Bradley Cooper as cowriter, director, co-producer and actor, puts his all into a daunting task: tell the story of Leonard Bernstein and his multifaceted career within the framework of an enduring relationship with his wife. He mostly succeeds with impressive performances in Maestro.
Leonard Bernstein (Cooper) laments a personal loss and flashes back to the 1940s and the moment he gets the opportunity to substitute conduct the New York Philharmonic to resounding success and the beginning of an impressive career. Mingling with artist friends like Jerome Robbins, he meets and falls in love with actress Felicia Montealegre (Carrie Mulligan). Ambitious and at times brooding, he composes classical works (Candide), Broadway show tunes (West Side Story), and film soundtracks (On the Waterfront). In addition to becoming the foremost, American conductor, he champions teaching classical music to a younger generation of fans. Throughout his storied accomplishments is also his love for men, which generates turmoil in his family especially Felicia who struggles to hold their marriage together.
Beautifully
photographed in black and white and then color, the film captures the palpable chemistry between “Lennie” and Felicia; their
relationship is a love story that weathers a lifetime of infidelity. Cooper captures Bernstein’s voice, mannerisms
and appearance, but his total commitment
to the role culminates in a stunning
sequence conducting a Mahler symphony. Mulligan is the standout as the
stoic Felicia whose sadness and hurt become evident toward the latter half of a
film that could have explored this more since it forms the backbone of the
story, and perhaps it is unfair to expect a 129 minute film to adequately cover
a rich, creative life plagued by adversity and strife. However, Cooper does
capture the essence of a complicated genius of the twentieth century.
****1/2 of ***** stars
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