MAESTRO
Cert 15
129 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language, brief drug misuse
Another year and another list of Oscar contenders have underwhelmed Mrs W and me.
We waited until Maestro emerged on Netflix, so it may be argued that we didn't experience its full cinematic effect.
Would it have made a difference? I doubt it.
We didn't know much about Leonard Bernstein and his wife before watching Bradley Cooper's picture, so we didn't find its story as fascinating as others seem to have done.
Nevertheless, I can't deny the quality of the acting - Cooper and Carey Mulligan give every last ounce of energy.
Cooper's portrayal of Bernstein, with his perma-tan and nasally speech, is so accurate that his children were stunned.
Mulligan plays their mother, Felicia Montealegre, a woman resigned to her husband's bisexual philandering but forced into occasional outbursts.
The film is split into two - a black and white opening section during which Bernstein becomes famous after stepping in for a sick conductor at Carnegie Hall.
Despite having numerous boyfriends, he falls for Montealegre after meeting her at a mutual friend's party.
The second section, after they are married and have their children, is in colour.
My difficulty with Maestro is that Cooper's Bernstein is annoying, and the composer's life needed to be more dramatic to carry such a biopic.
That is not decrying his achievement as one of the great composers and conductors of the 20th century.
However, he is painted as a selfish narcissist who slides off into the arms of whoever he chooses.
And that is it - he brings intensity to his music and passion to his affairs and, like a small child, is either steadfast in denial or weeps for forgiveness when confronted with his boorish behaviour.
Meanwhile, his poor wife tries everything to make him fall into line.
Maestro looks great - the backdrops are as elegant as the gorgeous cast, and the quality of the acting cannot be questioned.
However, I am going out of step with most reviewers when I state that I thought the storyline was a bit dull.
And I am not alone - Mrs W watched for only 20 minutes before deciding it wasn't for her.
Reasons to watch: Cooper and Mulligan are great
Reasons to avoid: Dragged-out story
Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7/10
Did you know? Carey Mulligan suffered a head injury during a 2018 Broadway after a heavy stage curtain struck her. Bradley Cooper happened to be in the audience and accompanied her to urgent care in Manhattan.
The final word. Bradley Cooper: "I spent six years learning how to conduct six minutes and 21 seconds of music." Classic FM
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