Review by Susanne Nielsen
The name Leonard Bernstein evokes awe in anyone who knows anything about this larger than life personality in the world of American music – Maestro is the perfect title of this film by director Bradley Cooper who also plays the lead! In the pivotal scene Cooper captures the absolute exuberance that comes from the artist and is given back in abundance by his audiences. Completely immersed in music, he conducts the orchestra in Mahler’s Resurrection under the vaulted ceilings of Ely Cathedral – the perfect framework for this iconic scene.
Bernstein IS his music, the director seems to say, and gives us so many facets that only glimpses are possible and leaves us wishing for more.
He underlays those episodes with differing tracks of Bernstein’s music, most will recognize Westside Story, and he offers cameos of the maestro’s mentors such as Aaron Copeland ( Brian Krugman) to remind us of Bernstein’s American musical heritage. Bernstein’s is a mix of classical and modern, jagged and erratic, like the rapid patterns of speech that Cooper imitates as perfectly as he does the Maestro’s wild body movements when dancing or conducting.
The story centers on Lenny’s relationships, the people who follow him with admiration and devotion. Cooper shows Bernstein toying with them, and how in the presence of a genius, they accept his insatiable need to control.
But this is most of all the story of Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn, played by Carey Mulligan who moves easily from charmed young woman to elegant companion at the famous husband’s side. She becomes the Maestro’s quiet center, mother, confidante, and social barometer to whom he is loyal and beholden. And though he “loves everyone” and strays to embrace beautiful young men in musical playgrounds like Tanglewood and quiet hallways at home, he returns to Felicia and stays by her and his children’s side when even she can no longer guide their life.
The acting by Cooper and Mulligan is superb; the director portrays Bernstein pure, with an overfull life of creativity and teaching, in his constant quest for fulfillment to fill an emotional void. Mulligan’s presence channels Felicia’s central and lifelong influence.
The supporting cast is left pale by comparison, the well-staged close-ups of Cooper are a perfect match to Bernstein’s larger than life personality as he goes from excited young conductor at Carnegie Hall to aged Maestro late in life. The make-up recreates Bernstein’s face, his wavy hair changing from dark to silver gray.
Maestro is a film for devotes, that takes us through anecdotal scenes of the Maestro’s life, reminding those who know, and leaving others wanting to find out much more.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Josh Hamilton, Scott Ellis, Gideon Glick, Sam Nivola, Alexa Swinton, Miriam Shor
Directed and Co-Written by: Bradley Cooper
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
MPAA Rating: Rated R for some language and drug use
Running Time: 2 hrs. 9 min.
Release Date: Netflix December 20
Distributed by: Netflix
Released in: Theaters, Netflix
