Review of Maestro

Summary: This is an acting powerhouse for Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan - Both are superb and the films spends a LOT of time on their rocky and messy and complex relationship, way more than the music or bio of Bernstein. The film does a great job of studying the people and characters and NOT add media or political angles to a complex family situation. I learned a lot about Leonard Bernstein, so as a BIO pic--that is great. That said, I like him less seeing how he treated others. He mistreats others around him in ways that would be unacceptable today. He got away with a lot as an arts celebrity. I wish the film had given us MORE about his craft, and his music. It hints at the struggle between Broadway and "high art" classical, but drops that ball early. The film is over two hours, but still OK for a biopic. (3+ hour films must stop!) Leonard was a genius and an eccentric jerk. The film did an interesting job of positing his wife as being "OK" with his behavior, which seems way to rosy or washed over, but Mulligan is lovable and stoic. Bradley Cooper is becoming a Hollywood everyman (ala Hanks or Clooney). This film and a Star is Born put him into a new league of directors and actors. While I can only give this film an 8/10--Bradley is superb. What I still left wondering after two hours: - What drove his musical genius/talent? Why did he choose his wild life of drugs and homosexuality when he clearly adored so much about nuclear family life and had such a wonderful spouse. As full as the film is, I still wonder what made him special (musically) and how he made such terrible life choices that hurt those around him. I guess that is where they want us to be. Thankfully, Bradley Cooper does not PUSH a political agenda or position here, he shares the raw story and let's us decide. LB is the Anti-hero. Not sure there is an antagonist here, but it's probably LB to most viewers. That complexity makes it interesting. A worthy 2024 Oscar and Golden Globe film. Heavy and Complex. ((Dear Bradley, please do an AWESOME and entertaining version of Sinatra (or the Rat Pack) someday.))