Aesthetically Impressive || Review of Maestro (2023)
Having won hearts in A Star Is Born (2018), Bradley Cooper proves he's a film maestro (if there's anything like that) by delving into another biopic of American musician and composer, Leonard Bernstein. I love biographical films and this is my first time reading about this man. The American biographical film, Maestro (2023) vividly captures a part of the legendary composer's life.
If I'm to choose between the above mentioned films that Bradley Cooper wrote, directed and produced, A Star Is Born will always get my vote. That's not to say this recent release isn't good. It's great but the former is better.
From the start of the two-hour film, the audience is thrown into the life of Leonard Bernstein as a young composer. He meets Felicia Montealegre and his life changes. As the film progresses, the audience gets a better understanding of this man as a musician and the choices he made. The conflict lies in whether or not his wife accepts his choices and lifestyle. Themes like fame and sexual orientation are covered in this film.
Much as I admire famous people, my curiosity comes from how they handle the fame and wealth versus their private lives. Most often, we see and hear news about how poorly they handle things or end up because of the way the world judges them. Very few survive the price of being popular and celebrated.
The beauty of this film is its artistry. Leonard Bernstein rose to fame after a spectacular performance at the opera in 1948 and this timeline wasn't difficult for the filmmakers to capture. The film begins in black and white like these old movies and when it transitions into bright colours, I miss it only to realise later. Meticulous efforts were put into portarying the bygone eras in vivid and realistic colours. So even if music or the opera world does not appeal to you, watch this film from the aesthetic perspective.
The cinematography, costumes, and production design are precisely executed to depict how the life of Leonard Bernstein evolves till he grows old. I commend Bradley Cooper in this aspect for an impressive work. The editings and transitions from monochrome to colour is flawless.
Maestro is mostly about Leonard Bernstein’s relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre and portrayed through the old and famous saying, ”Behind every successful man, there's a woman”. Bradley Cooper does a superb job of embodying this popular musician to a tee. Leonard Bernstein is shown to be an extrovert, passionate, and always lively.
His co-actor, Carey Mulligan who plays the part of Leonard’s wife, Felicia Montealegre, is outstanding in her performance. After her impressive performance in The Great Gatsby, I'm not surprised to see her in this film. These two characters’ relationship is complicated but their chemistry is believable, infectious and Carey Mulligan portays her character excellently such that their affection feels genuine. From the halfway, the story is no longer about the musician but about his wife and the ending is poignant.
Another commendable part of this film is the costumes and makeup. I don't know how but the makeup artist did a convincing job. We are introduced to Bernstein as an old man at the beginning and later, we see him as a young man. The prosthetics worn by the actors makes the transformation perfect, like it's real and believable.
Overall, Maestro is a film worth watching to know a little about Leonard Bernstein and of course, appreciate the impressive art. I'll give this film 3.5 stars out of 5.
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Other images are screenshots from the movie
Posted using CineTV