Maestro is the biographical story of a musical genius and his personal impact on those closest to him. At age 25, Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) gets an unexpected call one morning in 1943. In a few hours, he will be expected to conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra making his worldwide debut. The younger conductor wows and exceeds all expectations. Bernstein becomes a wunderkind and his career soars. As it does, Bernstein begins focusing his romantic interests on Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan). As Felicia’s acting gains its own recognition, she enjoys the ride of young love mixed with success. But as their relationships evolves over the years and decades, Felicia must learn to be honest about her own needs and those of her freely amorous partner.
What works in Maestro is Cooper’s embodiment of Bernstein’s raw energy, and Mulligan’s emotional journey trying to ride alongside him. Cooper, also serving as Maestro’s director and one of its writers, focuses mostly on Bernstein’s private encounters. The film delves into Bernstein’s complicated web of relationships, and these intimate interactions reveal the composers’ philosophy on life. It’s one of unbridled passion and love, but often at the expense of others. As Bernstein dotes on one person, he does so at the risk of alienating others. Naturally at the core of this turmoil is Mulligan, who gives a heart-wrenching performance as a woman coming to peace with Leonard’s true nature. The chemistry between the two leads is electric and will keep audiences engaged and invested from beginning to end.
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Audiences who don’t enjoy biographies with a mostly singular focus may not enjoy Maestro as much as others. While the film bookends roughly 50 years of Bernstein’s life, it mainly tackles his relationship with Felicia. Naturally the musical achievements mark out the milestones of his career, but Maestro offers little insight into Bernstein’s creative inspirations or process. Here, Bernstein’s abilities are merely equal parts of his puzzle, showcased humbly. Some might conclude Maestro with a desire to learn more about how and why Bernstein crafted his most famous works.
Maestro is a fascinating exploration of Bernstein’s brilliance through the lens of his greatest strengths and flaws. As these manifest, Cooper and Mulligan shine as they navigate each other and themselves. While some may crave more depth, Maestro does an excellent job of bringing these icons to life and thus comes highly recommended.
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Maestro is now available to watch on Netflix.
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