Dec 6th   
Maestro** (15) 
(Curzon Colchester)   
   
(US 2023)   
Netflix/Amblin/Sikelia/Lea Pictures. 129m. bw/colour   

Composer Leonard Bernstein ruefully looks back on his life with his late wife Felicia who died of cancer in 1978. 
Bernstein's love letter to Felicia, who is given a much bigger hagiography than he is (in spite of unnecessary criticisms of a Jewish prosthetic nose), in what is a meticulously observed biopic with no holds barred and a splendidly authentic flavour of the period, although showy to begin with (in black and white), and slightly omitting some of the history of Bernstein's music. 

Written by: Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer.
Producers: Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Fred Berner, Bradley Cooper, Amy Durning, Kristie Macosko Krieger.
Director: Bradley Cooper.
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Miriam Shor.
Photography: Matthew Libatique.
Music Supervision: Steven Giznicki (London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jannick Nezet-Seguin).
Editing: Michelle Tesoro.

MAESTRO. A meticulous emulation of Leonard Bernstein by Bradley Cooper, who rather (im)modestly gives first billing to his co-star Carey Mulligan, when his presence practically dominates the film.