Maestro (2023)
When ego is put before the story.
Presentation:
Sets, costumes, design are beautifully crafted with some wonderful transitions. Shot on film, I wasn't a too big of a fan of the look, which felt a big too distracting and even detracted from the drama. The story is a biography of famous composer Lenny Bernstein. Although the story has all the pieces of a great movie, the film felt emotionally short and I never found myself invested in the Bradley Cooper's character. On the other hand, I found Carey Mulligan's character much more appealing, which is the result of too much spectacle. It almost feels as though Cooper is trying too hard to be artisté. This feels tangible from the audience's perspective and as talented as Cooper is, his performance and direction feels a bit too distant.
Conclusion:
In trying to portray the brilliance of the maestro, Cooper tries too hard and ends up mostly portraying an actor attempting to reach the same brilliance through acting. Although it is a biographical drama, I still felt the pacing was a bit too slow and didn't find a particularly satisfying arc. Despite my love for music, I didn't hear it for this one and the magic was lost on me. A beautiful biographical drama that tries a bit too hard to peacock and will still be overshadowed by films like Oppenheimer. If you enjoy mature dramas, this could be for you.
Recommendations
If only filmmaking could resolve all Iranian conflicts.