Bradley Cooper caps off 2023 with his sophomore directional feature, this time with Maestro, a biography on the life of composer Leonard Bernstein. Can Cooper strike gold twice after his immensely popular and acclaimed remake of A Star Is Born? Let’s find out.

Cooper directs, produces, co-writes and stars as Bernstein, a Jewish American prodigy in the field of classical music. Maestro chronicles decades of his life, from the early 40s to the late 80s as we witness various aspects of his life and career, from iconic performances to intimate family matters. Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg join Cooper as producers on the film.

Cooper elected to film most of Maestro in a 1:33 aspect ratio, with the first half being black and white. I thought the noir cinematography was exceptional and the aspect ratio served the aesthetic. I didn’t find the ratio was quite as needed in the colour segments though and the cinematography didn’t feel as punchy without the exaggerated use of shadows in the black and white parts.

Storywise, Maestro is actually a bit of a mixed bag for me. The reason for that is that after over two hours and around forty years of growth, I don’t understand Leonard Bernstein any more than I did when the movie started. Cooper shrouds his subject in mystery and while this works in the first act, a whole movie of it does wear thin. All I felt I really learned from him was he was a genius, who didn’t seem to struggle with his creative process, and that he was possibly a sex addict, or at the very least more interested in open relationships without really getting the full picture from his own family.

That’s where the movie does shine through, as the scenes that focus in on Carey Mulligan’s Felicia Montealegre, Leonard’s wife and confident are very engaging. We understand what drives her, what her fears and ambitions are and she vocalizes all of that, allowing us to empathize with her. Mulligan also gives an award-worthy performance in Maestro, owning every scene she’s in.

In the end, Maestro was a decent film, a very well-made film to be sure, but I don’t think it hits the same highs for Cooper as A Star Is Born did. The subject is hard to relate to, both as he’s a genius and one who comes by his genius without effort or hardships. His family troubles were entirely his own making, which makes him a difficult protagonist to enjoy watching. But if you want a movie with solid acting, some notable directing regardless and some memorable shots, this is still a good movie to watch, you just may be left a bit confused or conflicted about why you’re watching it by the end.