Damian Thompson Damian Thompson

A marvel – how did Bradley Cooper pull it off? Maestro reviewed

This Bernstein biopic displays cinematic chutzpah worthy of Lenny himself. The secret? Understatement

Dazzling: Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein and Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre in Maestro. Credit: Jason McDonald/Netflix © 2023 
issue 09 December 2023

As the overture to Candide blazed away during the ovation for Maestro at the Venice Film Festival, three members of the audience flung their arms around in an imitation of Leonard Bernstein’s conducting style. They were his children, Jamie, Alexander and Nina, and their reaction said it all. Bradley Cooper, the film’s star and director, had pulled off a piece of cinematic chutzpah worthy of Lenny himself.

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