Overview
A poignant exploration of love, ambition, and the complexities of a creative partnership.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- passionate
- melancholic
- intimate
- award season viewing
- classical music night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan's performances, direction, visual ambition, and depiction of marriage, while some found the treatment selective, tame, or insufficiently candid about Bernstein's complexity.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre is treated as the film's primary dramatic spine.
The film uses black and white as well as color to evoke different stages and registers of Bernstein's life.
Bernstein's celebrated conducting career is set against marital strain, infidelity, sexuality, and divided loyalties.
Bernstein's relationships and marriage unfold within the expectations of mid-century celebrity, family, and public respectability.
Films like Maestro, and why
Bohemian Rhapsody
lavish music biopic blending romantic melodrama, artistic ambition, and a complicated queer public life
Rocketman
stylized musician biopic centered on sexuality, celebrity, performance, and intimate relationships
The Danish Girl
emotionally charged period biopic about a gifted artist and the partner affected by his ambitions
Pollock
marriage-focused biographical drama using performance and private conflict to explore a celebrated creative figure
Movie Details
- Director
- Bradley Cooper
- Release Date
- 2023-11-22
- Runtime
- 129 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (886)
Cast
- Carey Mulligan
- Bradley Cooper
- Matt Bomer
- Vincenzo Amato
- Greg Hildreth
- Michael Urie
- Brian Klugman
- Nick Blaemire
- Mallory Portnoy
- Alexandra Santini
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Maestro about?
- A visually sumptuous, marriage-centered portrait of Leonard Bernstein balancing musical transcendence with private contradictions and enduring love.
- What is Maestro like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Maestro as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Maestro violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Maestro.
- What did critics think of Maestro?
- Critics broadly praised Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan's performances, direction, visual ambition, and depiction of marriage, while some found the treatment selective, tame, or insufficiently candid about Bernstein's complexity.
- Which films are like Maestro?
- Films with a similar feel include Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, The Danish Girl, and Pollock.
- How long is Maestro?
- Maestro runs 129 minutes.
- Where can I watch Maestro?
- In United States, Maestro streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
