Earlier this year I went into Oppenheimer with some trepidation because biopics aren't generally my thing. I almost always feel like the stories wind up super simplified: great man encounters and overcomes challenge - wash, rinse, repeat. Oppenheimer departed from that formula, and this one does too. Cooper not only finds surprising beats within the story of Leonard Bernstein, but he finds surprising ways to bring those beats to life. The performances and cinematography create a story that feels wholly original from the very first (truly gorgeous) shot - no character needs to explain which moments matter because the audience can tell. The key scenes just pulse with music and life, and Cooper's cast dance along to it. I went into this movie knowing little about Bernstein beyond West Side Story, but I walked away captivated nonetheless.
Review of Maestro
