Overview

• Bradley Cooper's new film 'Maestro' is a focused portrayal of the marriage between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre, with Cooper playing Bernstein and Carey Mulligan playing Montealegre.
• The film was made with the blessing of Bernstein's three children and is not a holistic portrait of Bernstein, but rather a profile of his marriage and the toll his selfishness took on their relationship.
• Cooper spent six years preparing for the role, learning to conduct for one sequence and adopting Christian Bale's method acting style of staying in character throughout the film's production.
• The film has been criticized for its narrow focus on Bernstein's marriage and lack of attention to his music, his political activism, and his Jewish identity.
• Despite the criticisms, Spike Lee praised Cooper's work on 'Maestro', calling it 'monumental' and commending Cooper's dedication to the project.