Maestro movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Maestro

This incredible, musical biopic (of sorts) is now playing on Netflix.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 2 hours 9 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A

IN A NUTSHELL:

This love story chronicles the lifelong relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife, actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein.

Bradley Cooper directed the film, as well as co-wrote it with Josh Singer. As if that weren’t enough, he stars in it. He’s so, incredibly talented. Steven Spielberg things so too. In fact, Spielberg was going to direct this movie; however, after he watched Bradley Cooper direct an early draft of A Star is Born, he said, “You’re directing Maestro.” By the way, I loved A Star is Born and have watched it many times!

Already, the film has been nominated 94 times, winning 14 awards. Wow. Do I smell “Best Picture”? Nah, Oppenheimer will surely win, but I hope this is nominated, at the very least!

THINGS I LIKED:

The movie is worth seeing just for the two fantastic performances by Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan. Would someone please give them both an Oscar for their roles? It’s guaranteed that they’ll at least be nominated! Their accents, speed, and style of writing are perfect. We even get to see Bradley Cooper dance! He’s such a hard worker and, in fact, spent six years learning how to conduct an orchestra so that he could conduct the London Symphony Orchestra at the Ely Cathedral LIVE for the film. It’s a thrilling scene in the movie!
Fun fact: Bradley Cooper’s daughter, Lea, makes a cute cameo as Leonard Bernstein’s young daughter, Jamie Bernstein.
Handsome Matt Bomer. Yes, please. Sadly, he’s not in the movie very much.
Other cast members include Maya Hawke (Uma Thurman & Ethan Hawke’s daughter), Sarah Silverman, Josh Hamilton,
The grey-scale color palette immediately takes you back in time and works perfectly with this story for Act 1.
I loved the scenes where the two main characters sit on the stage and become part of the play.
Some of the scenes look like home movies. They’re choreographed so perfectly.
The beautiful cinematography and camerawork make so many frames look like picture-perfect vignettes. I’m using the word “perfect” a lot in this review. The word fits this movie.
As you can imagine, the gorgeous musical score is…perfect! We get to hear a lot of Leonard Bernstein’s music. I love the passion we get to see and hear by Leonard Bernstein, himself, as well as by musicians he conducts and singers he leads. We see who wholly consumed Leonard was by the musical world.
The aging makeup is terrific. Bradley Cooper wears a prosthetic nose in every scene to better look like Leonard Bernstein. It works and truly allows Bradley Cooper to disappear into the role.
I noticed in one scene that Leonard Bernstein was wearing a t-shirt with Hebrew letters on it. I later learned that it said “Harvard”!
Keep watching during the final rolling credits to see some inspirational clips of the real Leonard Bernstein in action, completely drenched in sweat after an incredible performance.
I loved the look of the scene that features the tops of the Thanksgiving Day parade floats in the windows of the Berstein’s apartment in New York City.
By the way, legendary Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg both worked as producers on this film.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The movie focuses on the marriage, rather than Leonard Bernstein’s entire life or even on all of his musical pieces or impact in America.
I have so many unanswered questions!

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored.
We see an unmarried couple sleeping together.
We see a gay couple in bed. We see other ones kiss.
We see Bradley Cooper shirtless, not that anyone is complaining here. For a few seconds, we see him in his underwear.
SO much smoking.
Profanity, including multiple F-bombs.
We see people snorting a line of cocaine

THEMES:

Music
Marriage
Gay relationships
Depression & happiness
Sacrifice

INTERESTING LINES:

“There are many things stopping me but fear isn’t one of them.” – Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan)
“We’d be fools not to think that luck plays a part, as well as talent and determination.” – Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan)
“And don’t forget, you are a man.” – Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan)
“Is that what you want?” – Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan)

“I want a lot of things.” – Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper)

“Those eyes.” – Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan)

(She says while looking in Bradley Cooper’s eyes. Exactly!

“I love too much, but I’m reigning it in.” – Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper)

“If the summer doesn’t sing in you, then nothing sings in you. And if nothing sings in you, then you can’t make music.” – Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan)
“There’s a price for being in my brother’s orbit.” – Shirley Bernstein (Sarah Silverman)

“The gift comes with burdens.” – Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper)