THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Our passions can drive us to success, but can cripple us emotionally without us even knowing it. I would've not been able to remember had it not been for Netflix's Maestro.
PLOT
The 2023 film follows the life of iconic American composer Leonard Bernstein. In 1943, he started out as assistant conductor of the NY Philharmonic before making his conducting debut as a last minute replacement for guest conductor Bruno Walter, which catapulted his fame. Although he briefly had an intermittent relationship with clarinetist David Oppenheim (Matt Bomer), he would choose to end when falling in love with aspiring actress Felicia Montealegre. When they would go on to marry, they would grow up to conceive three children: Jamie (Maya Hawke), Alexander (Sam Nivola) & Nina (Alexa Swinton). By the mid 50s, the Bernsteins would live a luxurious life due to Leonard composing successful operas and Broadway musicals from the likes of Candide and West Side Story. Despite success, there was turmoil in his relationship with Felicia due to continuing to sleep with other men as well turn to alcoholism & substance abuse. Jamie would one point hear rumors of her father's infidelity, but he would deny it and say they were made out of jealousy, although he deeply wanted to tell her his past. On one Thanksgiving, the Bernsteins would celebrate the holiday from the Dakota; When Leonard returns from a bender, he has another argument with Felicia who believes all the hate he has will cause him to die alone if he doesn't change his ways. Their marriage would remain intact through the 70s, whereas Leonard's success would continue when composing Mass and perform Mahler's Resurrection Symphony in Ely Cathedral. He and Felicia would be able to reconcile before the latter would be diagnosed with breast cancer. And despite the efforts to overcome such a battle with multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, her condition would only worsen until passing in '78. Heartbroken of such a loss, Leonard and the children would abandon their family home afterwards. In '87, Leonard would be shown to still be teaching the art of conducting, as well as partying and having affairs with male students. The film would end with him being interviewed for his '83 opera piece A Quiet Place, where he would share how much he misses his wife for all the significant impact she made in his life. THOUGHTS
Bradley Cooper truly exceeded expectations when he made the superior adaptation of A Star is Born, to the point where I wouldn't mind seeing him in the director's chair again. With that being said, I was completely moved once again of what he brought to the screen. As a director, he provides a bold story of a figure who made and break himself simultaneously. I think throughout this picture we get the sense of feeling where we should be comfortable in pushing our limits to create success we desire, but must also take notice of how your actions will affect your peers, which is the case when you follow the dynamic of Leonard and Felicia. As an actor, Cooper straight up becomes Bernstein in the most transformative role of his career to date. With surreal makeup, he tops commitment when actually conducting orchestras on camera rather than imitate a conduction. The said scene that occurs at Ely Cathedral is an incredible moment because it makes the creation of music feel so genuinely beautiful to hear. That says a lot of what kind of man Leonard was because he knew creating music is something that should be done with patience and dedication that not many would dare trying. In the midst of this, he lived eventfully through lust because it appeared his sexual appetite to sleep with many men (and women) before and after his marriage because he felt alive bonding with so many people in such a way. Despite his infidelity, I don’t see the doubt when saying he loved no one more than his wife. Carey Mulligan was also spectacular as Felicia because she was able to bring such luminosity to the scenery and I think that is why she and Leonard connected so well because he was at his most comfortable around her; She loved him back for returning the favor of embracing the feeling of joy & confidence. That is where it also became a problem as he would get too comfy in the process. She put up with it as long as she did because she never wanted to hate him for choosing to be himself; That also never meant she had to like it hence calling him out about it whenever she did. Sadly, their relationship was an example of appreciating what you have before it’s too late which is proven by the time she passed away. It definitely takes a toll on Leonard when she dies because it would kick in he took advantage of her love while she was alive and wasn’t really able to set things right before he died in his arms. And even though he kept seeing people after her death, he still thought about her and is more grateful of the love she chose to have given. The final shot that shows Felicia look outside their home further solidifies the mournful feeling he has while also represented her mindset to look past the flaws and remember why you who you love. In short, Maestro is an impressive biopic for showing the ups and downs that can come from balancing love and passion, earning the Best Picture Oscar nomination in the process. If you have Netflix and enjoy biopics, this one is up your alley.
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