Bernstein in an impressionistic style, highlighting the unknowability of public figures and their decisions.

Maestro explores the allure of artistic fame in America, and Carey Mulligan's powerful performance as Bernstein's wife Felicia Montealegre connects the various fragments of Bernstein's life. Felicia haunts the frame before Mulligan appears, and the film transitions to black-and-white to show Bernstein's youthful vigor, energized by music.

Surreal, symbolic imagery is used to frame Bernstein and Montealegre's flirtation at a cocktail party, breaking the illusion of separation between foreground and background. Cooper uses black-and-white and full color to convey the story of the Bernsteins' Connecticut estate.

Montealegre's cruel put-down is emphasized by the sight of a Macy's parade balloon floating behind them, providing an emotional understanding of the characters.Maestro takes viewers back to a time when queer people had to live within heteronormative structures of marriage while still finding ways to express their real desires. Maya Hawke's performance recalls Dan Futterman's character from The Birdcage.

Cooper's Bernstein is driven by his love for music, which explains why he chose to direct a film that had previously been pursued by other directors. Cooper's goal is to create a film that is as immersive as possible, combining various filmmaking elements to achieve his vision. His own acting performance is part of the mix, but viewers' mileage may vary.

Maestro is an auteur vision that eschews biopic standards and is best seen in a theater. It deserves the same level of respect as Bernstein's Mahler performance.

Maestro with Bradley Cooper a showcase of his talent

Movie Plot:

Leonard Bernstein, at the time of almost 70, plays a grouping on a piano from his drama A Quiet Place while being interviewed in his home. After he gets done, he shares brief insights about the critical effect left on him by Felicia, his significant other of numerous years, and mentions seeing her ghost.

When guest conductor Bruno Walter gets sick in 1943, Leonard—then a 25-year-old assistant conductor with the New York Philharmonic—makes his conducting debut quickly. His excellent presentation partakes in a cheerful gathering from the crowd and launches him to popularity.

He falls for aspiring actress Felicia Montealegre at a party and the two start dating. He parts ways with David Oppenheim a clarinetist, who is grief stricken yet hesitantly acknowledges Leonard's decision. Leonard and Felicia eventually got married and had three kids: Alexander, Jamie, and Nina All through their marriage, they are seen supporting each other in their professions.

By the mid-1950s, the Bernsteins carry on with an exceptionally well-off life in the public eye, with Leonard having created a successful operas and Broadway musicals, including Candide and West Side Story. Felicia battles concerns raised about Leonard's issues with men, relentless that she holds rein over him as his better half. As the years pass, in any case, Leonard's dalliances — as well as his liquor and substance abuse — negatively affect their marriage. These issues are compounded when Jamie hears murmurs of her dad's betrayal. Leonard endeavors to deny the bits of gossip as powered by "jealousies".

One Thanksgiving, after Leonard gets back to their loft in The Dakota late from a drinking spree, he and Felicia have a hazardous contention where she demands that he has disdain in his heart, and will "die a lonely old queen" assuming he progresses forward with his current path. Regardless of the breakdown of their relationship, the couple stays wedded through Leonard's composition of Mass in 1971. In 1973, Leonard directs Mahler's Resurrection Symphony in an unbelievable execution at Ely Cathedral, England. In the midst of the boisterous gathering, Felicia accommodates with Leonard, insistent that "there's no disdain in [his] heart".

Felicia is diagnosed with breast cancer which has metastasized to the lung; regardless of medical procedures and a forceful chemotherapy routine, her condition falls apart, and she died in Leonard's arms in 1978. Suffering from extreme melancholy, Leonard and the kids leave their rich home in no time. Once more Leonard in 1987, showing teaching the art of conducting and still partying, as well as having illicit relationships with a lot more youthful male students. Returning to the interview, Leonard admits that he misses Felicia terribly, before his mind flashes back to a picture of her, back in their childhood, strolling into their yard.

Cast and Characters:

Carey Mulligan is Felicia Montealegre

Before marrying Leonard Bernstein, Felicia was a famous Broadway actress. Felicia and Leonard had their fair share of ups and downs before eventually ending up together, with them raising three children.

Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan is best known for her impressive performances in An Education, Promising Young Woman, and Never Let Me Go.

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein

The biopic chronicles Bernstein's rise to the top, starting from his Carnegie Hall debut all the way to becoming one of the most iconic composers in America.

After making his directorial debut in A Star Is Born, Cooper, via Netflix, reflected on the comparisons between Maestro and the 2018 movie, telling the streamer that Leonard Bernstein's music became his "nuclear weapon" for the film:

MCU fans may recognize Cooper for his voice work as Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and Avengers films. The actor also appeared in the Hangover trilogy, American Sniper, and Silver Linings Playbook.

Matt Bomer as David Oppenheim

David Oppenheim was a clarinet player and classical musical producer who became one of Leonard's friends during the rise of their careers.

Doom Patrol fans may recognize Bomer for his role as Larry Trainor (aka Negative Man) in the DC Series. Bomer also has credits in Flightplan, American Horror Story, and The Normal Heart.

Maya Hawke as Jamie Bernstein

Jamie is Leonard and Felicia's eldest daughter. After learning about the rumors of her father's past relationships, Jamie felt that she needed to be apart from him since she didn't understand the bigger picture.

Perhaps Hawke's most famous role is portraying Robin Buckley in Stranger Things. The actress, who is Uma Thurman's daughter in real life, is also known for her roles in Do Revenge and Asteroid City.

Sarah Silverman as Shirley Bernstein

Shirley Bernstein is Leonard's sister who has been with her brother for all the ups and downs of his life. The character is played by Emmy winner Sarah Silverman.

Silverman is best known for her lead role in The Sarah Silverman Program. The comedian also served as the voice of Vanellope in Wreck it Ralph and Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Josh Hamilton as John Gruen

John Gruen is an art critic, historian, author, photographer, and Bernstein's fellow composer.

Gruen captured stunning photos of Bernstein and even wrote a book about him entitled The Private World of Leonard Bernstein back in 1968.Hamilton previously appeared in Eighth Grade, Dark Skies, and Alive.

Gideon Glick as Tommy Cothran

Tommy Cothran, a character whom Leonard took in as a young protege. It was revealed in the movie that Cothran and Bernstein had a surprising secret that broke the heart of the latter's wife, Felicia Montealegre.

Glick has over 20 acting credits to his name, with appearances in White Noise, Marriage Story, and Ocean's Eight.

Sam Nivola as Alexander Bernstein

Alexander Bernstein is Leonard's son (middle child), and he is played on-screen by Sam Nivola. In the present day, Alex serves as the president of Artful Learning, Inc. and Vice President and Treasurer of The Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc.

Nivola is known for his roles in White Noise, Eileen, and With/In.

Miriam Shor as Cynthia O'Neal

Cynthia O'Neal, a model and friend of Leonard and Felicia Bernstein.

Shor is best known for her role as Diana Trout in Younger. The actress also appeared in The Midnight Sky, The Americans, and Royal Pains.

Alexa Swinton as Nina Bernstein

Nina Bernstein is Leonard and Felicia's youngest daughter.

Fans may recognize Swinton for her role as Rose Goldenblatt. The actress also has credits in Old and Billions.

Michael Urie as Jerome Robbins

Jerome Robbins is a longtime friend of Leonard Bernstein. Robbins was one of the first few who believed in Bernstein since he hired him to create the score for his own ballet named Fancy Free.

Urie's most famous role is portraying Marc St. James in Ugly Betty. The actor also starred in Shrinking and Younger.

Brian Klugman as Aaron Copland

Aaron Copland, the dean of American composers who secretly had an intimate bond with Leonard Bernstein.

Klugman is known for his roles in The Words, Cloverfield, and TRON: Legacy.