Tuesday, August 22, 2023

"Maestro" Leonard Bernstein Biopic Preview


"Maestro" is the title of the new movie about the life of composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein, which will be in theatrical release November and then stream on Netflix the following month. It's a personal project for the star and director of the movie, Bradley Cooper. 

 

"Maestro is a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between cultural icon Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, Maestro, at its core, is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love. Maestro In Select Theaters November 22 and on Netflix December 20."  -- via Netflix

 

Here are Bernstein's children talking about the movie, followed by a new preview.


From Jamie, Alexander, and Nina Bernstein:

"Bradley Cooper included the three of us along every step of his amazing journey as he made his film about our father. We were touched to the core to witness the depth of his commitment, his loving embrace of our father's music, and the sheer open-hearted joy he brought to his exploration. It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts. It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose. Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we're perfectly fine with that. We're also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well. Any strident complaints around this issue strike us above all as disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch -- a practice we observed all too often perpetrated on our own father.

"At all times during the making of this film, we could feel the profound respect and yes, the love that Bradley brought to his portrait of Leonard Bernstein and his wife, our mother Felicia. We feel so fortunate to have had this experience with Bradley, and we can't wait for the world to see his creation."


The New York Times has more about the criticism about Cooper's use of a prosthetic nose, which the Bernstein family describes as a misunderstanding. 


No comments: