Movie Review—Maestro

Now showing on Netflix

Starring and directed by Bradley Cooper with Carey Mulligan

A movie is very much like a train. It leaves the station, and through dialog and other controls, (including the actors, the screenplay, sometimes the costumes and set design), winds itself along on the tracks of a story.

With a successful film, the viewers of the movie also participate. They are right there with the director, cast and camera crew.  They are all in.

But the “train” called “Maestro” leaves the station without the passengers. They are left still sitting alone on the waiting room benches. They are not taken along for the ride.

This is a movie that wants to get your attention, and it does to a certain extent. Its method is a sharp, quick and innovative style. It wants to show you how different it is from other movies.  It wants to break through, to became a new genre. 

Maybe it tries too hard.  It’s exhausting.  All the effort shows.  We don’t want to see “the little man behind the curtain.” We don’t need constantly clever, challenging conversations.  But what we do require is meaningful dialog.  We want to care.

I did not, I confess, see the entire film; I got tired and went to bed.

(A mention should go to the makeup department which is sure to get an Oscar for the excellent work they did.)

Someday Mr. Cooper will be celebrated for making a collection of great films, but to me, it should not include this particular movie.