What's Wrong with Netflix's MAESTRO

daviddas.com -- As chief self-appointed of the Leonard Bernstein Fan Club (certified for decades now), I watched Netflix's Maestro biopic with eager anticipation. At first it didn't disappoint...but then it did, but for unexpected and ironic reasons.
Watch Maestro here on Netflix: www.netflix.co...
The official film site (including tickets/showtimes): maestrofilmoff...
Maestro is a 2023 American biographical drama film that centers on the relationship between American composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre. It was directed by Bradley Cooper, from a screenplay he wrote with Josh Singer. It was produced by Martin Scorsese, Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Fred Berner and Amy Durning. The film stars Carey Mulligan as Montealegre alongside Cooper as Bernstein; Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, and Sarah Silverman appear in supporting roles.
Maestro premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2023, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion. The film received a limited theatrical release on November 22, 2023, before being released on Netflix on December 20. It received positive reviews from critics and was named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. It has also been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards.
#bernstein #netflix #maestro #classicalmusic #music #film #filmcriticisms #leonardbernstein

[@dennismaurer9672]

Cooper didn’t conceive this as a bio pic. If you watch this movie expecting to see more Lenny’s life, you’ll be disappointed. Cooper was only interested in following the dynamics of the relationship between Felicia and Lenny. That is what this film is about.

[@mrpad0]

Ah, but the movie is not called 'Lenny and Felicia'... it is called, 'Maestro'. There's the rub.

[@doctorcane]

@@mrpad0 Is we're down to arguing movie titles now? Seriously?

[@zanechi]

It’s a bad movie. You knew nothing more about the maestro after watching the film. And about his life, he’s a coward.

[@henrykaspar3634]

Bernstein’s legacy is music, not his love life. It’s why he fascinates people to this day, and it is why movies about Bernstein solicit interest. If the movie blends this out, what’s the point?

[@henrykaspar3634]

@ doctorate - if the title is misleading, sure. It’s the equivalence of clickbait.

[@joycekocsis9818]

As a cancer survivor, the moment his wife was told she had cancer brought me back to when I first heard those words. His support and love given to her during her final days told a story about this amazing man’s compassion beyond the music.

[@MsLamotta]

Although I did not like the movie, that part was very moving. I had breast cancer and thank God I’m ok. What that woman went through was tragic and heartbreaking. And he was there for her. She was young. 56.

[@joycekocsis9818]

@@MsLamotta glad you are okay!

[@lukeserrano62]

Having said goodbye to my dad from cancer recently, watching someone die from that disease is awful. I found these scenes in the movie really hard to watch. All the best to you.

[@joycekocsis9818]

Thank you. ♥️

[@theslof1]

I felt the film should have been called Felicia. It was a beautiful tribute to her, but it left out all the incredible charisma and energy and intelligence and warmth of Bernstein himself..

[@chasvox2]

I grew up in the years (b.1943) when he was at the pinnacle of his fame. I have to be blunt. We (my wife and I) were absolutely bored with the entire film. However, I concede that we were biased because of having "been there" when he was alive and such a force in the music world. I believe that younger generations who came up and are coming up won't have these biases and will consider the film in a totally different light. I acted in several feature films, and lots of TV...and know that when it comes to biographical material, condensing a person's persona on film/TV is virtually impossible. So by default, "print the myth," and hope for the best. I would still recommend this film to those who are totally unfamiliar with Bernstein's history...and BTW...one of my favorite projects he ever did was with Brubeck in a project done in "Bernstein Plays Brubeck Plays Bernstein" which is available on YT and Spotify...the Adagio movement in that project is fantastic......and David, I thought your remarks were expressed very nicely. Good job, young man.

[@MsLamotta]

I hear what you are saying. I’m a bit younger. I grew up with his Young Peoples Concerts. This guy’s review was pretty spot on. I went on Rotten Tomatoes and I hv to tell you that 98% hated the movie. A lot only got through the first 30 minutes of it. I’m not sure what the age demo is on RT. However I hv a couple I know in their mid 30’s and they turned it off after 30 minutes. So that must be the turning point. I gave it 3 starts on RT. I was not as brutal. Basically agreeing with this review. A good friend had seen it and had mixed feelings on it. I wrote her last night saying it was boring and left me flat. It was all over the place and said nothing. They made no bones about his sexuality in the very beginning and yet he right away meets his wife. And before we know it he’s married with a 5 year old daughter on Edward R Murrow? The movie just bounced all over. I told my friend I would hv preferred more concentration on his music and his collaborators. And that the highlight of the film was him conducting the Mahler piece in the cathedral. That was magnificent! I think young ppl will get bored with it and look at Bernstein and his wife as very pretentious unfortunately.

[@Maribelinda63]

Thanks for the recommendation

[@dot7187]

I'm a younger person in my 30s, and I was absolutely bored by this film to the extent that I stopped watching it halfway through. And I very rarely leave films unfinished. I almost turned it off at 30 minutes, but tried my best to give it more of a chance. I'm no Bernstein-fan, but I do enjoy films centered around music of any kind. I didn't feel the passion in here, of the build up. The title performance felt more like a shallow impression of Bernstein to me. A great impression mind you, but still something that didn't go deeper so that I would connect to any of it. It didn't make me interested to find out more about Bernstein, either. Which is a pity, since a Jewish queer man at the height of his passionate talent shouldn't be something that you want to turn off 30 minutes in.

[@DidaBerku1]

Agreed that's the best word. The film started off absolutely boring a few musical scenes could not redeem it. How this is possible with Cooper, Spielberg and the other guy is beyond belief. BORING best way to describe it.

[@neiljopson8138]

My wife and I were also bored by what seemed to be a movie from someone in their last year at movie school, with it’s pretentious hangers from square black and while, to widescreen colour. A real vanity project.Sorry.

[@johndelossantos7678]

Agreed… it should’ve been a limited series, so much of his life and career was missing

[@tomdimaggio122]

For a film that was about his marriage, it successfully accomplished what it set out to do. People dissapointed Themselves with their unrealistic expectations.

[@keneisner3445]

Was it unrealistic for Bernstein fans to expect that a movie called "Maestro" would focus a bit more on what made him famous?@@tomdimaggio122

[@cathyp6788]

Bradley Cooper and the cast were excellent in this movie. This was a door to inspire me to look more closely at his life, his relationship with his sister, his relationship with his wife, his relationship with the world. I don't know many people who would let this be the end of their Bernstein education after seeing this movie. Thank you for letting me know there is more out there to learn and providing resource references.

[@dominiquebesnard4857]

A​@susanwood2821

[@ThePeterbuilt126]

As with everything in life, Art(film) is subjective to what we bring to the experience, in our knowledge, taste and baggage. Mr. Cooper Told his version of the story of Leonard Bernstein. And for that it was a Tour de Force in Writing, acting and Direction. I have long been a fan of Carrie Mulligan, she in my opinion has now crossed into the "Meryle Streep zone" A chameleon who can step outside of here shell and transform into a beautiful but flawed butterfly!

[@blazemonger1]

The movie is written mainly around his marriage, this is well documented and explicitly stated by Bradley Cooper on several occasions. The reason being that he felt that making it a true "biopic" woud just mean recreating the plethora of media existing already and would not really enhance the picture. They choose to make the marriage the pivot for the movie very intently as it allowed for deep exploration of something known but not well documented about the man.

[@MsLamotta]

He didn’t do it well

[@nyerc1331]

There was no deep exploration

[@ChienaAvtzon]

No one cares about Leonard Bernstein’s beard of a wife. Bradley Cooper seemed to care more about baiting for an Oscar, than making a film about Leonard Bernstein.

[@blazemonger1]

@@ChienaAvtzon You knew her? Just guessing here, but I suspect you were not even born when she passed in 1978.

[@Sababarghout]

I find Marriage is a boring and uncreative concept for a movie 🎥

[@stevenj9970]

I was playing in the Chicago Symphony when he came to us for two weeks in the late 1980's....While I always admired him I was never floored by him UNTIL I performed with him. Just one story from those two AMAZING weeks in which he was also gave a master class to young conductors. The night before the class Lenny had conducted a Shostakovitch Symphony with us and he mixed up a meter change conducting 2/4 then 3/4 instead of the other way around. A very simple mistake not even noticeable...when he began the masterclass he stood in front of the CSO and the young conducting students and said..."Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chicago Symphony, I have NO business conducting you from your podium if I can not remember which meter I am to conduct". We were FLOORED, conductors rarely if ever admit a mistake and here he apologized to us and did so in front of the entire master class.....He gained tremendous respect from ALL of us at that very moment....What a great 2 weeks, he even took us to N.Y. for concerts.

[@jefolson6989]

Did you play the Tchaik 6 at Ravinia? His last time there.

[@stevenj9970]

No, that was him conducting the NY phil @@jefolson6989

[@danieldubei]

This movie felt more like a focus on the marriage and the relationship Lenny had with his wife Felicia. I think the problem with trying to recreate all those publicly available videos (the Young People's Concerts, the lectures, etc), is then Cooper would be criticized for not being able to match every gesture of Bernstein through and through. Besides which, for a two hour film, you simply can't provide more than a decent brush stroke of the characters of any complicated human. I enjoyed putting a spotlight on the struggles he had with the mundane, the family growing, etc. Makes him more human, and not some "Maestro" untouchable figure. I enjoyed the film.

[@phillipayotte3261]

Some comments already touched on this, but I’ll reemphasize that Cooper’s intention was never to make a biopic, rather it’s to capture a love story (which happened to be Felecia and Lenny). The film tackles deeper, more private parts of Lenny’s life that most don’t know about. Again, it’s not a Hollywood-ized biopic and was never meant to be.

[@lindakrantz7489]

The other thing to consider is that the Bernstein’s 3 children were heavily consulted before, during, and after production, and before the film was released, and they absolutely supported Cooper.

[@jaskadebree3473]

When a movie needs so much explanation...... I didnot resonate with me at all. As for the lovestory: I saw no love between those two .

[@ChienaAvtzon]

@@jaskadebree3473 - Because historically they were not romantic. Leonard Bernstein was gay and Felicia was his beard. It was ridiculous attempting to paint them as a love match, when it was a marriage of convenience.

[@sarizonana]

@@jaskadebree3473exactly my feelings, I saw no love, actually it seemed like a marriage to cover his sexuality and that he was truly in love with a man but married that woman to cover appearances.

[@Dog.soldier1950]

You’re an outliner. I was born in 1950 so I recall who LB was and what he accomplished but few under my age knew what and who he was. This bio didn’t help it ignored his music and work

[@BBean26]

This was an excellent, spot on review. You hit on the most salient point - that if you know nothing about Bernstein coming into this movie, you leave without a fully-formed picture of the man and his life. I read his daughter’s book when it came out, and I’m so glad I did. Otherwise, I would have felt even more robbed of information by the movie. Another reviewer said it “tried too hard”, and I think that is also true, meaning in its attempts at being artsy and clever. It should have tried harder to give us more real information about Bernstein and his work, as you pointed out.

[@mona2242]

I agrée, in all fairness to Cooper, he tried as the leading actor directing himself . Tough call

[@recetasfaciles2816]

Totally agree. In My case i don't know too much about Bernstein and after seen the movie i remain knowing almost nothing about him. Very disappointing with this movie. Very beautiful, but soulless

[@sheilabloom6735]

I roo am reading Famous Father Girl. It tells more about him. Watch the Omnibus episodes.

[@DrHdhouse]

Because it stinks?

[@eleanorzissou]

There‘s plenty of information on the internet. Just google it.

[@agorgedslug]

I felt more like Bradley did a good caricature of Lenny, without capturing any of his true warmth and charisma. I agree that it was a one track story and felt much more like 'my life with Lenny' told from his wife's perspective. And with only two significant bits of his musicianship shown in the entire film, I felt that nobody would be drawn to explore more about Leonard Bernstein as a result of this movie. I devoured his musical theory lessons when I found them and immediately sought out his work. I mean even the opening scene promised a musical extravaganza with the impromptu request to conduct with no rehearsal and I was leaning forward in my seat waiting to hear it, and it literally jumped to the applause afterwards. 😢 I was just disappointed throughout. Can you imagine Bohemian Rhapsody with only a couple of 10 second clips of Queen songs in the background as a scene opens? Thanks for the other documentary recommendations though!

[@verokrachia8764]

I AGREE...

[@mona2242]

My exact thoughts, it was a caricature. I was really disappointed with the whole movie, Cooper failed to put across the genius’s brilliance as a musician and as a profound human being.

[@simonbailey8814]

I agree. It’s a superficial view. The final view of the real LB showed what an empty impersonation Cooper’s performance was.

[@tomz3214]

Not Cooper Hater..I really Enjoyed - A Star is Born.. I went in Hoping for the same to be transported & drawn into the Story rooting for the characters. Unfortunately, this didn't happened. I was left emotionally unattached & wondering Why am I watching this..a cardboard caricature of a famous musician that I know nothing about except Sex & cigarettes. What a waste, I will follow up on the recommendations & Learn about the Man & his Music. The daughter biography sounds like a more revealing examination of his personal life.

[@jefolson6989]

Cooper, great as he is, couldnt manufacture Lennys charisma . It depicted the part of him thats most unsavory and creepy. Music is what he was about. The real material on youtube is better.

[@beethoven999999999]

You nailed it. I’m also a big Bernstein fan and felt exactly this after watching. The connection between Bernstein and Mahler alone was an opportunity to explore, that they really didn’t. They provided no build up or context to that amazing Mahler performance. Oh well.

[@nectarinedreams7208]

Meh. I prefer biopics that are about the person, not what the person did. We know what Bernstein did. If you want to learn about the connection between Bernstein and Mahler, listen to his music or read one of the hundreds of books or articles written on the subject. This was a film about the man and his marriage, not the man's work. I don't know why that's so hard for people to understand. It's like how people wanted Oppenheimer to be about the science of building the bomb. Read a fucking book!

[@sherrizimmerman6369]

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[@sherrizimmerman6369]

BY the way, I played a small booklet of Beethoven's symphony at 10 years old in a local concert! Wish I stayed with playing piano!!

[@lotusbuds2000]

Yes I would agree have not yet seen the movie and I've watched so many of the documentaries of Leonard Bernstein being a fan of his for decades also I'm a lifelong amateur classical violin player I will definitely see this movie Once but as the gentleman in the main post is saying that the documentaries of the real Leonard Bernstein all his work with the 1950s Omnibus series the Norton lectures at Harvard in the early seventies all the videos of the young people's concerts he conducted for over 10 years probably 14 years or 15 years plus the previous documentaries on Leonard Bernstein the interviews of him goes on and on what's out there on KZbin is phenomenal that really can't compare to the movie but I haven't seen the movie yet I plan to see it sooner rather than later

[@nyerc1331]

@@nectarinedreams7208 I would agree, however Cooper dedicated and spotlighted Bernstein’s performance which had no bearing or stakes within the context of the film.

[@Fernwald84]

I agree 100% with you, David, about your recommendations of Humphrey Burton's bio of L.B. as well as the beautifully written and filmed "Reaching for the Note" (which is on KZbin). I used both these resources when I taught a course on L.B.'s life and music. Bernstein acted out his feelings, sometimes to the extreme, when conducting. This gave the impression that his treatment of the score at hand was as freewheeling as his acrobatics on the podium. Nothing could be further from the truth. I spent many hours listening to his performances while following the score and not looking at what he was doing on the podium. I was struck at how faithfully he stuck to many scores, particularly those of Mahler. He never lost the influence of Reiner's training in his conducting.

[@mr29]

I loved this film. It should have been retitled Scenes From A Lavender Marriage. I thought Mulligan and Cooper were sensational.

[@willardsteele4857]

Thank you. Another person who understands. The movie is more a love story than a biopic. I have to go way back to find a love story to match Maestro, And that would have been a great title!

[@davidcottrell1308]

Agreed. Big Bernstein fan here. The movie felt at times like disjunct dream sequences.

[@daviddas]

That's a really interesting way to frame it.

[@daveewingmedia9066]

I was very fortunate to meet Bernstein in 1978 at a concert rehearsal in Washington, D.C. It was overwhelming. I feel what the film did not express well was his warmth and charisma. Those qualities attracted me when viewing him on TV as a child. His fatherly manner was projected with intense positivity. He was a great instructor. His love of music communicated to us in a friendly way-more like a loving uncle than a teacher. I do not think Cooper was able to capture the depth of those emotive features of his personality. In fact I think he should have had another actor play Bernstein.

[@doctorcane]

If you listened to Bradley Cooper the writer/director at all, he told you what it was going to be about: It's a love story. I mean seriously, how long a movie did you want? 3.5? 4 hours? To add those, is another complete movie. This story was about him and felicia. His genius was a role player in the story. It has to be assumed.

[@michbev]

You are correct that in the press for the movie, Cooper said the movie was going to highlight the love story of Lenny and Felicia. But when you call a movie Maestro and call it a bio-pic of Leonard Bernstein, one expects to learn much more about the man and his life.

[@DavidAsset78]

But you learned very little in the end about Lenny and Felicia and their relationship. The script was like a sketch that never got filled in.

[@recetasfaciles2816]

Even that way the movie feel very soulless. It's beautiful visually but doesn't impact on me.

[@doctorcane]

@@DavidAsset78 how long would the movie have been if it did?

[@BBean26]

Then perhaps the title was misleading. It does lead one to believe it is going to be about The Man.

[@spiralrabbi]

I thoroughly agree with you. Even as far as the music, I don't think that was even dealt with enough. I felt the movie was seriously lacking. If the idea was to highlight The idea that he couldn't be with a man without jeopardizing his life and career, then they succeeded. Bradley Cooper was outstanding. The direction was interesting, but a bit troubling. The acting overall was good. The movie had many positive qualities but I would not give it best picture.

[@shellylavigne5913]

I believe the movie captured his struggles as a man as a priority rather than his music success. A very compelling point, the movie probably should have been titled My life with the Maestro. Then people would relate better than thinking it was about his music.

[@dr.j3567]

Oh, for Heaven's sake. If you prefer the focus to be more on his accomplishments, make your own movie. As you yourself showed, there are tons of ink out there about Bernstein's compositions, his opinions of others, their opinions of him, the landmark Young People's Concerts, KZbin documentaries, etc., etc. Somehow people expected this movie to be a summary, containing everything. That's impossible. Why would you need such a collection of Bernstein stuff if it weren't? It's incredible how many people are carping everywhere for the same reason. Cooper poured his heart into this project for years, researching, studying, interviewing and practicing so he could offer a fresh portrayal of a genius. It was HIS vision of Lenny's life, his focus. It is Cooper's complete right to make the marriage the unifying theme, rather than to address each of Bernstein's major accomplishments, which have already been exhaustively documented for many years. So... if you go into Maestro expecting to witness the man in all his multiple facets and roles, you will be disappointed. That clearly wasn't the point. Nor did it have to be. It is a lovely movie with great acting, directing, music, period details, costumes and makeup that should be judged for its considerable merit, and not for what you think was left out.

[@jojobalistic]

Agree! Why do people feel its even ok to criticize someones clearly heartfelt creation! I dont get art critics. Be better.

[@craigmmcgill]

Amen! Well stated!

[@nancydeforest1533]

I agree! A remarkable movie about a remarkable man.

[@highbaritone]

Hard to do this movie. I too am deeply moved by Bernstein in my career. However I accept the premise and see it as a love story. Well, l loved it. ❤️

[@paulmclaughlin710]

movies rarely convey the whole story of a person. The focus on his private life is intended to provide insight into the complexity of “Lenny”. If that was left behind or had a diminished part of the story, I suggest we would miss out and not fully understand him. In one of his talks about Mahler, which is on KZbin one hears how deep and complex Mahler was. I think the movie wanted to mirror how Lenny his life and works was a complex mesh of things. The only way the full story could have been told would have been in the form of mini-series, like The Queen. if there is one take away it is there isn’t anyone close to being like Lenny in any venue where s/he can make us better. It’s a point he made - not about his self - but Mahler in his Harvard talk. He thought Mahler was the last great one.No, it was Lenny.

[@tracyfriedlander4247]

Agreed! Making a series would have been really cool

[@paulmclaughlin710]

@@tracyfriedlander4247 As a kid I watched his TV program where he introduced us to the symphony and classical music.

[@maleitamaleizir4314]

I think the main problem is that Bradley Cooper was less interested in telling Bernstein's story and desperately more interested in using this role to try to win an Oscar at any cost.

[@adinagionescu7112]

Maybe the movie should have been entitled "the Maestro's wife" to be more clear in its focus, if it has not succeeded to convey this message. As the surviving family has already spoken out, this movie presents only a glimpse of Lenny's complexity and trys to portrait its relationship with his wife. Please look at the final scene, it is all about her.

[@thesuburbanchateau1278]

I think you’ve stated this well. I almost gave up about 29 minutes into the flick when they were waltzing through the on the town dancers. I went back to it and finished it. It’s probably too artsy-I think cooper wants a director Oscar and this was his chance. It’s very high art in the film making perspective give. Just maybe too high to tell the story.

[@ellenhenderson6865]

I restarted it 3-times. Couldn’t get past the first scene. Kept falling asleep. Here’s a tip: don’t watch this thing at night just before bedtime.

[@quentincrisp6933]

What 'high art'?? 😂 Where are you from some deserted island?

[@ricardorivas5955]

its not artsy in any way

[@thesuburbanchateau1278]

@@ricardorivas5955 I think I mean the opening sequence- the pace, the scene where Bernstein is dancing. I didn't care for it.

[@peacew6]

This movie is intended to be about one gifted man's relationship with his wife, less about his gift

[@bettywhitehead1640]

If that is so--and I agree--then why the title 'Maestro' giving the expectation it is about the man and his talents? My guess? Cooper titled it 'Maestro' because he wants us to believe he means himself.

[@peacew6]

@@bettywhitehead1640 that is a good point

[@jassonsw]

I liked it but not as much as I thought I would. The 4:3 aspect ratio and transition from black and white to colour were a bit gimmicky, but most of all it felt like a series of almost ad-libbed conversations rather that a film with a coherent overall vision and structure.

[@johnsarkissian5519]

Maestro is an art movie! It’s not a biography and it doesn’t pretend to be one. It’s a character analysis and does a phenomenal job at that.

[@shadykatie100]

Exactly!

[@srfgrn]

I agree with what I understand to be your general observation. I too have delved into Bernstein for many years; and, yes, the movie does feel like it only scratched the surface of Bernstein's life. At the end of the movie my reaction was, "well, that sure left a lot out." And, I agree, the Mahler 2 finale at the end was very effective -- I almost forgot that it wasn't actully Bernstein at Ely Cathedral. Thanks for your reflections.

[@arthurhernandez2260]

You nailed it! An accurate and fair assessment of this movie. In fairness to Bradley Cooper, I believe he has stated that this was not a biopic; he chose to focus on Bernstein's relationship with Felicia instead. To your point, however, Bernstein was a titan of twentieth-century American music, and to sidestep his musical polymath achievements undermines this extraordinary man of music and all of his accomplishments.

[@old.not.too.grumpy.]

A mainstream audience may already know about the milestone of Bernstein's life. What they may not know it the complexity of his private/ family life. A more conventional film would have shown the highlight of his life with the private life woven in as a secondary plot. The filmed cempt more a European film rather than the conventional spoon feeding Hollywood biopic and was all the better for it

[@judithm.2399]

I thoroughly agree with this comment. Couldn’t have said it better!

[@johnsarkissian5519]

You said it better than I could! And that’s why I absolutely loved this movie!

[@dorisrogers1312]

I think everything you mentioned you missed in the film is exactly what Bradley , purposely, tried to avoid. He said in many of his interviews that his intent WAS NOT to make a bio-picture . The focus of this story was his life or better yet the love life he shared with Felicia . I think you should watch many of his interviews and panel discussions on the creation of this film.

[@michaelthomas3821]

yes, conviniently erasing gay history. a time-immemorial Hollywood tactic to not scare the hets or family.

[@ChienaAvtzon]

Felicia was a beard. There is no need to paint that relationship as a romance. This film does a huge disservice to what closeted gay men went through back then.

[@ellenhenderson6865]

@@ChienaAvtzon Agreed.

[@SusanLacy-kg2wy]

Thank you for mentioning my film "Reaching for the Note". It is currently playing on MAX and is a good companion piece to Bradley's movie. It is all about the music and deals in depth with WSS and Lenny's relationship to Mahler, among others, including his Berlin Wall concert and his relationship to Israel, his complexities, his struggles with whether to focus on conducting or composing, his disappointments that his serious music wasn't more well received, and many other facets which people find missing in Maestro. I personally loved "Maestro", but do understand some of the comments.

[@daviddas]

Thank you for chiming in, and for your excellent documentary. I think we're in similar places. I did appreciate some things about Maestro, in particular, the way it lets us *feel* like we were with LB in an immediate way. But if I had to choose only one, I think I'd choose yours! Reaching For The Note is able to touch on many, many more important angles of LB's life, while it felt like Maestro only focused on one (and, as many in the comments are saying, perhaps the wrong one or a less important one).

[@Lalala-xb1mk]

Bradley emphasized in interviews that the movie is a portrayal of Bernstein's marriage. People can be different at home from how they are at work or with the general public. There is fantastic KZbin interview with Stephen Sondheim who worked with Bernstein and was very close with Bernstein and his wife. The movie, I feel, does a great job of capturing the dichotomy. You have heard the Sondheim interview to get that.

[@stephengallo5109]

I think you made a very good point. If you knew nothing about him going into the movie, you won’t learn some of the most impressive parts of his life. Now to some other’s point- maybe that wasn’t the goal- but I think a few more facts at the end credits could have informed the audience just how pivotal he was in music history. Still- regardless of the screenplay’s shortcomings- the acting and directing was superb.

[@janemaher229]

I appreciate your insights, and I did enjoy the movie, knowing that Cooper was focusing on Bernstein's marriage and relationships. However, growing up with the man's music throughout my childhood (Candide, written in 1956, my birth year) talks with my dad about his music, talks with mom about his music, boyfriends and marriage. I would have loved that the film was all about his music. I was never that curious about his personal life. 😂❤

[@daviddas]

Candide is one of my favorites. His personal life is fascinating for those interested, but it's his contributions to the music world for which he'll be remembered hundreds of years from now.

[@shellybelly179]

Having no previous knowledge of L. Bernstein other than a few facts was in hindsight better as I loved this movie. It literally moved me to tears more than once. And it motivated me to learn more about the man which I have. So, I would say that when a film motivates one to look deeper, it's a good thing. I've soaked up all that I can about Leonard Bernstein the last three weeks than I would have without seeing the film.

[@daviddas]

That's a very valid perspective, which I would only counter with a good number of comments who say the opposite, that the movie didn't entice them to dig deeper.

[@greenpublishing]

For me the problem was the misleading trailer. It make it look like 50% of the film's focus would be the music, with the relationship between Lenny and his wife being the main story. Unfortunately we only got small snippets of Bernstein's musical art.

[@johnhillescobar]

The situation is that the movie is about a couple, who happened to be Bernstein and his wife. In fact, you can easily see that that the true main character wasn't Lenny but his wife.

[@RomanDonna]

And in fact, Cooper gave Carey Mulligan top billing, over himself.

[@shadykatie100]

@@RomanDonna Spot on! Thank you!

[@ftcnyc]

I think your comments are all legit, but I chose to see it 2 ways you may not. Its not a classic biopic...its a love story! 2nd, its about HER in HIS life (listen to the music when she gets off the bus.. and it's volume). She's the Maestro. He knew he needed her. And love. And family. I also believe that because he had a form of mental illness, like all of us. His extroversion is unnatural, not bi-polarity but awfully close and of course the isolation required for composition is problematic...this angle explains so much...I loved it...magnificent flick

[@e.daniels5971]

The Mahler scene alone was worth the whole endeavor. There isn't that much authentic human intensity in 100 other Hollywood movies in any given year than there is in that 7mins of Maestro. Thank you Mr. Cooper for that slice of cinematic genius. Like Bernstein ... it is SO rare. And like LB, BC will be remembered, too ... for reaching for the stars.

[@MsLamotta]

I wrote my friend that the only highlight of the film was the Mahler piece in the Cathedral! It was magnificent!!!

[@kennethdower7425]

It was absurd and by far the worst part of the film.

[@e.daniels5971]

@@kennethdower7425 You should go back to Starbucks and order yet another soy chai latte to relive the greatest creative acts and achievements of your entire life.

[@jvallas]

Yes, I may play that scene many more times. But I won't need the rest of the movie a second time.

[@ChristinaD19]

Bradley always said it was not a biopic. It was a story about Lenny and Felicia.

[@jvallas]

For me, maybe that's why I'm not totally on board with the movie. He can make it about anything he wants, but that isn't what interests me about all the things that were Leonard Bernstein; therefore, the movie just didn't hold my interest.

[@ChristinaD19]

@@jvallas right. It's a great movie. But it is limited in scope. If you're not interested it's just not for you. There are documentaries that cover other parts of his life and career.

[@jolewis-brown6608]

So much was cut from the Mahler scene. I live in Ely, UK where Maestro filmed in the cathedral where originally performed by Bernstein. Our little city was taken over by the film crew for two weeks in October 2022 and it was a wonder to behold. There were outside scenes set with numerous vintage cars parked nearby. I felt that the film missed an opportunity to show what a momentous event this was for Bernstein and that the cathedral (which has featured as Westminster Abbey in The Crown and The King’s Speech) wasn’t able to shine to add to the drama of the occasion as a lot of the context was overlooked. I wonder if this is the same for other scenes, that so much remained on the (digital) cutting room floor. I also found the dialogue difficult to follow but maybe my UK ears aren’t tuned to NY. I felt that certain scenes were overworked and that BC had been so immersed in the film production for so long that the film often lost its way in explaining to the uninitiated just what a huge personality LB was both within and without of the music world. Still processing … it was obviously a monumental undertaking. 🎵🎵

[@robertshaver1612]

Thank you. I wish more movie reviewers were as knowledgeable and objective.

[@PUREtrollin]

I don't get why movies always focus on the romantic side of someone's life story. There's more to life then romance, love, marriage. No offense but there were great people who walked this earth that never experienced love and still pursued greatness.

[@stevenkuhn8457]

I enjoyed your review of Maestro and agree with your thoughts. I was expecting a movie with much more of his musical career and accomplishments. As a result of your review I learned of Reaching For The Note and just finished watching that and wow that was great. There was so much I did not know about his involvement with Israel and other compositions beyond his Broadway musicals and his torment between aspiring for greatness as a composer. Thanks for sharing your love of Bernstein. Btw, perhaps you will find this an interesting side note, I grew up in Dumont, NJ in the 60s and 70s and at that time there were several members of the NY Philharmonic living in town. The 4th French Hornest, Rainier (Dinny) De Intinis, lived on the block behind me and I was at his house many times as I knew his son. I would hear him practicing downstairs and in the backyard in the summer. I took clarinet and saxophone lessons for 8 years from Daniel Trimboli who also lived in Dumont and was a Broadway pit musician on reeds, session player and when available was often on stage with the NY Philharmonic when they needed an alto saxophonist. My parents (who had a subscription) found about Trimboli from someone who knew Paige Brook, the principal flutist, who also lived in Dumont. So much top tier in talent in a small North Jersey town 25 minutes from the GW Bridge to NYC.

[@sprezzatura8755]

I felt like Cooper was playing to his older benefactors Spielberg and Scorsese. It's a terrific film to be sure but as you noted for younger people curious about Bernstein, does his complex personal life makes a compelling argument to learn more about him? There should have been much more emphasis on his monumental musical achievements. That's the true nucleus of his identity. Why is there this pathological need to lead with one's sexuality in today's culture?

[@ZurichSee23]

You are remarkably fair and objective. And I think you are right on every point you've made. Thank you.

[@violinmke]

I think although you loved him as a real person you're a tough audience for this movie.I think its the best we're going to get. Ever.

[@georginamacrae2808]

Hi David. I have just finished watching the movie, which I enjoyed and also felt that it was artfully made. I knew little about the man. I feel like I know a lot more about him now and am encouraged to find out more.

[@sverre20061]

I feel the same, I was really looking forward to see more of his life as a composer and conductor.

[@doctorcane]

Then you should watch the interviews and read the books.

[@alexanderh9878]

That would fall into the category of a docu series, which this is not.

[@UTGARDER]

The movie inspired me to learn more about Bernstein. I’ve been viewing many KZbin videos and reading comments. Some of it is very educational.

[@carolfreeman9773]

I've also read that the film (which I have not seen) has omitted how important his Jewish identity was to him, and also omitted his passionate political activism.

[@ellenhenderson6865]

I didn’t even get that he was into being Jewish until I saw it in a KZbin thing that popped up in my feed. That was a big part of him.

[@tomlabooks3263]

Great review. I would go a step further, as I’m wondering WHY I should care at all about Lenny’s sexuality, when his music is the whole point? The movie takes a “modern” perspective, I know.

[@susanmarie2231]

Thank you for this post. I was very disappointed in the movie. Based on the title, “Maestro,” I thought the story was going to be about his creative process, professional collaborations, conducting and composing. The movie should had been titled, “Lenny and Felicia” and then I would’ve known what to expect. The most exciting part of the movie for me is when the credits rolled and they played the overture to “Candide.”

[@RobertoRiosbiz]

Saw a documentary about his life with a lot of home movies and then I saw the film and even though Bradley Cooper’s performance was amazing. I found the storytelling to be one dimensional and thought the two hour documentary was able to show me a lot more about his life than the film.

[@laurentco]

I think you nailed it. For those who know very little about Lenny, it will be great. For those Of Us who know more, it leaves out way too much.

[@MaggieCarey-xs6gb]

I have felt so excited to see Maestro...I was also excited to see Bradley Cooper was the lead character. Leonard Bernstein was an important figure in my life, all my life. He lit up my parents world...they spoke of him in words they never used on others...wish I could remember some 😮. In my early 20's I lived in Vt with my then 2 year old and Mom & Dad invited us to Lenox, MA (the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra - Tanglewood!) It was there that I experienced Leonard Bernstein & his conducting! This was the first true bliss that I knew in my physical body. I felt like I floated all over the grounds and that was so overwhelmed by witnessing Leonard Bernstein. We are all such emotional & feeling people. All, see things from our own set of circumstances. I told you a small slice of mine. I want to see the movie for it's factual content, because I didn't know much about him. I just know how I felt and I know that the movie won't even get near what I felt about that amazing man!

[@davenelson6077]

I loved that they used his music as the score of Maestro. "West Side Story" changed my entire view of music and just hearing a bit of it as score was profound.. it was enough..An amazing experience for me...

[@farsouth2740]

This is a film, a tribute to Leonard Bernstein, not an exhaustive encyclopedia ! if we followed this advice, the film would last 48 hours and would be intended for specialists and musicologists. It is not a question of unfolding all the facets of Bernstein and God knows they are numerous but of restoring the adoration and the enthusiasm which he provoked, the passion which animated him, and the immense talent of this warm and communicative man. In this respect, the film is a success and it took me back to an era and an atmosphere that I loved. Bravo !

[@spinninglilies2526]

I couldn't play a note on a stretched rubber band, but as a child, I always loved his young people's concerts.

[@edwardcone6860]

Thank you especially for your generosity in assessing the film and giving credit where credit is due. It adds heft to your opinion. I don't begin to know Bernstein as you do, but I felt I did not learn much from the film that I didn't already know. I felt as if I'd gone to a restaurant with a five-star rep but I couldn't recall an exceptional dish afterward. Again, I appreciate your thoughtful and informed remarks!

[@michaellaumusic]

It’s on my list to watch. Appreciate your thoughts. What is surprising is that they could have done a multi episode mini series to encapsulate what is missing. There might be a longer version out there.

[@LuKasAV6]

Yes, Maestro should have been called Lenny and Felicia instead. It's more of an examination of their relationship and less about how this Maestro was shaped and formed. Also I found it peculiar that Bradley Cooper went through the trouble of wearing a prosthetic nose to look like Bernstein but not wear brown/hazel contacts which could have helped him disappear more into the role. I enjoyed the movie though. And Carey Mulligan delivered a powerhouse performance!

[@lucindaarmour7422]

We can look for faults but this film is an exploration of a particular complex relationship. The focus is on THEM and their marriage.

[@brucequinn]

I have never forgotten the 2004, 11 part radio documentary, Leonard Bernstein: An American life, hosted by Susan Sarandon, which is available from a website called artistowned.

[@brutusalwaysminded]

What you describe is so typical of these bio-pics. Thanks for the warning. 'The Unanswered Question' series continues to be the truly inspirational source of his genius for me - and his conducting and compositions, of course. 😁 Thanks.

[@gibsonbe1]

You nailed it! I too will still be going back to his conducting, his lectures and his Young People's Concerts.

[@bastiatintheandes4958]

Agree with your observations. I watched it with my wife to whom, due to her age and musical ignorance, Bernstein was an unknown character. Now she thinks there was this bizarre egotistic guy who was always in awe of his talent and charisma. Of course the detail that Lenny was a musician and that he created music is a minor detail that the movie barely addresses. Alas for the misguiding title “Maestro”.

[@daviddas]

That's an interesting take. I think it's a shame that your wife came away with that impression. I think there are aspects of that which are true, but his most valuable contributions to society, and the reasons he'll be remembered hundreds of years from now, have nothing to do with his personal ego. He will be remembered for his greatest musical works (like West Side Story), for his contributions to society via education, and for his passion for music.

[@francoisreye3701]

You are right from the begining to the end. Thank you.

[@carlosoliva5706]

Completely agreed with this review, although, he was very benign in his critic. I am not American but I live in USA. Bernstein was the most complete and relevant musician of this country. A true phenomenon of music in all aspect of it. After watchin this movie, I felt cheated and mad. I can care less if he was homosexual or bisexual. Those are, no doubt who he was, but also, I am sure he also masturbated and had bowel movements. I just don't give a sh.... He was extraordinary and America should be more proud to having produced such a musical talent. His teaching is a model to follow. His Mahler unsurpassed. And I am not a musician. My advise to any one: DO MOT WATCH THIS MOVIE. Watch all his videos including the interviews with him. His performances and his teachings. And, of course, his compositions. Those will give you a much better idea who Leonard Bernstein was: a monster of music.

[@paulopie1541]

I was one the "Kids" at the 1989 and 1990 performances Lenny did with the TMC Orchestra. I share your take on the movie. The reconstruction of existing footage was great but the most gut-wrenching moment was that of Bernstein himself struggling to get through Beethoven 7 at the end. For the Tanglewood students his illness meant the cancellation of a months European Tour with the Maestro. He was a force of nature but in rehearsal was evidently aware that he had little left in the tank. After the strings read through the Copland 3rd symphony third movement. He said that it was the best he heard and "A gift to a man lying on his death bed." Here it is, in what proved to be his penultimate concert. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJiUg3aNqKpnkMUsi=WZCmbjo7mPvKMB2o

[@tiffsaver]

This is one of the best films I have ever seen. Bradley Cooper's inimitable gift to both music and the cinema.

[@alberttrinidad1750]

I guess then you have not seen many films

[@tiffsaver]

@@alberttrinidad1750 I've been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 1963. So yes, I've seen a lot of films. What is your cred??

[@kimesser2318]

Bradley said this movie was a story of him and his wife, not a biopic. Bradley discusses this in many interviews on this movie.

[@ShirleyKirsten]

Reaching for the Note is the go to film about Bernstein. American Masters production, accessible on you tube.

[@RexJebamoney]

To the person who has studied and devoted to LB, understand your position. I think BC what he did was to expose the talent and complexity of life to ordinary people who knew nothing about LB and his contribution to society.

[@thatssomething1]

Lenny Got Game ...now that shoulda been the movie title 😆

[@sivadepilif]

"Maestro" is not a documentary, is a movie.

[@jvallas]

Yes. We're discussing why we did or did not enjoy that movie.

[@judgeblodgett]

Excellent review. It actually underestimates his musical genius while overestimating the importance of his sexuality. Still a great movie.

[@clips001ify]

Wanted more on his musical genius. In particular, something on. The genesis and evolution of the West Side Story score.

[@ChrisCoombes]

Thanks for this. I agree, as the years go by we will have more and more available on KZbin of the actual subjects in these biopics.

[@normalsee4447]

Thanks for a very insightful, informative and eloquent review! I am not that familiar with Bernstein’s life so will see it for sure and will check out the documentary you mentioned.

[@tkyr7021]

Before the movie was released, they said it was NOT a life to death story of the man, but a look into the love story between him and his wife. Sure, I wish they delved into West Side Story a little more but this movie was not about that. I think they did an amazing job and I see a lot of Oscar nominations and wins. It is rather hard to disagree when his own kids say they got it right.

[@NanWellins]

Hate to say this, but I do believe that they approved because they wanted their mother to have her day. Also this was the sanitized version of his life. Yes, there was an affair shown, but it was handled with far greater discretion in the film than in real life, when she found him in bed with Tom and he subsequently moved to California for a while. Maybe the movie would have been better titled Felicia?

[@tkyr7021]

@@NanWellins They wanted their mother to have her day? That is an extreme reach. And, sanitized? What did you want them to show, Bernstein in leather sniffing poppers a la Al Pacino in Cruisin? If they wanted a sanitized version they did a poor job because they showed their dad as an adulterous gay male drug user that used his fame to attract young upcoming musicians. The movie was very well done and I see a lot of Oscar attention coming.

[@ChristinaD19]

I agree with this 100%

[@ritacalvo1115]

Great review. Right on ! You are a reliable and trusted critic.

[@thormusique]

Well said, and I completely agree! I'm always suspicious about any artist biopic intended for a general audience, because it inevitably underscores the subject's personal complexities (and especially controversies), and their art is largely an afterthought, or at least only superficially explored. But then, that's what happens in the world of popular entertainment as well, and with the notion of celebrity in general. Cheers!

[@EleonoreG53]

Jamie Bernstein has high praise for Cooper and the movie. She became intimitaley involved in the concept, the premise for the movie, giving Copper most of the insight. It's a platform you didn't expect because you approached it from outside. Cooper got the inside you would have never had. Outside looking in.

[@AmyHartStudios]

yes exactly. it was meant to focus on his PERSONAL life while being a superstar musician/conductor/composer.

[@TdF_101]

It's about his relationship with his wife, not so much about Lenny or his music. And I prefer that, even as a composer and musician. If it had been too technical about music history or music theory it should be a documentary, not a film. And when it touched upon music it did so with respect.

[@bmalachi1]

What an HONEST review. I couldn't agree more, note for note. Personally, my favorite part of the movie was the trailer 😅. Unfortunately. It had also been highly anticipated by me, I cried watching that trailer

[@bonniehoke-scedrov4906]

Very astute analysis. Thank you so much!

[@djzouke]

I thought that it was more than little hollow. Bernstein was a much more complex and extraordinary person. More attention should have been paid to his work both compositional and his conducting style. He was also a great educator.

[@AsFewFalseThingsAsPossible]

Is it better to get the second edition of the Burton book ? Or is it pretty much all in the first ? Thanks

[@daviddas]

I don't know the difference between the editions, so can't help there. I would assume both are excellent.

[@bobbib7986]

What’s the best book , biography, to read to learn the full story of Leonard Bernstein

[@daviddas]

I recommend Humphrey Burton's biography of Leonard Bernstein. Detailed and meticulously researched. Also see my new video in which I cover my top recommendations: kzbin.info/www/bejne/norVqJiFZdWAl7s

[@starmusic2203]

Thank you for this review. I agree. I was left feeling hungry and confused as why there was so much missing. i understand that a film can only be 2 hours long and it is trying to reach as broad an audience as possible..not just Bernstein fans..but everyone, with the hopes of illuminating a world that brings a new depth to their lives.

[@raylight3838]

I love the movie, and I learned a lot from it, Bradley, and the rest of the actors were magnificent❤

[@philochsmemory]

I think Oppenheimer is a more successful biographical movie that captures the time, social movements, genius of O, tragedy. Overall more compelling picture of a genius, albeit different field.

[@ll-xi7yc]

Can you recommend a biography to read of him? I've read the unanswered question several times.

[@johnlang1933]

I watched it with my adult kids,who didn’t know anything about Bernstein…they learned more about him from me talking during the movie than from the movie itself…(oh,well) Maybe the more curious viewers will seek more information about him

[@martinehrlich9094]

At one point the script quotes Bernstein attributing his work ethic. With all his gifts, he worked hard at his craft(s) and pushed himself. Could the film have given that more room to be? I wish it had. So much magical thinking around art. And if I may. I recommend Allen Shawn’s book on Bernstein for those diving in.

[@christine6059]

What kind of accent is Felicia supposed to have? Her mother was Costa Rican and her father was American. She sounds East European in the movie.

[@nedisings]

I'm allso a composer and crazy about Bernstein and I agree with you.